Clitoris: Your Essential Guide to All That You Secretly Wanted to Know, And Definitely Should

Though the clitoris may only be three-to-five inches long and tucked securely behind your clitoral hood, along the vaginal canal, it is undoubtedly an essential organ when it comes to sex and sexual pleasure. With its 8,000 sensory nerve endings (by comparison, the penis has only 4,000), this where women experience their orgasms, making this the most sensitive part of our erogenous zone. Despite the clitoris’ small size, the sensations it produces on stimulation are extremely strong, spreading even up to the pelvis. And yet, we don’t talk about the clitoris enough! In case you’ve ever wondered how this organ really works, and how to take better care of it, read on for some handy tips and tricks.

Is The Clitoris Equivalent To A Penis?

This is a question often encountered in various internet forums and message boards, to considerable debate. The two organs are, of course, essentially different in terms of their position and structure, but there’s no denying the basic similarities. For one, they’re both places where orgasms are experienced, but even apart from that, they have certain things in common. Much like the penis, the clitoris has a glans, a foreskin (also known as the hood), erectile tissue and a teeny-tiny shaft. It even swells when it's aroused. But to equate the two on the basis of just this would be reductive; the clitoris is still worlds apart from a penis.

Clitoral Growth

Not many people know this, but the clitoris actually grows in size during a woman's lifetime, as a result of hormonal changes. From puberty onwards, there are gradual increases in its size, so much that by the time puberty ends, the organ is about 1.8 times larger. By the time you hit your thirties, the clitoris is almost four times as big as what it started out to be; and after menopause, its nearly seven times as large. The organ still covers a very small area so the changes aren’t noticeable, but this explains why the sensitivity to sexual pleasure and orgasms increases with age.

Cleaning the Clitoris

Though there is usually little need to take extra care with clitoral cleaning beyond your basic genital hygiene routine, more often than not you may find unwanted germs or residue of dried-up lotion accumulating in the area under the clitoral hood. This may lead to irritation and swelling; warranting more thorough cleanliness than just basic rinsing. A good remedy is to add a few drops of baby oil to warm bath water and then gently apply it to the area, and later towelling it dry. If a more targeted cleaning is required, then dipping a q-tip in baby oil or healing ointment (preferably medically prescribed) to very slowly swipe under the clitoral hood, also works. However, it’s important to remember not to rub too hard, since the clitoris is sensitive and can be easily injured.

Sex Toys And The Clitoris

Clitoral simulation (or, fingering) is the most common way in which women masturbate, and so it’s not unusual to use sex toys once in a while to do the same; vibrators and dildos being the most popular ones. When trying to achieve maximum sexual pleasure, it’s good to vary your technique; to do it lightly at times, and more vigorously in others. This not just gives better orgasms, but also helps keep the clitoris healthier. Repeated contact in one particular area of the clitoris – especially when using something like a vibrator, that is more dynamic in nature – can sometimes lead to soreness or infections, so it’s important to be gentle.

Lubrication

Using a lubricant should almost be a necessity during both actual penetrative sex and masturbation, because it not only ensures penetrative smoothness and safety, but also keeps the clitoris from becoming too dry or too worn out. Since the clitoris is so sensitive, increased dryness can lead to irritation or infections.

“Rejuvenation Surgery”

Through something called ‘vaginal rejuvenation surgery’, a lot of women go under the knife to alter parts of their clitoris. Some people do it for aesthetic reasons, to either increase or decrease the size of the clitoris, while some opt for a process called clitoral unhooding, where excess tissue from the hood is removed for an increase in sensitivity. Although, some of these surgeries do genuinely help reduce pain or infections, many experts advise against going under the knife for them, because they may lead to long term hormonal imbalances.

Every clitoris is different – some are bigger in size, some are smaller; some are more protruding, some are hidden underneath their hoods; but they’re all equally important for the positive sexual health of a woman. And hence, it’s important to be aware of how to keep our clitorises safe during sex or masturbation, and how to protect it.