There are multiple ways to help your partner have an orgasm. You can stimulate her clitoris or even to work toward the elusive G-spot. But there’s another mysterious erogenous zone that you probably haven’t tapped into yet: the A-spot, or the anterior fornix.
Like the Loch Ness Monster, there’s speculation as to whether the A-spot actually exists. Some experts swear it can trigger long-lasting orgasms, says Yvonne K. Fulbright, Ph.D. and author of The Better Sex Guide to Extraordinary Lovemaking.
Other experts aren’t so sure.
“I’ve never seen any proof anatomically of the existence of the spot,” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Yale School of Medicine. Though she says that there are some areas of the vagina that are more sensitive than others, she can’t define one exact spot that sets off a long orgasm.
Another theory: That stimulation women feel deep inside is actually coming from the cervix—located about 3 to 6 inches inside the vaginal tunnel—not the anterior fornix, says Leah Millheiser, M.D., director of the female sexual medicine program at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. The nerves in the pelvic area responsible for orgasms supply the fibers found in the cervix, and when the cervix (or the area around it) is stimulated, those nerves may activate sexual arousal, she explains.
While there are mixed opinions as to whether the spot exists, there’s no harm in trying to find it if you and your partner are a little curious. Women who report having orgasms from A-spot stimulation say they’re intense and last about 20 seconds longer than other types of orgasms—so it’s worth a shot.
How to Find the A-Spot
The A-spot is found deep inside the vagina between the cervix and the bladder. You can locate it the same way you would with a G-spot.
Apparently, stroking this area can help women get wetter faster. “It’s made up of a patch of sensitive tissue that lubricates when stimulated,” says Ava Cadell, Ph.D., certified sex counsellor and founder of Loveology.
A good rule of thumb is to find the G-spot with your index finger, and then go a couple inches deeper. Then gently stroke the front wall of her vagina with an in-and-out motion, says Fulbright. As she become lubricated, the strokes should become longer, with your finger running along the entire length of the vaginal wall, she explains.
If you’re trying to nail this spot during intercourse, Cadell says you might be able to achieve it with doggy style and missonary positions. If you’re doing the latter, prop a pillow up under her backside to get your penis angled up towards her cervix, she says.
Since the A-spot is supposedly found deep inside the vagina, your partner may find the sensation uncomfortable at first. Keep in mind that every woman’s body is different, so it’s possible that the A-spot orgasm may never become a reality for her.