Viable technique or just a placebo effect (with a possible side of woman shaming)?
A Florida gynecological surgeon says he successfully performed what he calls a “G-spotplasty” on three women in 2013.
The result? All three have regained their ability to orgasm from vaginal penetration, which they had lost after giving birth, he claims.
As reported by New Scientist, Adam Ostrzenski’s procedure involved excising a small amount of tissue from the upper vaginal wall where the G-spot is considered to be located. He then sutured the incision to tighten that area resting about an inch inside the vaginal opening.
Serious skepticism
Ostrzenski’s technique is one of various so-called “G-spot therapies” available, among them also include injections of collagen into the vagina to increase sensitivity.
But while these pleasure-promising procedures are major moneymakers, their efficacy remains disputed.
“G-spot therapies have become a multimillion-dollar business, promising to increase sexual pleasure for women,” Devan Stahl from Michigan State University said to New Scientist.
However, she added there is “virtually no evidence that these therapies work outside of a placebo effect.”
The existence of the g-spot in doubt
The claim that the sexual reactions to Ostrzenski’s surgeries are nothing but psychological is bolstered by the fact that his research—and thus his conclusions—have failed to meet scientific standards. For instance, he neglecting to include a control subject.
In addition to to the fact that there is no evidence that these techniques actually work, Stahl added that the existence of a specific S-spot also remains unproven:
There are researchers who think it absolutely does not exist, others who think that it may exist but not every woman has it, and still others who think that it is not a single ‘spot’ or anatomical structure, but rather a complex of varied anatomical structures.
Female sexuality isn’t broken
Beyond this, there is the bigger issue that these procedures reinforce the myth that if a woman cannot orgasm through penetration that she is somehow either sexually broken or incomplete.
According to a recent study published in The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, in partnership with OMGYes, only 18% of women reported they can orgasm through vaginal penetration.
That scientifically unproven “G-spot therapies” like Ostrzenski’s exist clearly shows a lot of needs to be done to repair many women’s sexual well-being—but not through surgery.
Rather, comprehensive education is what is truly needed: we need teach women and girls that their physical pleasure is uniquely theirs, and not being able to orgasm through penetration is nothing to be ashamed of—or ever needing repair.
This sad state of affairs is perfectly expressed by Stahl:
What is actually statistically normal—difficulty achieving orgasms through penetrative vaginal intercourse—is now considered pathological
Yet there is still room for optimism. For every procedure that preys on insecurity, there are activists and even entire movements—like Sex Positivity—working to increase female sexual awareness and acceptance.
As Beyoncé said,
There is unbelievable power in ownership, and women should own their sexuality. There is a double standard when it comes to sexuality that still persists. Men are free and women are not. That is crazy. The old lessons of submissiveness and fragility made us victims. Women are so much more than that. You can be a businesswoman, a mother, an artist, and a feminist—whatever you want to be—and still be a sexual being. It’s not mutually exclusive.
