Where is the clitoris and what is it?

The clitoris is a small pea-sized lump towards the top of the vaginal area above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not contain the distal portion of the urethra and functions solely to induce sexual pleasure. The only known exception to this is in the Spotted Hyena. In this species, the urogenital system is unique in that the female urinates, mates and gives birth via an enlarged, erectile clitoris, known as a pseudo-penis. It is very sensitive and when stimulated can lead to orgasm.

The Female Orgasm

What is it?

A peak of sexual excitement, marking a moment of intense pleasure. The female orgasm lasts a few seconds, followed by a feeling of relaxation. Continued stimulation may also result in further orgasms. Unlike the men, some women are able to do this without the need to rest for a short period of time, smoke a cigarette or order in pizza.

Do women only climax during penetrative sex?

Far from it. The fact is very few women orgasm solely as a result of the penis penetrating the vagina, it's more likely to happen through stimulation (touching/rubbing/kissing) of the clitoris - the highly sensitive bump located at the top of the vaginal lips.

How does it feel?

The 'earth moves' differently for every woman. What's more it can vary in strength and duration each time. There is no all-embracing description of the female orgasm, but according to sources at The Site it can feel:
"Soul sapping."
"The same as it does for boys, only different."
"A throbbing, electric sensation that spreads out through the body."

What are the physical signs?

Here are some general orgasm indicators, describing the build up and the moment itself:

• rising feeling of intense pleasure;
• increase in blood pressure and pulse rate;
• breathing quickens;
• increase in vaginal lubrication;
• clitoris becomes erect and exposed;
• breasts become enlarged, nipples erect;
• skin flushes, particularly the face and chest;
• pelvic muscle spasms, causing vaginal contractions and orgasmic sensations.

Why does it happen?

In men, the orgasm is all tied up with a specific reproductive function - sperm ejaculation. Women don't have to orgasm during sex in order to conceive, which makes the reason why it happens hard to pin down. Here are some of the more interesting (and questionable) theories, none of which address the simple fact - if it's enjoyable, who needs theories?

• After climax, you're more likely to lie down, thus increasing sperm retention and boosting your chances of conception!
• The muscular contractions associated with the female orgasm help pull sperm from the vagina to the cervix, again boosting conception chances.
• To create an emotional bond between lovers.
  
• A means of communicating sexual satisfaction to your partner.

Health Benefits of Sex in Real Life

Sex in a loving, intimate relationship has numerous health benefits. In women, for example, the sexual act triggers the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin promotes feelings of affection and triggers that nurturing instinct. In men, sex encourages the flow of testosterone, which strengthens bones and muscles and helps transport DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) , a hormone that may be important in the function of the body’s immune system.

• Reduced risk of heart disease: In a 2001 follow-on to the Queens University study mentioned above, researchers focused on cardiovascular health. Their finding? That by having sex three or more times a week, men reduced their risk of heart attack or stroke by half. In reporting these results, the co-author of the study, Shah Ebrahim, Ph.D., displayed the well-loved British gift for understatement: "The relationship found between frequency of sexual intercourse and mortality is of considerable public interest."
• Improved sense of smell: After sex, production of the hormone prolactin surges. This in turn causes stem cells in the brain to develop new neurons in the brain's olfactory bulb, its smell center.
  
• Weight loss: Sex, if nothing else, is exercise. A vigorous bout burns some 200 calories--about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill or playing a spirited game of squash. The pulse rate, in a person aroused, rises from about 70 beats per minute to 150, the same as that of an athlete putting forth maximum effort. British researchers have determined that the equivalent of six Big Macs can be worked off by having sex three times a week for a year. Muscular contractions during intercourse work the pelvis, thighs, buttocks, arms, neck and thorax. Sex also boosts production of testosterone, which leads to stronger bones and muscles. Men's Health magazine has gone so far as to call the bed the single greatest piece of exercise equipment ever invented.
• Reduced depression: Such was the implication of a 2002 study of 293 women. American psychologist Gordon Gallup reported that sexually active participants whose male partners did not use condoms were less subject to depression than those whose partners did. One theory of causality: Prostoglandin, a hormone found only in semen, may be absorbed in the female genital tract, thus modulating female hormones.
• Less-frequent colds and flu: Wilkes University in Pennsylvania says individuals who have sex once or twice a week show 30% higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system.
• Better bladder control: Heard of Kegel exercises? You do them, whether you know it or not, every time you stem your flow of urine. The same set of muscles is worked during sex.
• Better teeth: Seminal plasma contains zinc, calcium and other minerals shown to retard tooth decay. Since this is a family Web site, we will omit discussion of the mineral delivery system. Suffice it to say that it could be a far richer, more complex and more satisfying experience than squeezing a tube of Crest--even Tartar Control Crest. Researchers have noted, parenthetically, that sexual etiquette usually demands the brushing of one's teeth before and or after intimacy, which, by itself, would help promote better oral hygiene.
• Pain-reliever: Immediately before orgasm, levels of the hormone oxytocin surge to five times their normal level. This in turn releases endorphins, which alleviate the pain of everything from headache to arthritis to even migraine. In women, sex also prompts production of estrogen, which can reduce the pain of PMS.

