Clitoris
Everything you wanted to know about the clitoris and didn't know who to ask
Many men claim they can't find it, while many women lament that their lazy lovers don't spend enough time on it. Also known as the love button, the orchid, the flower of passion, the little love bud, the little pink phone, Miss Tingle, Mini Me, ground zero, little pink pearl, or ruby, the clitoris is the most important part of a woman's sexual anatomy, so for both men and women, not having enough information about it is not advisable.
Anatomy
According to sexologists, most young men don't know exactly where the clitoris is located in the vagina. While it's true that this ignorance decreases in adulthood, it wouldn't hurt for women to teach their partners the specific location (or for men to ask), just in case.
The clitoris is hidden beneath the clitoral hood, where the upper ends of both labia meet, just above the urethra.
Like a miniature penis, it consists of a rounded tip (the glans) connected to a longer part, the body, which—unlike the penis—is the size of a pinky finger.
The body of the clitoris divides into two arms that extend backward into the woman's body, under the skin. Nerves control the contractions of the clitoral muscles and the sides of the vaginal walls, bladder, and urethra, transmitting sensations produced anywhere in the region.
Generally, only the glans of the clitoris is visible, as the labia minora, the protective lips covering the vagina, are over the clitoral tunnel and form a kind of hood.
Also like the penis, both the glans and the body of the clitoris contain spongy, erectile tissue that fills with blood during arousal, causing the clitoris to almost double in size. However, there's no evidence that a larger clitoris means more intense sexual arousal, so there's no need to idealize a giant clitoris.
While the clitoral nerve endings make this organ extremely sensitive to any kind of touch or pressure, stimulation of a woman's breasts, mental stimulation, and various erogenous zones can cause the clitoris, labia, and surrounding area to swell with blood, just as happens with the penis when it becomes erect.
When a woman continues to become aroused, the clitoris becomes less visible as the tissues in the clitoral "hood" swell, covering the clitoris and protecting it from direct contact, which could be too intense for many women.
After orgasm, or once the stimulus ceases, blood drains from the clitoral area, and it returns to its normal size. Some women say that if they become very aroused but don't experience an orgasm, their clitoris remains swollen, causing discomfort or irritation.
Understanding the functions of the clitoris
Fortunately, the clitoris serves no purpose other than to provide its owner with sexual pleasure. In fact, it has nothing to do with reproduction, menstruation, or urination. Therefore, women should especially consider that the clitoris is the only organ in the human body designed solely and exclusively for pleasure purposes.
Care
1. Self-examination of the vulva
Most women know it's crucial to perform regular breast exams, but what they often don't realize is that they should also examine their vulvas. Doing so is simple: after bathing, sit on the edge of the bed or bathtub and use a mirror to examine the vagina. Be very attentive to any very reddish tones, rashes, pimples, blisters, sores, or genital warts. Examine through the pubic hair first, then open the outer labia and check the clitoral hood.
It's also important to observe the clitoris itself closely, lifting the hood, as well as examining the inner labia from all sides, and then checking the area around the urinary and vaginal canal, keeping them open.
Check for any unusual vaginal discharge. Again, like regular breast exams, the most effective way to discern between "exceptional" or "normal" will be determined by yourself, depending on how frequently you examine yourself. If you notice anything strange or unsettling, consult your doctor immediately, as there should be no shame when it comes to your safety.
2. Maintaining good hygiene
Smegma is not a myth; it is, in fact, a substance that can be harmful, so to maintain good vaginal health, it's necessary to prevent its accumulation.
The glands on the inner surface of the clitoral hood secrete a sebaceous, oily substance that lubricates the clitoral glans. This secretion turns into smegma, a thick white fluid. If not washed regularly, it can accumulate and dry, forming hard little balls under the clitoral hood. As a result, one might experience irritation that can be painful and could cause adhesions between the glans and the hood. Preventing these adhesions is very simple; just keep the inside of your vagina clean.
Problems
Clitoral Pain
As a result of various causes, including a condition called "lichen sclerosus," vibrator injuries, nerve damage, or being excessively vigorous in masturbation, clitoral pain can lead to great hypersensitivity, to the point of feeling pain when the clitoris is touched or stimulated. Some women have reported that a yeast infection can result in clitoral pain, while others experience pain after exercising or physical activity.
Nevertheless, despite the pain, one can still be capable of having intercourse or achieving an orgasm, but one might experience an unusual level of discomfort or an uncomfortable sense of intensity. The best thing to do in these cases is to consult your doctor, especially if these symptoms persist for more than a day.
Pleasure
1. Clitoris or Vagina?
Sigmund Freud noted in his complete works that "immature" women have clitoral orgasms, while "mature" women have vaginal orgasms, suggesting that as they grow, they should learn how to enjoy intercourse rather than using the "easier" method of clitoral stimulation.
This is disputed, like many Freudian theories, as many experts point out that one can have any kind of orgasm and that there isn't an immature or bad one. On the other hand, some women say they can only have orgasms through clitoral stimulation.
The important thing, in any case, is to enjoy whatever kind of orgasm you have and not worry so much about what the body does or doesn't do. It can always be good to experiment with different forms of stimulation, but too many expectations in one direction or another could only bring frustration.
2. Masturbation
Masturbation is healthy, normal, and virtually necessary for good sexual and mental health. Due to the large number of nerve endings around the clitoris, most women focus on this organ to rub themselves, making tiny circular movements to reach climax and orgasm.
Vibrators can be a way to enhance clitoral masturbation, although some women with extremely sensitive clitorises feel that direct stimulation is too intense, so they prefer to use vaginal dildos or other types of vibrators for masturbation.
But the methodology used matters little, as long as it makes you enjoy and feel good, it means you're choosing the right one.
3. Oral Stimulation of the Vulva or Clitoris
Many women love oral stimulation of their genitals. In fact, some women swear they could achieve an orgasm solely through oral stimulation of their vulva or clitoris. In any case, one should know that oral stimulation of the vulva or clitoris takes time, patience, and skill. Fortunately, all of this can be learned by the partner.
4. During Intercourse
It's known that many women can't reach orgasm through penetration unless it's combined with direct clitoral stimulation. This shouldn't be a big problem, especially knowing there are no reasons why a woman can't stimulate herself during sexual intercourse. And if she has a considerate partner, they could do the stimulation instead.
Ideally, it would be to experiment with different positions and accessories, like vibrators, until you find one that provides direct clitoral stimulation, either through friction or by leaving enough space for your partner to easily touch your clitoris.
Source: EnPlenitud