Clitoral photoplethysmography uses light to measure clitoral blood volume (CBV). A clitoral photoplethysmograph is a small clear

acrylic Acrylic may refer to: Chemicals and materials * Acrylic acid, the simplest acrylic compound * Acrylate polymer, a group of polymers (plastics) noted for transparency and elasticity * Acrylic resin, a group of related thermoplastic or thermosett ...

device that contains a light source, and a light detector. The light source illuminates the

capillary bed A capillary is a small blood vessel from 5 to 10 micrometres (μm) in diameter. Capillaries are composed of only the tunica intima, consisting of a thin wall of simple squamous endothelial cells. They are the smallest blood vessels in the body: ...

of the clitoral tissue and the blood circulating within it. As clitoral engorgement increases, more light is reflected into the photosensitive cell of the device. The clitoral photoplethysmograph is placed by the participant between the

labia minora The labia minora (Latin for 'smaller lips', singular: ''labium minus'', 'smaller lip'), also known as the inner labia, inner lips, vaginal lips or nymphae are two flaps of skin on either side of the human vaginal opening in the vulva, situated b ...

; the light detector is oriented toward the clitoris. It can be attached to a

vaginal photoplethysmograph Vaginal photoplethysmography (VPG, VPP) is a technique using light to measure the amount of blood in the walls of the vagina. The device that is used is called a vaginal photometer. Use The device is used to try to obtain an objective measure o ...

so that both CBV and vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) can be measured simultaneously. Gerritsen found clitoral photoplethysmography to be a valid and sensitive tool for measuring female genital response. In contrast to vaginal photoplethysmography, clitoral photoplethysmographs are sensitive to the inhibition of sexual response. The authors suggest that clitoral photoplethysmography is particularly informative for examining sexual inhibition. Some researchers have posited that the procedure might be a viable instrument for assessing female sex offenders.Schlank, Anita, Saprina Matheny, and Jessica Schilling. "Overview of Assessment of Sexual Offenders." Sexual Offending. Springer New York, 2016. 247-264

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Image of a vaginal and clitoral photoplethysmograph
at Queen's University, Canada Female genital procedures Medical testing equipment Sexology

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