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Discoblog
« I’m Dreaming of an Eel-Illuminated Christmas
How to Prep for Oil Spills: Dump 210,000 Gallons of Popcorn in the Water »

NCBI ROFL: This holiday season, show your loved ones you care: send an electrovaginogram.

electricThe electrovaginogram: study of the vaginal electric activity and its role in the sexual act and disorders.

“OBJECTIVES: We investigated the hypothesis that the vagina generates electric waves which effect vaginal contraction during penile thrusting.

METHODS: In 24 healthy female volunteers, the electric waves of the vagina were recorded by two electrodes applied to its wall. The vaginal pressure was registered by a manometric tube. The electric waves and vaginal pressure were recorded at rest and on vaginal distension by condom in increments of 10 ml of carbon dioxide. The test was repeated after vaginal anesthetization proximally and distally to the electrodes.

RESULTS: Slow waves (SWs) were recorded from the two electrodes with regular rhythm and similar frequency, amplitude and conduction velocity. They were randomly followed or superimposed by action potentials (APs). Vaginal pressure increase was coupled with APs. Large-volume condom distension significantly increased the electric waves’ variables and pressure. Upon vaginal anesthetization, the electric waves were recorded proximal but not distal to the anesthetized area.

CONCLUSIONS: Electric waves could be recorded from the vagina. They spread caudad. A pacemaker was postulated to exist at the upper vagina evoking these waves. The electric waves seem to be responsible for the vaginal contractile activity. Large-volume vaginal distension effected an increase in the vaginal electric waves and pressure which probably denotes increased vaginal muscle contraction. It appears that penile thrusting during coitus stimulates the vaginal pacemaker which effects an increase in vaginal electric activity and muscle contractility and thus leading to an increase in sexual arousal. The vaginal pacemaker seems to represent the G spot, which is claimed to be a small area of erotic sensitivity in the vagina. The electrovaginogram may act as a diagnostic tool in the investigation of sexual disorders.”

electrovaginogram

Photo: flickr/timsnell

Related content:
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: An electrophysiologic study of female ejaculation.
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Ever wonder how much electricity your penis can take?
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: For some reason, women don’t volunteer for vaginal photoplethysmographs.

WTF is NCBI ROFL? Read our FAQ!

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December 3rd, 2010 7:00 PM by ncbi rofl in analysis taken too far, NCBI ROFL, penis friday, scientist...or perv? | 4 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

  • shadegem

    …and how did they get women to do this testing? aya…

  • Howdy

    Well did you read the part about the “large-volume condom distension.” I hate to be crass here but the old saying about ‘it’s not the size it’s how you use it’ is only said to men with small ones. I mean if men had a test where oral sex was going to be performed on them you’d certainly not think twice about how many men would volunteer would you?

  • Matt B.

    Because I can’t communicate with Sheldon Cooper, I’ll put it here:

    “Coitus” is [ko-it-us] not [koy-tus],
    just as “cooperate” is [ko-op-er-ate], not [koo-per-ayt].

  • http://www.pheromones.com James V. Kohl

    ‘Upon vaginal anesthetization…” How do they do that?





    • About the Blog

      Discoblog is DISCOVER's compendium of quirky, funny, and surprising science news from the edge of the known universe. It's written by Veronique Greenwood and Valerie Ross. Email tips and suggestions to vgreenwood [at] discovermagazine [dot] com.

      Discoblog also includes the daily feature NCBI ROFL, in which two prone-to-distraction grad students post real scientific articles with funny subjects. Email your tips to ncbirofl [at] gmail.com. Follow the ROFL feed here.

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