Anatomic distribution of nerves and microvascular density in the human anterior vaginal wall: prospective study

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 7;9(11):e110239. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110239. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: The presence of the G-spot (an assumed erotic sensitive area in the anterior wall of the vagina) remains controversial. We explored the histomorphological basis of the G-spot.

Methods: Biopsies were drawn from a 12 o'clock direction in the distal- and proximal-third areas of the anterior vagina of 32 Chinese subjects. The total number of protein gene product 9.5-immunoreactive nerves and smooth muscle actin-immunoreactive blood vessels in each specimen was quantified using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase assay.

Results: Vaginal innervation was observed in the lamina propria and muscle layer of the anterior vaginal wall. The distal-third of the anterior vaginal wall had significantly richer small-nerve-fiber innervation in the lamina propria than the proximal-third (p = 0.000) and in the vaginal muscle layer (p = 0.006). There were abundant microvessels in the lamina propria and muscle layer, but no small vessels in the lamina propria and few in the muscle layer. Significant differences were noted in the number of microvessels when comparing the distal- with proximal-third parts in the lamina propria (p = 0.046) and muscle layer (p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Significantly increased density of nerves and microvessels in the distal-third of the anterior vaginal wall could be the histomorphological basis of the G-spot. Distal anterior vaginal repair could disrupt the normal anatomy, neurovascular supply and function of the G-spot, and cause sexual dysfunction.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Microvessels / cytology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmenopause
  • Premenopause
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sexuality
  • Vagina / anatomy & histology
  • Vagina / blood supply*
  • Vagina / innervation*

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.