The Gräfenberg zone is better known as the G-spot and corresponds to an erogenous zone in the anterior wall of the vagina discovered by the German physician Gräfenberg. Stimulation of the zone is said to lead to female orgasm similar to stimulation in the clitoral area. To this day, however, the G-spot is considered a little-documented myth.
What is the Gräfenberg zone?
The Gräfenberg zone is an erogenous zone in the female vagina and is also known as the G-spot. German physician Ernst Gräfenberg first described the G-spot in 1950, describing it in his article as an erogenous zone of the anterior vaginal wall that runs along the urethra and increases in size with sexual stimulation. Scientific studies demonstrated the erogeneity of the zone in some women. Some of the women studied reached orgasm faster with stimulation of the zone. On other women, contradictory data were collected. They did not find the stimulation to be particularly arousing. Its first author explains this connection by the hypothesis that the G-spot becomes an erogenous zone only at a certain level of arousal. Up to now, the existence of the G-spot is still not scientifically proven beyond doubt. The G-spot is supposed to be an anatomically clearly defined zone with regular structures, but in most textbooks of anatomy, the Gräfenberg zone has not received entry so far because of the low level of evidence on its existence and is called a modern myth by critics.
Anatomy and structure
According to the first describer, Gräfenberg, the G-spot extends along the urethra and has the anatomical characteristics of a corpus cavernosum. Gräfenberg’s zone is located five centimeters from the vaginal entrance and lies on the anterior wall of the vagina. The shape of the G-spot corresponds to a flattened hemisphere. The overall size is about two centimeters in diameter. There is a depression in the center. Gräfenberg also localizes the “prostate feminina” in this area. This glandular tissue produces a secretion during sexual stimulation and can result in female ejaculation, which is characterized by multiple pulsating discharges. The tissue of the G-spot feels ribbed and hard. The rest of the vaginal wall has smooth tissue. In addition to sensitivity, the shape or size of the Gräfenberg zone can vary greatly. Pleasure gain is said to depend, among other things, on a learned and template-like routine. Nonetheless, stimulation of the zone is therefore said to be particularly arousing because there is usually fine, sensitive innervation within the structure.
Function and tasks
The G-spot has function for the female orgasm. The female sex reaches orgasm primarily through stimulation of the clitoris, but stimulation of other erogenous zones can provide additional pleasure. In addition to the G-spot, the equally legendary A-spot and the hem tissue of the female urethral orifice, also known as the U-spot, are considered additional erogenous zones in the female intimate area. All of these points serve to gain pleasure. This pleasure gain has a supporting value in evolutionary biology. Because the reproductive act is fun and leads to absolute relaxation with orgasm, the sexual act is associated with positive emotions. In the broadest sense, it supports, for example, reproduction and the preservation of the species. A female orgasm can be achieved in different ways. When a woman reaches climax through stimulation of the erogenous vaginal zones, we speak of a vaginal orgasm. The clitoral orgasm is to be distinguished from this. Whether the two differ from each other remains a matter of speculation. The arousal of the woman stimulates the glands of the vagina to secrete. This secretion, on the one hand, protects the vaginal space from disease and, on the other hand, leads to the fact that sexual intercourse is not perceived as painful. Also functionally associated with vaginal gland secretion are erogenous zones such as the G-spot.
Diseases
Vaginal dryness is a common problem that mainly affects women during menopause, after ovarian surgery, or in situations of psychological stress. Extreme vaginal dryness not only manifests itself in pain or even bleeding during sexual intercourse, but can furthermore manifest itself in burning and itching of the vagina. Often, the symptoms occur not only during sexual intercourse, but also during micturition.The vaginal fluid repels pathogens and thus protects the intimate area from colonization by bacteria or fungi. For this reason, vaginal dryness can lead to secondary diseases and promote bacterial colonization, for example. In addition, the phenomenon can lead to partnership problems and thus psychological stress, as the woman no longer perceives the sexual act as pleasant due to the pain. Since arousal automatically leads to the secretion of vaginal fluid, vaginal dryness may be alleviated by stimulating erogenous zones such as the Gräfenberg zone. According to speculation, however, the function of the G-spot and all other erogenous zones can be impaired in psychologically stressful situations and then no longer produce the desired effect. Functional impairment also results from nerve damage in the vaginal area. Since the sensitive nerve endings are what make erogenous zones erogenous in the first place, neuropathy in this area, for example, can cause the Gräfenberg zone to lose all function. In the case of nerve damage to the sensitive nerves, a feeling of numbness sets in. Irritation to the nerves no longer reaches the central nervous system and cannot be processed, or only arrives at the central nervous system in an attenuated form.
