Urethral sponge
 |
Female internal reproductive anatomy |
The
urethral sponge is a spongy cushion of
tissue, found in the lower
genital area of
women, that sits against both the
pubic bone and
vaginal wall, and surrounds the
urethra.
The urethral sponge is composed of
erectile tissue; during
arousal, it becomes swollen with
blood, compressing the urethra, helping prevent
urination during
sexual activity (along with the pubococcygeus muscle). Additionally, the urethral sponge contains the
Skene's glands, which with continued
stimulation, may produce an
ejaculate (usually clear in color) and release it through the
urethra during sexual activity or
orgasm. Once considered to be
urinary incontinence, the ejaculate is not
urine, although it is sometimes mixed with urine, and is similar to that produced by the
prostate in
men. This is said to be a
female ejaculation.
The urethral sponge encompasses a large number of pleasurable
nerve endings, and can, therefore, be stimulated through the front wall of the
vagina. Some women enjoy the
rear-entry position of
sexual intercourse for this reason, because the
penis is often angled slightly downward and can stimulate the front wall of the
vagina, and in turn, the urethral sponge.
In fact, the urethral sponge is often synonymously called the
G-spot (Gräfenberg spot), although some say that the two are separate. Some women experience intense
pleasure from stimulation of the urethral sponge and others find the sensation irritating. The urethral sponge also surrounds the clitoral nerve, and since the two are so closely interconnected, stimulation of the
clitoris may stimulate the nerve endings of the urethral sponge.
