Helen O’Connell

Helen O'Connell, Australian urologist who first mapped the full clitoral anatomy, and Emily Nagorski, sex educator and author on women's sexual wellbeing, unpack why the clitoris is far larger and more central to pleasure than commonly thought. They cover anatomy beyond the visible nub, cultural erasure and shame, parenting language around genitals, practical steps to explore your body, and why accurate education matters.

Professor Robbie Wilson, biologist studying animal mating strategies. Professor Helen O'Connell, urologist who transformed clitoral anatomy knowledge. Dr Esme Louise James, historian and creator of Kinky History. They explore animal sex and strange mating tactics. They unpack the hidden anatomy of the clitoris. They trace sexual history, cultural practices, and modern Gen Z trends.

Join us on a hunt for the elusive G-spot. Our guides: Prof. Beverly Whipple, who introduced America to the G-spot in the 1980s, and Prof. Helen O’Connell, a urologist and expert on female sexual anatomy.CreditsThis episode has been produced by Wendy Zukerman, Heather Rogers, Caitlin Kenney, Austin Mitchell, and Kaitlyn Sawrey. Edited by Annie-Rose Strasser and Alex Blumberg. Fact Checking by Michelle Harris.Production Assistance by Dr Diane Wu & Shruti Ravindran. Extra thanks to Lola Pellegrino, Andres Montoya Castillo, Rose Reid, Radio National’s Science Show -- they make a podcast. It’s great.Sound design and music production by Matthew Boll, mixed by Martin Peralta. Music written by Bobby Lord.And be sure to check out our producer Austin Mitchell’s podcast Profiles:NYC.Selected References1981 study identifying G-spot in 47 women . . . but not confirming that it leads to orgasm Perry and Whipple, “Pelvic Muscle Strength of Female Ejaculators: Evidence in Support of a New Theory of Orgasm,” The Journal of Sex Research, 1981. Note: not freely available. Report of the first modern dissection of the clitoris O’Connell et al, “Anatomical relationship between urethra and clitoris,” Journal of Urology, 1998.Everything besides the clitoris is just a shade of gray in the MRI O’Connell et al, “Clitoral anatomy in nulliparous, healthy, premenopausal volunteers using unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging,” Journal of Urology, 2005. Comprehensive account of clitoris anatomy O’Connell et al, “Anatomy of the clitoris,” Journal of Urology, 2005.Review of research on the G-Spot and cliteralurethrovaginal complex Jannini et al, “Beyond the G-Spot: clitourethrovaginal complex anatomy in female orgasm,” Nature Reviews Urology, 2014. Note: not freely available.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices