Clitoral photoplethysmography uses light to measure clitoral blood volume (CBV). A clitoral photoplethysmograph is a small clear acrylic 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 in diameter, and is part of the microcirculation system. Capillaries are microvessels and the smallest blood vessels in the body. They are composed of only the tunica intima (the inn ...

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', : labium minus), also known as the inner labia, inner lips, or nymphae, are two flaps of skin that are part of the primate vulva, extending outwards from the inner Vagina#Vaginal opening and hymen, vagi ...

; the light detector is oriented toward the clitoris. It can be attached to a vaginal photoplethysmograph 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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* {{webarchive , url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907054248/http://www.queensu.ca/psychology/sexuality-and-gender-lab/lab-equipment , date=September 7, 2018 , title=Image of a vaginal and clitoral photoplethysmograph at Queen's University, Canada Female genital procedures Medical testing equipment Sexology

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