Lesson 7

Question 1

Chapter 8 terms

Answer 1

…

Question 2

Vulva

Answer 2

The female external genital area as a whole

Question 3

Labia majora

Answer 3

Outer lips of the vagina

Question 4

Labia minora

Answer 4

Inner lips of the vagina

May fit inside labia majora or extend past them

Question 5

Vaginal opening

Answer 5

Between the labia minora
Opening through which menstrual blood flows and through which babies are born
Used for penetration during sexual activity

Question 6

Perineum

Answer 6

Skin between the vagina and anus
Quite sensitive
Sometimes tears during childbirth, but heals well

Question 7

Urethral opening

Answer 7

Located above the vaginal opening

Used for urination

Question 8

Clitoris

Answer 8

Above the urethral opening
External parts=shaft and little bulb at the tip called the glans
Shaped similarly to a penis
Becomes erect during sexual arousal and stimulation
Extremely sensitive

Question 9

G-spot

Answer 9

Much debate over its location and existence
On front wall of vaginal canal, one to two inches from the vaginal opening
Some women may get great pleasure from stimulation of this area
Might actually be the paraurethral gland (analogous to prostate gland)

Question 10

Hymen

Answer 10

Small thin membrane that may be present over the opening to the vagina
Some girls are born without one
Relatively delicate and can be torn or stretched by many things
Some cultures still equate it to being a virgin
Myth that all women should experience pain and bleed during first intercourse
Hymenoplasty- “revirgination”, serves no medical purpose and can be dangerous

Question 11

Douching

Answer 11

A practice in which women introduce water or some kind of cleaning solution into the vagina
Not necessary, the vaginal canal is self-cleaning
May disrupt the natural bacteria and pH of the vagina, causing an increase in odor
Increases the risk of infection in vagina and uterus, contraction of STDs and ectopic pregnancy

Question 12

4 phases of the sexual response cycle in women

Answer 12

Excitement
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution

Question 13

Excitement phase

Answer 13

Vasocongestion occurs
Vaginal walls become lubricated
Labia minora swell slightly and open to expose vagina
Clitoris becomes erect
Nipples may become erect and breasts may swell

Question 14

Vasocongestion

Answer 14

Increased blood flow to vaginal tissues, causing them to swell and become visibly darker

Question 15

Plateau phase

Answer 15

Clitoris withdraws into the hood and labia minor visibly darken
Outer portion of vagina becomes swollen, constricting diameter of vaginal canal

Question 16

Orgasmic platform

Answer 16

Swollen state of the outer vagina during plateau phase

Squeezes penis during intercourse and produces increased sensation for both partners

Question 17

Orgasm

Answer 17

Intense pleasant sensation caused by a series of rapid vaginal and uterine contractions
Typically accompanied by euphoria and an altered state of consciousness
Women can have multiple within a short period of time (men can’t)
Freud believed in 2 types of orgasm (clitoral and vaginal- not totally true)
Most women do not experience orgasm every time they engage in sexual activity

Question 18

Resolution phase

Answer 18

Body returns to normal state
Blood flows away from vagina and breasts
Typically accompanied by relaxation and good mood
May lead to sleep or feeling energized

Question 19

Sexual dysfunctions

Answer 19

Disorders that are due to pain or problems in the sexual response cycle
Common but treatable
2 we will discuss: female sexual arousal disorder and female orgasmic disorder

Question 20

Female sexual arousal disorder

Answer 20

Affects excitement phase of sexual response
Want to engage in sexual activity but bodies do not cooperate and don’t experience arousal normally
Major events of excitement phase generally don’t occur (lubrication, vulva engorgement, nipple erection)

Question 21

Female orgasmic disorder

Answer 21

Lack of orgasm that is troublesome and persistent
Experience normal arousal
Can be caused by some medications
Often, women are normal but have not been receiving the proper stimulation

Question 22

Becoming Orgasmic program

Answer 22

Learning to pleasure oneself

Helping women achieve orgasm

Question 23

2 factors that encourage women to be hyper-vigilant about their outward appearance

Answer 23

Language we use to describe female genitalia

Pornography

Question 24

Linguistic sexism

Answer 24

Form of sexism built into language
Evident in words for male and female genitalia
Penis terms denote power or are male names (cock, willy, rod, dick, johnson, shaft, pecker)
Vulva terms have more negative connotations (Pussy, slit, snatch, cunt, twat)