Your Clitoris Has More Going On Than You Think
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The clitoris gets called a little button. Bit rude, considering most of it is tucked away inside your body. That's rather like judging a whole pub by the door handle.
The bit you can see is important, absolutely. But there's more going on underneath, and getting to know the neighbourhood makes a lot more sense than poking at one spot and hoping for fireworks.
What's under the clitoral hood?
The small external part is the glans, towards the top of the vulva above the urethral opening. The clitoral hood is a fold of skin that covers some or all of it. How much you can see varies between bodies.
The glans is sensitive. Direct touch feels lovely to some people and far too much to others. Touch over the hood or around it gives another way to enjoy the area without making the most sensitive bit take every bit of pressure.
Finding the clit isn't the same as knowing how someone likes it touched. Useful distinction. Particularly for anyone who's been confidently doing the same thing since 2009.
The part of the clitoris you can't see
Inside, the clitoral body branches into two legs called the crura. Nearby are paired vestibular bulbs, alongside the vaginal opening. These structures contain erectile tissue, which fills with blood during arousal.
You don't have to memorise the names. The visible glans is only part of the clitoris; its internal parts extend into the pelvis, close to the vagina and urethra.
So the clit isn't a tiny object sitting there entirely on its own. Quite a lot of anatomy for something that still gets treated like an optional extra.
Vulva and vagina aren't the same thing
The vulva is the external area, including the labia and visible clitoris. The vagina is the internal canal. Calling everything a vagina makes the directions a bit vague.
“A little higher, near my clit” gives a partner rather more to work with than “there”. Especially when “there” has already moved three times.
Why clitoral touch feels different for everyone
Some people love a light touch. Others enjoy broader pressure or vibration. Direct contact isn't automatically better because you've found the right body part. Your favourite might be just beside it, over the hood or with a softer touch than your partner expected.
And when something feels good, keeping it steady is an entirely respectable plan. You don't have to welcome a new technique just because someone has had a bright idea at a particularly inconvenient moment.
External pleasure deserves a proper place in sex, too. If penetration isn't doing what you expected, our guide to orgasm and penetration takes that question further.
Give clitoral toys a spot at the bedside
Clitoral vibrators offer different shapes for external touch. A narrow tip gives you a small contact area; a broader surface spreads the touch. An air-pulse toy adds a different kind of sensation again.
Our air-pulse toy guide explains that difference. None of these toys knows your favourite before you do. That's the enjoyable part of finding out.
Persistent pain, swelling or an unexplained change is a reason to speak with a health professional. Everyday pleasure doesn't need a medical vocabulary, though. “Yes, right there” still does an excellent job.
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