Abstract
The vascular responses of clitoral arteries to vaginal pressure stimulation in 10 volunteer women were evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography. Pressure stimulations (20–160 mm Hg) along the lower third of the vagina increased blood velocity and flow into clitoral arteries in 9 of the 10 women. The latency and duration of the Doppler responses ranged from 0.1 to 1.6 sec and from 3.2 to 9.5 sec, respectively, and the response was associated with a blood flow increase of 4 to 11 times the baseline prestimulation level. This response parallels that recorded in the cavernous arteries in men when a similar range of pressure stimulations are applied to the glans penis. Similar responses evoked in the male and female suggest a sexual synergy that may occur during intercourse in that such physiological responses and reflexes may be reciprocally reinforced.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cohen, H. D., and Shapiro, A. (1971). A method for measuring sexual arousal in the female.Psychophysiology 8: 251–252.
Conte, H. R. (1986). Multivariate assessment of sexual dysfunction.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 54: 149–157.
Geer, J., Morokoff, P., and Greenwood, P. (1974). Sexual arousal in women: The development of measurement device for vaginal blood volume.Arch. Sex. Behav. 3: 559–564.
Geer, J. H., and Quartaro, J. D. (1976). Vaginal blood volume responses during masturbation.Arch. Sex. Behav. 5: 403–413.
Gillan, P., and Brindley, G. S. (1979). Vaginal and pelvic floor responses to sexual stimulation.Psychophysiology 16: 471–481.
Henson, D. E., Rubin, H. B., and Henson, C. (1982). Labial and vaginal blood volume responses to visual and tactile stimuli.Arch. Sex. Behav. 11: 23–31.
Lavoisier, P., Aloui, R. and Schmidt, M. H. (1992a). Evidence for a perineal vascular response induced by glans penis pressure stimulation.Int. J. Impotence Res. 4: 95–101.
Lavoisier, P., Schmidt, M. H. and Aloui, R. (1992b). Intracavernous pressure increases and perineal muscle contractions in response to pressure stimulation of the glans penis.Int. J. Impotence Res. 4: 157–164.
Lavoisier, P., Proulx, J., and Courtois, F. (1988). Reflex contractions of the ischiocavernosus muscles following electrical and pressure stimulations.J. Urol. 139: 396–399.
Shafik, A. (1993). Vaginocavernous reflex: Clinical significance and role in sexual act.Gynecol. Obstet. Invest. 35: 114–117.
Sintchak, G., and Geer, J. H. (1975). A vaginal plethysmography system.Psychophysiology 12: 113–115.
Taylor, K. J. W., Burns, P. N., and Wells, P. N. T. (1988).Clinical Applications of Doppler Ultrasound Raven Press, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lavoisier, P., Aloui, R., Schmidt, M.H. et al. Clitoral blood flow increases following vaginal pressure stimulation. Arch Sex Behav 24, 37–45 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541987
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541987