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Who wants the G spot to be easy to find? Who wants the G-spot to be easy to find?
(about 2 hours later)
Of all the statements made by this week's self-proclaimed locator of the G spot, Adam Ostrzenski, my favourite without contest has to be his devastating conclusion: "It's not easy to find." Of all the statements made by this week's self-proclaimed locator of the G-spot, Adam Ostrzenski, my favourite without contest has to be his devastating conclusion: "It's not easy to find."
Ostrzenski, a cosmetic gynaecologist and director of the Institute of Gynecology in St Petersburg, Florida, examined the anterior vaginal wall in the body of a deceased 83-year-old woman and, as the New Scientist reported, found "a clearly defined sac in a layer between the vagina and the urethra close to the perineal membrane". The sac, furthermore, was "around 16 millimetres from the upper part of the urethral opening" positioned at a 35 degree angle, and "less than a centimetre long". Inside, Ostrzenski discovered a "'worm-like' structure with three distinct regions that broadly 'resemble erectile tissue – normally found in areas such as the clitoral body'".Ostrzenski, a cosmetic gynaecologist and director of the Institute of Gynecology in St Petersburg, Florida, examined the anterior vaginal wall in the body of a deceased 83-year-old woman and, as the New Scientist reported, found "a clearly defined sac in a layer between the vagina and the urethra close to the perineal membrane". The sac, furthermore, was "around 16 millimetres from the upper part of the urethral opening" positioned at a 35 degree angle, and "less than a centimetre long". Inside, Ostrzenski discovered a "'worm-like' structure with three distinct regions that broadly 'resemble erectile tissue – normally found in areas such as the clitoral body'".
While Ostrzenski continues his investigations, his peers remain sceptical. After all, a recent review of G spot research published since 1950 concluded that all had "failed to provide strong and consistent evidence for the existence of an anatomical site related to the G spot". For centuries, the pursuit of the G spot has been carried by a sort of bear-huntish enthusiasm. In the 11th century, ancient Indian texts described an area of vaginal sensitivity that produced sexual pleasure. There have been numerous theories put forth before Ostrzenski set out his "worm-like structure" findings – among them the suggestion of differences in tissue thickness in women who experience vaginal orgasms; female prostatic tissue that is, frustratingly, in different places in different women; or even that it has been confused with Skene glands – which the New Scientist helpfully paints as "small, flaccid, balloon-like masses on either side of the urethra, analogous to the male prostate gland". While Ostrzenski continues his investigations, his peers remain sceptical. After all, a recent review of G-spot research published since 1950 concluded that all had "failed to provide strong and consistent evidence for the existence of an anatomical site related to the G-spot". For centuries, the pursuit of the G-spot has been carried by a sort of bear-huntish enthusiasm. In the 11th century, ancient Indian texts described an area of vaginal sensitivity that produced sexual pleasure. There have been numerous theories put forth before Ostrzenski set out his "worm-like structure" findings – among them the suggestion of differences in tissue thickness in women who experience vaginal orgasms; female prostatic tissue that is, frustratingly, in different places in different women; or even that it has been confused with Skene glands – which the New Scientist helpfully paints as "small, flaccid, balloon-like masses on either side of the urethra, analogous to the male prostate gland".
(And perhaps let us pause for a moment here just to contemplate the fact that the terminology of G spot study is so curiously unarousing.) (And perhaps let us pause for a moment here just to contemplate the fact that the terminology of G-spot study is so curiously unarousing.)
The term G spot was coined in 1981 by Beverly Whipple and her colleagues at Rutgers University, who this week greeted Ostrzenski's findings somewhat mutedly: "I'm very happy that people are interested, but I think there's a lot more to it than just one tissue," she said. "We have never said the G spot is a distinct structure." The term G-spot was coined in 1981 by Beverly Whipple and her colleagues at Rutgers University, who this week greeted Ostrzenski's findings somewhat mutedly: "I'm very happy that people are interested, but I think there's a lot more to it than just one tissue," she said. "We have never said the G-spot is a distinct structure."
But while we await further scientific conclusions on the matter, we may at least reach a single hard fact: we know remarkably little about female sexuality. Indeed, it is not so very long ago that a woman's sexual dissatisfaction was regarded as a symptom of a more general "hysteria" and treated "medically" by hydrotherapy and clockwork vibrators. And it is a long-held and still much-touted myth that women possess a lower sexual appetite than men, that, furthermore, women crave sex as a route only to children, or intimacy, or some kind of post-coital cuddle.But while we await further scientific conclusions on the matter, we may at least reach a single hard fact: we know remarkably little about female sexuality. Indeed, it is not so very long ago that a woman's sexual dissatisfaction was regarded as a symptom of a more general "hysteria" and treated "medically" by hydrotherapy and clockwork vibrators. And it is a long-held and still much-touted myth that women possess a lower sexual appetite than men, that, furthermore, women crave sex as a route only to children, or intimacy, or some kind of post-coital cuddle.
The investigations by Ostrzenski, while scientifically intriguing, mark only the latest attempt to quantify women's sexuality and unravel its mystique. After all, if we can finally locate the elusive G spot, then surely we can then draw a map, light the route, flag the way. The investigations by Ostrzenski, while scientifically intriguing, mark only the latest attempt to quantify women's sexuality and unravel its mystique. After all, if we can finally locate the elusive G-spot, then surely we can then draw a map, light the route, flag the way.
But there is something a little dispiriting about this, too. Women's desire is every bit as present and as powerful as men's, but it manifests itself differently. Accordingly, women are aroused by different stimuli and different methods.But there is something a little dispiriting about this, too. Women's desire is every bit as present and as powerful as men's, but it manifests itself differently. Accordingly, women are aroused by different stimuli and different methods.
The G spot is surely elusive for a reason, and a world in which a suitor might find his or her way there directly without tarrying would, to my thinking, be a very drab place indeed. After all, there is something rather wonderful about the great fan-dance of female arousal, the uncertainty, the intrigue, the wonder, that makes the arrival all the more pleasurable for both parties. The G-spot is surely elusive for a reason, and a world in which a suitor might find his or her way there directly without tarrying would, to my thinking, be a very drab place indeed. After all, there is something rather wonderful about the great fan-dance of female arousal, the uncertainty, the intrigue, the wonder, that makes the arrival all the more pleasurable for both parties.
So yes, Mr Ostrzenski, the G spot is indeed "not easy to find", but perhaps the seeking is half the fun. So yes, Mr Ostrzenski, the G-spot is indeed "not easy to find", but perhaps the seeking is half the fun.
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