“So, what’s so special about the clitoris?”

Tia
Tia
Aug 22, 2017 · 5 min read

You ask. Tia answers. #TiaTalkTuesday

Last week, I kicked off chapter one of Tia’s Guide to Female Pleasure with a deep dive into the Orgasm Gap. We talked about who’s going 💥 , who’s not, and some theories why that might be.

In an effort to close the gap and help more women experience the full spectrum of female pleasure, I’m answering the top-asked question:

The clitoris is a pleasure dome.

Home to lots of good feels — and for many women — the 🔑 to reaching that magical “O”. In fact, studies conducted over 10 years, observing over 10,000 orgasms conclude that most women cannot orgasm without some clitoral stimulation.

While you may not have learned about it in sex-ed, the clit is the queen bee 👑🐝 of your kickass pleasure posse. Look no further than the fact that the clitoris is home to 8,000 nerve endings to know that exploring this treasure chest of arousal is well worth your while. In contrast, the penis has half as many nerve endings, and the vagina itself has only around 150!!!

And, if you’ve ever questioned whether vaginal pleasure is your jam, get this:

According to one gynecological study by the Kinsey Institute in which scientists tested vaginal sensitivity by gently stroking and pressing the walls of the vagina, only 14% of women were even aware that their vagina had been touched!

In case you need a map (no shame if you do), I made one for ya!

The clitoris is that ⬆️ little nubbin of tissue that sits right above the urethra (the hole you pee out of) and around an inch or so above the vagina. It can be easy for some people to find, while others might have to push back a flap of skin, called the clitoral “hood” to get to it. When you get turned on, it gets nice and plump as it fills with blood, which makes it feel extra good to touch!

Because the clitoris sits outside the entrance to the vagina, it can be tough for a penis to engage with it during penetrative sex, which is one anatomical reason it can be hard for women to orgasm during heterosexual partnered sex alone… though fingers and toys can help with that! #TiaTip

The clit has much more pleasure-power than meets the 👁 , in large part because its real magic muscles are internal.

Like a wishbone, the clitoris has two “legs” that wrap around your vagina and connects with other tissues like the labia and anus (which is why those are feel-good areas too).

Believe it or not, it was not until the 90s that scientists Odile Buisson and Pierre Foldes finally made a 3D image of the clitoris and discovered this long-lost fact that the majority of the clitoral organ is internal.

Looking way back to the womb, we see that the clitoris and the penis evolve from the same set of tissue, which may explain their shared relation to pleasure.

In fact — all genitals are “homologous,” meaning they have similar structure and origin (though not always function). Much like the penis, the clitoris becomes hard and enlarged when aroused. And get this — the “pre-cum” fluid that is released from a penis is the same stuff that makes your vagina wet when aroused (!!!). Who knew the clit and the penis we’re so closely related 👯

Except for one KEY difference.

Unlike the penis which has multiple functions (think peeing, ejaculating, and all that essential stuff), your clit’s SOLE PURPOSE is for pleasure, think:

Now, that’s a reason to exist if I ever heard one! ♀💪

This brings us full circle — giving us a new lens through which to understand why purely penetrative sex doesn’t cut it for lots of us!

So… to recap:

The clitoris is a small but mighty body part that is worth getting to know, if you haven’t yet! 😘

And there’s lots of ways to get to know it— on your own and with a partner — that may enhance the wild journey we call sex. Checking yourself out with a mirror is a great starting place (just trust me on this one), as is masturbation, and trying vibrators on for size if you’re lookin’ to spice things up.

Stay tuned for next week — there’s more where this came from!

Confidently yours,

T 💕

To get personalized answers & more #AskTia goodness, click here to download the app for iPhone!

Big thanks to Ava Mainieri, PHD Candidate in Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, for her help researching and authoring this post! 🙏

Tia is a personal, private chat-based assistant that you message with about birth control and sexual health. Made by a team of women’s health experts, Tia knows you, learns you, and is your go-to for all those “ugh!” , “oops…”, and “huh?” moments. On Tuesdays, we surface the top *anonymous* questions from the community and report back with the answer. Have a burning q you want us to tackle? Leave it in the comments below or email info@asktia.com.

That’s What T Said

The latest & greatest taboo tales & tidbits from team Tia

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Tia

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Tia

The modern medical home for women of all genders — online and offline. www.asktia.com

That’s What T Said

The latest & greatest taboo tales & tidbits from team Tia

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