There is a pervasive rumour out there that the clitoris is a small—albeit powerful—being. In reality, the clit isn’t nearly as small as you probably think. Perhaps this rumour was started by the Men’s Sexual Alliance to justify an entire gender’s inability to ‘find it’.
The clitoris isn’t as mysterious as the Sphinx, as some seem to believe. Unfortunately for us women, common knowledge about the clit simply isn’t common enough. One of the biggest misconceptions about the clit, of course, is that it is a small ‘button’. It’s bigger than you think. In fact, the clit is like an iceberg. You only see a small portion, as the majority of this not-so-small organ is hidden.
Let’s look at the details of the surprisingly non-elusive clitoris…
The Clit: What It Is
The clit is the only sexual organ that is purely for entertainment. Unlike the penis or vagina, it is there solely for the pleasurable sensations it can provide; it is not a functional reproductive organ. Many people think that the clit is like a female penis, but that isn’t entirely accurate. The clit has over 8,000 nerve endings, whereas the penis as a ‘measly’ 4,000. Not only does it contain over 8,000 nerve endings, but those nerves connect to another 15,000 nerve endings, giving the clitoris its body-rocking sensations.
During arousal, the clitoris, like the penis, becomes engorged with blood, which increases the size dramatically, albeit temporarily.
Fun fact (or not so fun—depending on where you fall on the spectrum): the closer a woman’s clitoris is to her vagina, the more likely she is to be able to orgasm from traditional p-in-v sex.
Where The Heck Is It?
The Clitoris: Bigger than We Thought (Women Included!)
The clitoris truly is a sexy iceberg. It protrudes through the clitoral hood, similar to the way an uncircumcised penis hides behind the foreskin. The actual shape of a clitoris in its entirety is like an upside down iceberg with a pyramid-like shape. It joins with the vaginal walls, making it almost rival the penis in size.
Fun fact: the etymology of the word clitoris comes from the Greek work ‘kleitoris’, meaning ‘little hill’.
Toys for Clitoral Stimulation
Since women have the option of adding additional sexual stimulation in addition to traditional sex (sorry guys—you got the short end of the stick by ‘winning’ the skill of being able to pee standing up), why not do it? Clitoral stimulation, for many women, is better than vaginal… and the sex toy industry has responded to this desire in spades! There are a number of toys designed for clitoral stimulation:
- a. We-Vibe remote controlled clitoral and g-spot vibrators
- b. Traditional vibrators, when applied to the clitoris
- c. Clitoral-stimulating vibrators, commonly found in fun animal designs
like dolphins and rabbits. - d. Bullet vibrators
- e. Tongue-style vibrators—these look hilarious, but can be EXTREMELY effective!
- f. Other oral sex simulators
- g. Pocket vibes
A word to the wise about clitoral-stimulating toys: a little goes a long way. Don’t use a gas-powered weed whacker-turned vibrator that has a super-charge speed on it; start out slow and easy and then see how far you can take it.