8 Things You Might Not Know About the Clitoris
By ASTROGLIDE Team
Sexual Health
1. The clitoris is not a doorbell
The clitoris is more than just a tiny nodule at the top of where the lips meet. That shiny pearl-like structure, the clitoral glans, which is often referred to as the clitoris is actually only the head of the clitoris. Please don’t ring it like it’s a doorbell or press it like it’s an elevator button – unless of course, your partner asks you to do so. In that case, I defer to her personal forms of sexual pleasure.
2. The clitoris has legs, bulbs, foreskin, a shaft, and more
Once you study the full anatomy of the entirety of female genitalia, you’ll want to change up your routine to stimulate both the external and internal parts of the clitoral body.
The glans clitoris is the head of the clitoris which can protrude from beneath the hood (or foreskin) to varying degrees. As mentioned above, we often mistake the clitoral glans for the entire clitoris, but it’s only one part of clitoral anatomy.
The clitoral legs and bulbs are part of the inner clitoral body and the legs can extend several inches back and double in size as it becomes engorged with blood. The bulbs or vestibules of the clitoris are beneath the labia and also swell with excitement to create a tight sensation around the outer third of the vagina.
3. The clitoris gets raging erections
That’s right — as the clitoral shaft becomes engorged with blood during sexual arousal, it can stiffen and pop a boner. Many women find that pulling upward on the lower part of their public mound allows them to indirectly stroke the clitoral shaft through the foreskin.
4. The clitoris and the penis are derived from the same tissue in utero
The clitoris is not only homologous to the penis in its comparable origin and structure, but both the clitoris and the penis are derived from the same tissue in utero. Once you study the full clitoral anatomy, you may conclude that the clitoris and female sexual response is much like a penis or male’s… only smaller. But, when you further examine the deep roots and multiple parts of the inner clitoris, it becomes more obvious that the clitoris isn’t a smaller version of the penis, but simply a variant model.
5. Sometimes the clitoris plays hide-and-seek
If you have trouble finding the head of the clitoris, it may have retracted beneath the clitoral hood. Sometimes it “hides” during sexual arousal, as it becomes highly sensitive to touch, so ask your partner how she likes to be touched as she approaches orgasm.
Does she want you to back off of her clitoral head and focus on rubbing the internal clitoris through her labia minora? Or does she require more pressure against the foreskin/hood? She may not be able to describe the ideal technique, but you can likely observe as she takes you by the hand and shows you the ropes to what brings her sexual pleasure or to orgasm.
Speaking of ropes, the clitoris is the reason why climbing those ceiling ropes in high school gym class felt so darn good! Squeezing and crossing your thighs around an object while rubbing can rouse orgasmic sensations, so give it a try with a toy, a hand, a penis, or even your partner’s face.
6. You can rub the internal clitoris through the labia
Try pressing the palm of your hand against her vulva and folding your fingers over her public mound. If you add a few drops of your favorite lube (I like ASTROGLIDE Organix Liquid), you can rub and grind to provide sexual stimulation to the internal clitoris through her labia.
7. The clitoris communicates with the brain through the pudendal nerve
Just like the penis – meaning that physiological female sexual arousal takes a similar path in both men and women.
8. The CAT (coital alignment technique) and the Reverse Cowgirl
These positions allow for clitoral stimulation during penile-vaginal intercourse.
Try the CAT:
- The woman lies on her back and the man lies on top inserting his penis into the vagina.
- He then shifts his body upwards along hers (he can rest his hands/arms beside her head) so that the base of his penis and pubic bone press firmly against her clitoral hood and pubic bone.
- She wraps her feet around his calves if desired.
- Play with synchronized rocking and rubbing movements as opposed to in-and-out thrusting.
- You can also perform the CAT with a strap-on.
Try Reverse Cowgirl:
- He lies on his back with his legs bent and feet flat on the mattress.
- She mounts him facing toward his feet.
- During vaginal penetration, she leans against his upper thighs and grinds against him to stimulate her clit.
We recommend trying these techniques with a little lube (trust us, it’s better that way!) We can even hook you up with a free sample of ASTROGLIDE to get you started.
Were any of these facts about the clitoris and female sexual pleasure surprising to you? How will this information affect your sex life? Let us know by tweeting us @ASTROGLIDE.