related topic Sex Makes People Young and Healthy

Sex Makes People Young and Healthy

It is an open secret that a person gets into a cheerful mood during an act of love. In addition to purely psychological satisfaction, the human body produces endorphin – the hormone in charge of elevated spirits and positive perception of the environment. Researchers say that such inspiration comes from the activity of certain brain centers, which change the hormonal status of the body. Good quality sex produces a spiritually elevating effect on the chemical level, which does not require any additional efforts.

Prior to the culminating moment of an act of love, orgasm, the brain emits a dose of oxytocin – the hormone of the posterior lobe of pituitary. Oxytocin results in the production of sedative endorphins – natural analogues of morphine. Sex spurs the production of estrogen with women – the substance, which eases premenstrual pains. Therefore, sex is the best painkiller.

One may say that a bed is the best equipment for physical exercises that man has ever designed. The pulse rate of a sexually excited individual increases from 70 to 150 beats per minute, which is comparable to muscle efforts of a weight-lifter. Only one sexual intercourse burns off the same amount of calories that a person loses running on a treadmill for 15 minutes. Needless to say that the first option is much more pleasant than the second one. Thirty minutes of sex kill about 200 calories. In other words, daily sex can take away 500 grams of your weight in a week.

Sex is a very good impetus for the strengthening of the immune system. It has been tentatively proved that those people, who have sex on a regular basis, are much more protected against various viral diseases than those, who prefer abstinence: healthy sex saturates blood with antibodies. Therefore, sexually active men and women suffer from widespread infectious diseases such a flu and cold less frequently. As for sexually transmitted diseases, the answer is obvious: a condom makes perfect.

It may seem unreal, but it is a fact: regular sex enlarges women's breasts. Sexual excitement intensifies the bloodstream, which may add 25 percent to a woman's breast size. Furthermore, women can raise their IQ with every orgasm that they experience. American scientists, who continuingly study sexual possibilities of homo sapiens, discovered that the moment of orgasm gives a very powerful incentive to a large number of chemical reactions and physical procedures in the body. The speed of blood circulation reaches its maximum, whereas the oxygen-enriched blood reaches all internal organs, including brain, very quickly. Hypothalamus – the center for control of the hormonal system – also governs the work of learning and memorizing centers.

It goes without saying that an act of love ends with the ultimate relaxation and sleep, especially if it occurs after a hard day at work. The raising level of oxytocin produces a strong tranquillizing effect. Sex can therefore be considered as a perfect natural soporific medication.

Sex trains almost all groups of muscles, especially muscles of pelvis, buttocks, stomach and arms, which is an important factor for women. Regular love acts improve the bearing and exert a favorable influence on the musculoskeletal system. In addition, sex results in the production of collagen – the substance, which adds smoothness and glow to women's skin. Progesterone, another hormonal product of sex, helps a person fight acne. American scientists concluded as a result of their research that couples, who love each other at least three times a week, look two or three years younger than their coevals, who either abstain from sex or hardly ever enjoy it.

Any long-legged beauty girl annoys you, especially if she looks younger and prettier. A photograph of a beautiful model wearing fancy designer clothes ruins your entire day. Only passionate sex can save you from this infirmity. When a man tells his woman that she is the most beautiful lady on Earth, a woman usually stops thinking about several centimeters of fat on her waist or the fading elasticity of her skin. Psychologists say that it is much easier for a woman to learn how to love herself, if she has a man, who desires and worships her.

related topic Health Benefits of Sex in Real Life

Psychological Definition of Orgasm

Psychologists and psychiatrists define orgasm based on subjective experiences of satisfaction, release, and other emotional and/or cognitive changes. Freud (who distinguished vaginal from clitoral orgasms) considered one kind to be proof of psychological health and the other to be a sign of psychosocial development that has stalled. By Freud's definition a good orgasm came from vaginal penetration, and a bad one from clitoral stimulation. Most psychologists and psychological researchers have abandoned this concept and by most of these definitions either you've had an orgasm when you say you've had an orgasm, or you've had one when what you describe matches what some expert proposes orgasm and react to pheromones.

