The Clitoris: A Cumplete Guide

What is the Clitoris?

The clitoris is the pleasure center of the female anatomy. This super-sensitive organ can be seen by the naked eye as a small, fleshy nub at the top of the vaginal opening—but this is just the tip of the iceberg! The rest of the clitoris extends deep inside the female body as a complex network of tissues and nerves. 

A recent Oregon Health & Science University-led study revealed that the clitoris has over 10,000 nerve fibers, making it the body’s hub for erotic pleasure [1]. In fact, it’s the only known human organ that exists solely for pleasure.

How to Find The Clit

Unlike the somewhat mysterious g-spot, the clitoris is pretty easy to put your finger on (pun intended). Here's how to get the lay of the land:

Anatomy of a Vagina

First, let's get to know the vagina. The vagina connects the external female genitalia (the vulva) to the cervix, the narrow part of the uterus.

On the outside, the vagina has an opening with protective flaps around it, referred to as the labia minora (the innermost lips) and the labia majora (outer lips). Above that opening is a smaller hole through which urine passes, called the urethra, and above that is the star of the pleasure show: the clitoris.

The clitoris is located at the top of the vulva, surrounded by a clitoral hood, a fold of skin that protects the sensitive glans. Just like other body parts, the clitoral hood comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Inside the body, the clitoris is shaped like an upside-down wishbone, with the organ branching to form a V shape [2].

Be a Clitoral Explorer

• Take your pants off and grab a hand mirror.
• Sit on a chair or bed and open your legs, putting one foot up on the chair or bed.
• Hold the mirror between your legs, angling it so you can see your vulva.
• Use your free hand to pull your outer and inner lips apart.
• Look at the very top of the vaginal opening, and you’ll see a flap of skin connected to your inner lips.

Tips for Pleasuring The Clit

When it comes to pleasuring the clit, here are a couple tips for masturbation and satisfying clitoral stimulation during sex.

Get to Know Your Clit: Start by exploring your own body, getting to know where your clit is located and how different forms of stimulation make it feel. You may want to begin by using a single finger to apply very light pressure to the area around the clitoris, without directly touching it. Then, move on to directly touching the clit using multiple fingers, running them from side to side or in a circular motion. Experiment to see what you like best.

Get Your Partner Involved: First, talk to your partner about what you like. For tips on effective conversations, see our blog Communicating Your Desires to Your Partner. Then, try different positions that are proven to stimulate the clit, such as The Grind. During The Grind, your partner will penetrate the vagina deeply in missionary position with a penis or strap-on dildo, while grinding their body against the clitoris in either an up-and-down, side-to-side, or circular motion. 

In positions where there is little direct pressure on the clitoris, such as doggy style, don’t be afraid to touch your clit, ask your partner to stimulate your clit, or use a vibrator to target this sensitive external area during sex.

Use Sex Toys: There are many sex toys designed specifically to target the clitoris, including rose toys, suction toys, vibrating cock rings and much more.

Best Toys for Clitoral Stimulation

The right toy can send you into previously unknown throes of clitoral pleasure. Here are a few toy styles we recommend:

Rose Toys: Your pleasure will bloom when you press one of these soft, pretty, flower-shaped vibrators against your clitoris. Rose toys offer various functions, including suction, vibration, and oral-like sensations. Rose toys are typically quiet, discreet, and appropriate for travel.

Bullet Vibrators: Bullets are typically crafted with a simple, straightforward design that’s aimed to please. Shaped like their namesake, they can be pressed against the clitoris for scintillating external vibration. Bullet vibrators often have powerful motors, multiple vibration functions, and sometimes come with a remote control. 

Clitoral Suction Toys: If you love oral, you need a clitoral suction toy, which uses pleasantly flickering pulses of air to target the clit, mimicking feelings of oral sex.

Rabbit Vibrators: Rabbit vibrators (and other dual stimulator toys) deliver a double whammy of pleasure, with one arm that’s inserted into the vagina to stimulate the g-spot, plus an external arm designed to hone in on the clit.

Vibrating Cock Rings: Cock rings can enhance intimate experiences for both the wearer and the receiver. They’re stretchy rings that fit snugly around the base of the penis, restricting blood flow to keep erections harder for longer. Vibrating cock rings are also designed to deliver powerful sensations straight to the clitoris, resulting in pleasure for both partners.

Clitoral Gels & Creams

To make a highly sensitive area even MORE sensitive, you can apply topical clitoral enhancement creams or gels. Common active ingredients like l-arginine, menthol, cinnamon, gingko, peppermint, and others work to increase oxygen delivery and blood flow to the genitals, leading to elevated arousal, enhanced sensitivity, and increased likelihood of orgasm. 

Tips for Using Arousal Gel

• Make sure the cream is compatible with your preferred condom and toy materials. 
• Look for creams that match your preferred sensation. Choose between warming, cooling, tingling, relaxing, and more.
• Buy from trusted brands.
• Arousal gels do not typically contain spermicide and should not be used for contraceptive purposes.
• Stop using the gel if you experience discomfort or vaginal dryness.

Clit Facts

To wrap up our tour of all things clitoral, we’ll end on a few fun facts about an undeniably fun-having organ:

The Clit Never Ages: The clitoris stays surprisingly youthful, looking and working the same in an 80-year-old as in a 21-year-old. However, it does keep growing.

It Can Swell Up to 300% its Usual Size: When you become aroused, the clit becomes engorged and can puff up anywhere from 50 to 300% its resting size.

It Can Become a Penis: During sex reassignment surgery, doctors can use clitoral material to construct a phallic shaft. During feminization surgery, doctors can also use sensitive penile tissue to create a clitoris in a procedure known as clitoroplasty [3].

Now that you're more cliterate than ever, go forth and embrace pleasure!

Sources

[1]https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/10/27/pleasure-producing-human-clitoris-has-more-than-10-000-nerve-fibers

[2]https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22823-clitoris

[3]https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/23/clitbait-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-clitoris#:~:text=A%20clitoris%20is%20made%20up%20of%2018,feels%20when%20they're%20having%20orgasms.%E2%80%9D%20The%20actual