Lesson 7 Flashcards
Chapter 8 terms
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Vulva
The female external genital area as a whole
Labia majora
Outer lips of the vagina
Labia minora
Inner lips of the vagina
May fit inside labia majora or extend past them
Vaginal opening
Between the labia minora
Opening through which menstrual blood flows and through which babies are born
Used for penetration during sexual activity
Perineum
Skin between the vagina and anus
Quite sensitive
Sometimes tears during childbirth, but heals well
Urethral opening
Located above the vaginal opening
Used for urination
Clitoris
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
G-spot
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)
Hymen
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
Douching
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
4 phases of the sexual response cycle in women
Excitement
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution
Excitement phase
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
Vasocongestion
Increased blood flow to vaginal tissues, causing them to swell and become visibly darker
Plateau phase
Clitoris withdraws into the hood and labia minor visibly darken
Outer portion of vagina becomes swollen, constricting diameter of vaginal canal
Orgasmic platform
Swollen state of the outer vagina during plateau phase
Squeezes penis during intercourse and produces increased sensation for both partners
Orgasm
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
Resolution phase
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
Sexual dysfunctions
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
Female sexual arousal disorder
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)
Female orgasmic disorder
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
Becoming Orgasmic program
Learning to pleasure oneself
Helping women achieve orgasm
2 factors that encourage women to be hyper-vigilant about their outward appearance
Language we use to describe female genitalia
Pornography
Linguistic sexism
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)
