Alterations in the organic compounds of vaginal secretions caused by sexual arousal.
Open accessAbstract
The low-molecular weight organic constituents of human vaginal secretions from normally cycling subjects were analyzed both before and after sexual stimulation. Gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were employed in the analyses of the secretions. Consistent increases were noted for a number of the lipid constituents of the secretions, suggesting that they are derived at least in part from the plasma and transude into the vaginal lumen during arousal. In addition, the increases in the concentrations of glycerol and stearic acid with respect to baseline levels were significant (P is equal to and less than 0.05). Compounds which are produced intravaginally appear to decrease in concentration during the arousal interval because of dilution by the transudate. No consistent qualitative changes were noted in the secretion.
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Acetic acid is present in other human niches, including the vaginal mucosa and vaginal secretions.
“Moreover, this carboxylic acid is also present in other human niches, including the vaginal mucosa (Preti et al., 1979) and vaginal secretions (Huggins and Preti, 1976).”
From Candida glabrata susceptibility to antifungals and phagocytosis is modulated by acetate (2015) · cites this paper as Preti et al., 1979
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- Authors
- Preti, G., Huggins, G. R., & Silverberg, G. D.
- Affiliations
- Monell Chemical Senses Center (US)
- Venue
- Fertility and Sterility
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1979-07
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 47-54
- ISSN
- 0015-0282 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2405834027
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 1.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Fertility and Sterility (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
- Keywords
- vaginal secretions, sexual arousal, sexual stimulation, glycerol, stearic acid, low molecular weight organic compounds
- MeSH terms
- Acetates, Arousal, Chemistry, Chromatography, Gas, Female, Glycerol, Humans, Hydrocarbons, Sexual Behavior, Mass Spectrometry, Stearic Acids, Vagina, Chemical Phenomena
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