Urethral sponge

14. The urethral sponge

The urethral sponge is a spongy cushion of tissue, found in the lower genital area of females, that sits against both the pubic bone and the vaginal wall, and is around the urethra.

Functions

The urethral sponge is made of erectile tissue; during arousal, it becomes swollen with blood, and squeezes the urethra, helping to stop urination during sexual activity^[source?] (along with the pubococcygeus muscle).^[1]

Female ejaculation

See the main article: Female ejaculation

Also, the urethral sponge has the Skene's glands, which might be used in female ejaculation.

Sexual stimulation

The urethral sponge is around sensitive nerve endings, and can be stimulated through the front wall of the vagina. Some women have had strong pleasure from stimulation of the urethral sponge, but others have found the feeling to be not good, as irritating. The urethral sponge is around the clitoral nerve, and since the two are so closely inter-connected, stimulation of the clitoris may stimulate the nerve endings of the urethral sponge and vice versa.^[2] Some women enjoy the rear-entry position of sexual intercourse for this reason, because the penis is often angled slightly downward and can stimulate the front wall of the vagina, and then also the urethral sponge.

References

1. Varuna Raizada; Ravinder K. Mittal (2008). "Pelvic Floor Anatomy and Applied Physiology". Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 37 (3)): 493–vii. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2008.06.003. PMC 2617789. PMID 18793993.
2. Cornforth, Tracee (17 July 2009). "The Clitoral Truth. Interview with author and sexologist Rebecca Chalker". About.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.

Other websites

• 3D Animation of Female Prostate Gland 1 360 Degree Vertical Rotation