Clitoral Madness: 4 Myths About the Clitoris

There's a lot of misinformation and misinformation out there in the world of sex. Sometimes it's harmful, and sometimes it's quite neutral. Discover the following four myths about the clitoris.

Myth #1: The clitoris is just a small button or bump on the top of the vulva.

Truth: The clitoris, or the entire clitoral structure, is wishbone-shaped, and most of the structure is internal. Reports on size vary, but I've seen accounts ranging from 3.5 to 7 inches (8.9 to 18 cm) long. The button or bump is the clitoral glans and is equivalent to the head of a penis, packed with nerve endings. The entire clitoral structure, which includes the glans, cruras, and vestibular bulbs, becomes erect when aroused, just like a penis. Because of the location, in which the cruras and bulbs surround the upper half of the vagina, internal stimulation through vaginal penetration stimulates the internal parts of the clitoris. Similarly, what is meant as the G-spot region is hypothesized to be the roots or tips of the clitoris.

What does this mean? Much of vulvar and vaginal pleasure is directly related to the clitoris (poor Freud, this disproves his theory of the "mature" vs. "immature" orgasm). It also means that labia stimulation can be pleasurable due to the position of the legs. Finally, for those who have undergone genital mutilation, there is the option of exposing more of the clitoral glans from beneath the hood to regain that kind of pleasure, as well as the possibility of stimulating different parts of the internal clitoris through internal and external play.

Myth #2: Vibrators ruin the clitoris.

Truth: I get asked this question a LOT. People who use vibrators to stimulate their clitoris every time they masturbate could be experiencing one of two things, but neither is clitoral irritation.

The first is temporary desensitization. After using the vibrator for a while, the area may feel a little numb or insensitive, but this applies to any area of ​​the body where you've maintained intense vibration. This sensation should quickly subside, leaving you ready for further clitoral stimulation.

The second concern is that vibrators will ruin your experience because you won't be able to orgasm with your partner. First, you can always bring your favorite toys into the bedroom to incorporate into your shared sex (though consent is important, so talk to your partner if they'd be surprised).

Second, you're right. If you always come the same way, your body will likely become dependent on that form of stimulation and have difficulty achieving orgasm in other ways, even with a partner. Luckily, the solution can be quite fun: diversify your masturbation technique (this also applies to people with penises)! Try masturbating with your fingers, a shower head, or a different toy than the one you're used to. Take your time and enjoy the sensations. It may be difficult at first and even tempting to go back to your trusted method, but patience is worth it.

You can train your body to experience pleasure in new ways, opening the door to more types of orgasms, both solo and with a partner. You can continue using your favorite vibrator, just be sure to combine it with other forms of stimulation.

Consequences : Fear of damaging the clitoris can discourage people from using tools that enhance their sex lives, whether solo or with a partner. How awful!

Myth #3: The clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings.

Truth: Years ago, one of my advisors reminded me of the importance of verifying sources and used the example of those who shared that the clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings. In reality, that figure was based on a study of cows and was shared by Thomas Lowry in the book "The Classical Clitoris: Historical Contributions to Scientific Sexuality." This means that we had no data on the nerve endings present in the human clitoris until recently.

Fortunately, in February 2023, Uloko , Isabey, and Peters published results after studying clitoral tissue from five trans men (men born with vulvas) and found an average of over 10,000 myelinated axons (covered nerve endings) in the clitoral glans (the tip/head of the clitoris).

What this means : People with clitorises have more nerve endings than we thought! How wonderful it is to have 10,000 tiny pleasure receptors!

Myth #4: All clitorises love direct stimulation.

Truth: While many people with clitorises enjoy direct contact with fingers, tongues, and toys, there's a wide range of experiences that each person finds pleasurable. Direct contact may be too intense (or less intense) for one person. But another might love having their clitoris pinched with two fingers or clamped.

Consequences: You can overstimulate or understimulate your partner or yourself if you don't pay attention to how your clitoris responds to loving attention. An alternative to direct touch might be rubbing the top of your labia majora together to massage the clitoris between them. Also try flicking and playing with your mons pubis to change the angle of your clitoris, touching over clothing, breathing on your clitoris instead of licking, Kegel/pelvic floor exercises, and more!

Busting these myths may have left you speechless, but we hope you can take the knowledge learned here and apply it in the bedroom.