C is for Clitoris: The Internal Structures and Pleasure
/The pleasure-potential of the clitoris is astounding given that the small pencil eraser-sized glans it is made up of nearly 8 thousand nerve-endings, which is double the number in the penis!¹ But don’t think the clitoris is only limited to the small glans you can see poking out under its hood, there is a whole lot more than the eye can see.
The Internal Clitoris
Attached to the tip of the clitoral glans, which houses those 8 thousand nerve endings, is a ¾ to 1 ½-inch long clitoral shaft/body that extends up and connects to the pubic bone. From here the clitoral legs/cura extend down and out inside the body about 2 to 3 ½ inches on both sides like a wishbone into the tissue at the top of the vagina, where it again attaches to the pubic bone. Surrounding the internal structures of the clitoral glans is also erectile tissue with numerous blood vessels that fill with blood and become engorged as a woman becomes sexually aroused. Extending from this erectile tissue of the shaft are the vestibular bulbs (clitoral bulbs), which extend to the left and right of the urethra, urethral sponge, and vagina. When the bulbs become engorged they put pressure on structures such as the legs of the clitoris, vagina and urethra.
The Clitoris and Pleasure
No thanks to Freud there has been a long-time attempt to convince women, and their partners, that women should only need penetration during sex to have an orgasm. However, a study of over three thousand woman conducted by Shere Hite found that only 30% of women have an orgasm through penetration and that half of those 30% also needed simultaneous direct clitoral glans stimulation². This makes sense given the majority of the nerve endings are found in the clitoral glans.
Why then do some women find stimulation in the vagina helpful for orgasm whereas others don’t? A factor involved is each woman’s unique clitoris, which varies in size, shape and location of her clitoral glans, legs and bulbs. A woman’s unique anatomy may make indirect stimulation from inside the vagina, which puts pressure on the structures of the internal clitoris, a helpful contributor to orgasm. For others this stimulation isn’t particularly helpful and instead more direct stimulation near or on the clitoral glans is necessary. This difference isn’t a bad thing nor does it make one type of stimulation better than the other; rather, they are simply variations in the stimulation location that is helpful for orgasm based on a woman’s unique anatomy.
*Find out more by reading The Clitoral Truth, visiting THIS helpful website and watching the fun, quick video below of Betty Dodson drawing the clitoral structures.
References:
- Stewart, E. G. & Spencer, 2002. The V Book: A Doctor’s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. New York: Bantam Books
- Hite, S. 1992. The Hite Report. New York: Pandora Press
