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Clitoris
also known as Clit
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Intro
The clitoris, which is often referred to by its nickname 'the
clit," is, arguably, one of the most exciting and most excitable
parts of the female body.
The
clitoris is located at the top of the vulva, where the inner lips -- the
labia minora -- come together. By placing a mirror between your legs,
and holding back the fleshier, hairy (unless they are shaved) outer lips
-- the labia majora -- it is easy to find the clitoris by sight and by
touch.
What is it?
The visible parts of the clitoris are the glands (or head), the shaft,
and the hood (which covers the glands and the shaft.) When you are
sexually aroused, the clitoris swells slightly, the hood pulls back, and
the glands, which is the most sensitive part of the clitoris, becomes
hard.
The
clitoris is smooth and hairless, and if you run your finger from the
vaginal opening up toward your pubic hair it will be directly in your
path. Below the clitoris is the small opening to the urethra,
where urine comes from, and below that is the opening to the vagina. The
skin directly above the clitoris is called the front commissure, and
putting pressure on this area is one common way of stimulating the shaft
of the clitoris during sex play with someone else or while masturbating.
What is it for?
Originally, physicians believed the clitoris was comprised solely of the
glands, hood, and shaft. But the self-exploration that was the hallmark
of the women's health movement of the 1970s led to a redefinition of the
clitoris. It is now understood that underneath the visible parts of the
clitoris is a complex network of erectable tissue, muscle, nerves, and
blood vessels that respond to and swell during sexual arousal and
contract at orgasm.
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The
clitoral structure surrounds and extends into the vagina. This means
that orgasms that are thought of as vaginal are in fact clitoral, as it
is clitoral tissue that is being stimulated through sensations felt
inside the vagina. The spongy tissue that extends from the clitoris into
the top of the vagina is now popularly known as the G-spot. It is also
called the urethral sponge. This soft tissue can be found if you put
your finger into your -- or someone else's -- vagina, and press up
toward the pubic bone.
The
area between the vagina and the rectum also contains erectable
tissue
that connects, ultimately, to the clitoris. This is why stroking,
touching, or licking that area can lead to sexual arousal.
The
clitoris can vary in size. When female to male transsexuals begin taking
testosterone it causes their clitoris to grow. FTMs can have a clitoris
that is up to three inches long.
How to care for it?
Caring for the clitoris is easy. Like the other parts of the genitals,
it should be washed with soap and warm water whenever you bathe. If you
pierce your clitoral hood, make sure the piercer uses sterilized tools
(to help prevent infection) and follow proper post-piercing care.
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Enhancement
of the Clitoris
While often controversial, women sometimes have a desire to change
their clitoris and vulva, so as to make them look different, or in
hopes that they will provide more pleasure during sex. For most
women, their clitoris and vulva look and work fine just the way they
are, and they wouldn't dream of letting a doctor near them with a
scalpel, but others have a strong desire for something different, or
better.
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Other women have plastic
surgery performed on their clitoris or
vulva to change its appearance, and sometimes to expose their clitoral
glands to direct stimulation. The later procedure is commonly called
"female circumcision" and refers to the practice of removing
the clitoral hood, the loose fold of tissue that covers the glands of the
clitoris. Many women have a hood that totally conceals the clitoral
glands and prevents its direct stimulation by finger or tongue. Most
women need this hood to protect their extremely sensitive glands from
direct stimulation as they would feel pain, not pleasure if it were
directly touched. Some women are able to expose the glands by pulling the
hood back, but desire not to have to do this, to free up their hands or
their partners hands during sex. It is commonly accepted by sex
therapists that there is no need for female circumcision, most women's
clitorises work fine just the way they are. The women who have had this
done, do usually report favorable results, but it isn't a cure all for
sexual dysfunction, and can make matters worse if done for the wrong
reasons. After circumcision the exposed clitoral glands if usually very
very sensitive, requiring women to relearn how to masturbate, and
partners to relearn their sexual techniques. No woman should take this
procedure lightly. |
| While perhaps very rare, some women desire a larger clitoris and use
steriodal creams and other forms of Steroids to cause this
result. While perhaps a form of penis envy, it can also just be a
believe that bigger is better. Since the clitoris is made up of the same
tissues as the male penis, it is sensitive to testosterone. If exposed
to increased levels of testosterone, the clitoris will become larger and
take on the shape of a male penis, minus the urethra, and the woman will
experience pronounced erections. The younger a woman is when she does
this, the larger her clitoris will become, heredity place a part in this
to. Steroids will also cause the clitoris to become much more sensitive
to stimulation, perhaps to sensitive. These steroids can also cause
other male traits to develop in women, like heavy body hair and a deep
voice, not to mention aggression. There is no indication that the size
of a clitoris has any affect on a woman's ability to achieve orgasm.
Women who take steroids to increase their muscle mass for weight
training and sports will also likely experience an increase in clitoral
size. While perhaps not the reason for taking the steroids, I think many
of these women like their larger clitoris, but I have heard of one such
women asking a doctor to remove her enlarged clitoris. If a woman stops
taking these steroids, her clitoris will shrink a little in size, but it
will never return to its former size, and her erections will become less
pronounced. Sometimes women are prescribed steroids to treat
gynecological conditions, these steroids can also cause a woman's
clitoris to become larger. I know of one woman who was very happy with
this unexpected side affect. |
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Perhaps the most extreme form of steroidal usage and surgical
modification involves Female to Male Transsexuals. The steroids
cause the clitoris to achieve a length of 2 to 3 inches, and then
doctors create a small penis by releasing the clitoris from it
surrounding tissue, and create a urethra out of the inner labia. The
outer labia are sewn together to form a scrotum, complete with
prosthetic testicles. While on the small size, they do assume the
appearance of adult male genitals.
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