The cervicocavernosus reflex: Description of the reflex and its role in the sexual act

The paper studies the action and clinical significance of a reflex termed the ‘cervicocavernosus’ reflex. Twenty-two healthy women (mean age 39.7±10.2 SD years) entered the study. The cervix uteri was stimulated both mechanically and electrically by a needle electrode. The response of the bulbo- and ischiocavernosus muscles was recorded by a needle electrode inserted in each muscle. In 10 subjects, the cervix was anesthetized and the cavernosus muscles' response to stimulation of the anesthetized cervix was recorded. The vaginal pressure was measured at rest and on cervical stimulation by means of a balloontipped catheter introduced into the vagina. The mean vaginal pressure at rest was 5.2±1.8 SD cmH₂O and on cervical stimulation 38.8±10.6 cmH₂O. The cavernosus muscles showed no resting activity. Upon cervical stimulation, the muscles contracted with a mean amplitude of 286.4±55.6 SD μV for the bulbocavernosus muscle and 176.6±48.8 μV for the ischiocavernosus muscle; the mean latency of the reflex response was 59.2 ±10.6 SD ms. Stimulation of the anesthetized cervix did not evoke contraction of the muscles. The cervicocavernosus reflex could play a role in enhancing both clitoral and penile erection during the sexual act.