Vaginal Orgasm Is More Prevalent Among Women with a Prominent Tubercle of the Upper Lip

Abstract

Introduction Recent studies have uncovered multiple markers of vaginal orgasm history (unblocked pelvic movement during walking, less use of immature psychological defense mechanisms, greater urethrovaginal space). Other markers (perhaps of prenatal origin) even without obvious mechanistic roles in vaginal orgasm might exist, and a clinical observation led to the novel hypothesis that a prominent tubercle of the upper lip is such a marker. Aims To examine the hypothesis that a prominent tubercle of the upper lip is associated specifically with greater likelihood of experiencing vaginal orgasm (orgasm elicited by penile–vaginal intercourse [PVI] without concurrent masturbation). Methods Women (N = 258, predominantly Scottish) completed an online survey reporting their frequencies of various sexual activities and corresponding orgasms, age, and the prominence of the tubercle of their upper lip. Social desirability response bias was also assessed. Main Outcome Measures Multivariate associations of lip tubercle prominence with vaginal orgasm (ever and past month consistency) and with orgasm by other means. Results A prominent and sharply raised lip tubercle was associated with greater odds (odds ratio = 12.3) of ever having a vaginal orgasm, and also with greater past month vaginal orgasm consistency (an effect driven by the women who never had a vaginal orgasm), than less prominent lip tubercle categories. Lip tubercle was not associated with social desirability responding, or with orgasm triggered by masturbation during PVI, solitary or partner clitoral or vaginal masturbation, vibrator, or cunnilingus. Conclusions The results are discussed in light of the unique nature of vaginal orgasm and the possibility of prenatal developmental influences.

More Frequent Vaginal Orgasm Is Associated with Experiencing Greater Excitement from Deep Vaginal Stimulation

“…These results are consistent with the brain imaging differences noted by Komisaruk et al. , as well as clinical differences between vaginal orgasm and clitoral orgasm . Our finding that sexual arousability during stimulation of the shallow vagina was associated with sexual arousability during stimulation of the three other genital sites is consistent with the findings of Komisaruk et al.…”

“…Our results also indicate that deep vaginal sexual arousability is associated with sexual arousability at the other vaginal sites, but not the clitoris (implying differential activation). These results are consistent with the brain imaging differences noted by Komisaruk et al [2], as well as clinical differences between vaginal orgasm and clitoral orgasm [4,8,9,17,19,33]. Our finding that sexual arousability during stimulation of the shallow vagina was associated with sexual arousability during stimulation of the three other genital sites is consistent with the findings of Komisaruk et al [2] but also not inconsistent with the finding of Buisson et al [30,31] because of the correlation we observed between shallow vaginal and clitoral arousability.…”

“…However, an additional exploratory analysis found that there were independent contributions to the statistical prediction of VOC from incorporation of the vagina into lifetime first masturbation (for the women who had ever masturbated), younger age at first PVI, and current greater deep vaginal (but not shallow or middle vaginal or clitoral) arousability. This (as well as the other additional exploratory analysis that found that women who stimulated their deep vagina at first masturbation have greater current deep vaginal sensitivity than women who stimulated only their clitoris at first masturbation) suggests that some of the variance in deep vaginal sensitivity (and thus in VOC) might be due to prenatal factors [33] (which might involve many possible pathways, including possibly tactile sensitivity thresholds that are related to PVI orgasm but not to clitoral orgasm [8]). This could also support sensitive women being more ready to have the advantage of reinforcing repeated copulation with favored males.…”

Female Orgasm(s): One, Two, Several

“…There appear to be both prenatal/perinatal and educational/developmental/experiential effects on likelihood of VO. An example of the former is the observation that women with a more prominent tubercle of the upper lip (which might be related to some aspects of fetal forebrain development) have a greater lifetime likelihood of VO (but not of CO) than women with flatter or concave tubercle areas [47]. An example of the educational aspect is the finding in a large representative sample that women who were educated in their youth that the vagina is a source of female orgasm (as opposed to either receiving no sex education, or being told that the clitoris is the sole source of female orgasm) have greater VO consistency [45].…”

Anatomy of sex: Revision of the new anatomical terms used for the clitoris and the female orgasm by sexologists

“…Some researchers use the terms “vaginally activated orgasm (VAO) as the climax obtained during vaginal penetration, without direct stimulation of the external clitoris” or “vaginal orgasm (VO)” (Jannini et al, ); “A woman's history of vaginal orgasm is discernible from her walk” (Nicholas et al, ); “Vaginal orgasm is more prevalent among women with a prominent tubercle of the upper lip” (Brody and Costa, ).…”