Sniffing Out Human Pheromones

Scientists have found long-sought proof that people release potent chemical signals that can have profound effects on other people.

The research settles a 40-year debate about whether humans produce and can respond to pheromones, molecules that are usually airborne and odorless and which, in other species, influence such physiological processes and behaviors as mate choice, the recognition of one's own family members, and the ability to "smell" the difference between friend and foe.

Specifically, the new research shows that women's underarm odors can alter the timing of other women's reproductive cycles. It explains why women who live together often develop synchronous menstrual periods, and could spur development of "natural" fertility drugs or contraceptives.

The finding may also lead to the discovery of compounds in sweat that could be incorporated into fragrances to alter body chemistry or mood.

"This is definitely going to make people sit up and take notice," said Charles J. Wysocki of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. Previous studies by scientists at Monell and elsewhere showed similar results but later were recognized as flawed. The new work, Wysocki said, seems to answer the question for good.

"The evidence has now become quite strong that humans produce and detect pheromones," agreed Edward W. Johnson of Idaho State University in Pocatello.

The discovery was especially gratifying to Martha K. McClintock, the University of Chicago researcher who, with colleague Kathleen Stern, describes the work in today's issue of the journal Nature. As an undergraduate almost 30 years ago, McClintock observed that many women in her dormitory menstruated in synchrony.

For decades McClintock immersed herself in the task of identifying the timing mechanism. She and others suspected pheromones, but proof was hard to come by.

Pheromones have been documented in many species, ranging from insects to elephants, as sex attractants, kinship identifiers or alarm signals. In many species they are detected by a specialized organ inside the nose or mouth called the vomeronasal organ, or VNO.

There was ample evidence that human pheromones exist; babies show a clear preference for pieces of clothing that have been worn by their own mothers, for example, and research suggests that men and women choose their mates in part by sniffing out partners with compatible immune systems. Several years ago, researchers in Utah even said they had identified the first human pheromones -- and turned their discovery into a line of perfumes that today boasts revenue of $40 million a year.

But the Utah work has been criticized by many experts. And the Monell work, on menstrual cycles, did not take into consideration the fact that many out-of-phase cycles will naturally converge over time.

Moreover, scientists have remained uncertain whether the human VNO, a pair of tiny pits in the nose, is a functional organ or an evolutionary vestige.

To find out if human pheromones exist and can affect menstrual timing, McClintock and Stern asked nine women to wear gauze pads under their armpits all day. (Sweat is a common source of pheromones in mammals.) The pads, changed daily, were cut into pieces and frozen, and a daily tally was kept of each woman's menstrual phase.

Then, every day for four months, the researchers rubbed thawed gauze pads above the upper lips of 20 volunteer women who had agreed to have any of 30 different "natural essences" rubbed under their noses. "Sweat" was among the 30. "We buried it in the list," McClintock said.

For two months, 10 women sniffed sweat from women in the early phase of their menstrual cycle, while the other 10 sniffed sweat from women in a later phase of their cycle. Then the groups switched and spent two months getting the opposite scent.

The women smelled nothing, but the results were striking: Those exposed to "early phase" sweat saw their own cycles shortened by an average of 1.7 days per month, and as much as 14 days a month. Those who sniffed "later phase" sweat saw their cycles lengthened by an average of 1.4 days a month, and up to 12 days a month.

Computer models indicated there must be two substances in the sweat -- one that lengthens cycles and one that shortens them -- and that together they can quickly lead to groups of women having synchronous periods.

"This carefully controlled study clearly shows, for the first time, that the potential for chemical communication involving sexual function has been preserved in humans during evolution," wrote Aron Weller, of Israel's Bar-Ilan University, in a commentary in Nature.

McClintock emphasized the word "potential," since the experiment does not prove these signals work under normal conditions, such as across a room.

"We put it on the upper lip," McClintock said, "so really we know absolutely nothing about where it is acting, whether it's through the skin, the mucus membranes in the nose or the VNO." Nonetheless, practical uses could follow.

"The whole point would be to see what the compounds are and how do they act and what is their natural route and see whether we could develop a highly efficient ovarian modulator," McClintock said. A drug that constantly delays ovulation could serve as a contraceptive, while one that prompts ovulation might cure some kinds of infertility.

Linda Buck of Harvard University, who studies the molecular genetics of smell, said she has been unable to find functioning VNO genes in people. But some animals detect pheromones with their normal nasal cells, she said, and humans may too.

If pheromones have a big effect on human physiology, people may want to rethink their heavy use of soaps and perfumes: It may be, Buck speculated, that the constant washing away or covering up of these sweaty social signals account for some of the loneliness or depression in modern society.