We know that penis owners frequently talk about the size of their genitals. They can worry about the size, and they might even compare with friends and people they come across in locker rooms and whatnot. I think we all know that size doesn’t matter, the important part of sexual intimacy is the willingness to put in the effort required to have an exciting, fulfilling sex life. It’s totally about what you do with your body; that’s the important factor.
But what about the clitoris? Have you ever even considered clitoris size before? Vulva owners aren’t immune to the comparison. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists talks about how the perception of having seemingly aesthetically unattractive visible external genitalia, amplified by the internet, access to online porn, and other media sources, may encourage people to seek surgical alteration.
Not only is every vagina unique, but so is every clitoris!
Like virtually every other part of the human body, clits will vary in shape, size, and many other factors that can have actual effects on your ability to reach orgasm from different types of stimulation. Have you ever tried something that everyone raved about, only to find yourself wondering what the heck is wrong with you because the tips just didn’t work for you? If you’ve thought the problem was you, rest assured that you are not alone — and you are not the problem! Most sex tips are built around the idea of “standard” genital configurations, and while many people can respond well to those tips, no one benefits from the concept of one-size-fits-all sex tips. One of the many reasons why? The small but notable differences in the shape and size of our clits.
Do people really have different size clits?
Not only is every vagina unique, but so is every clitoris! Some will be larger than others, but keep in mind that most of your clit is hidden in your body and pelvis. This treasure trove of sensitive tissue is much bigger internally than it is externally. It’s also the part of the body that is extremely important for orgasms in 90% of clit owners. Only a small percentage of people can reach orgasm without any clitoral stimulation. The most important thing to understand about the clit is that most of the clit itself lives inside the body. The part of the clit that’s kept inside the body is comparable in size to a medium zucchini. Only about 1/4 of the clit is visible externally, and they can range in size from .4 to 4 centimeters long and .2 to 2.5 centimeters wide.
Plus, it’s important to remember that the clit will not remain the same size forever. This part of the body can double in size when you’re turned on; by the time we hit menopause, the clitoris could be seven times the size it was during puberty. While there haven’t been nearly enough studies on the size of the clitoris compared to the size of the average penis, what we do know is, on average, it’s 17 centimeters long in total. This means the average clit is pretty much the same size as the average erect penis at about 5.1 inches.
There might be some argument that size can relate to climaxes. One study that ran in 2014 found a correlation between larger clitorises and more frequent orgasms. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to scan the pelvic area of 30 vulva owners, 10 of which rarely or never reached climax. They found the research participants who had a hard time reaching climax also had smaller clitorises. Those who have clits positioned about 5 to 6 millimeters further away from the vagina also seem to have a harder time reaching orgasm more often, likely due to the clit position not receiving as much contact during penetration simply by being further away and needing intentional touch.
But it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not clear whether the participants who took part in the study who had regular orgasms achieved them because of their larger clitorises, or just because they were having more sex could lead to higher testosterone levels and increase clitoris size. Or perhaps a larger clit simply has more nerve endings, and maybe that because larger clits will receive more direct contact and stimulation, the clitoris can just access more sensation, which might result in more orgasms. Rest assured that if your clit is on the smaller side, it might take you more time, energy, or focus for you to reach an orgasm, but it’s not impossible!
It’s a classic, which-comes-first scenario when it comes to clit size and orgasms. When you have more frequent sexual activity, your body produces more estrogen and testosterone hormones and oxytocin. We all have estrogen and testosterone in our bodies, and they work together to increase your libido. Oxytocin is the feel-good hormone, creating peace and calm and a desire for even more physical touch. All three of these combine to feel good at the moment and also increase our desire for more touch. Testosterone can make the clitoris grow. In fact, vulva owners who take testosterone will see a noticeable increase in size while they’re on higher doses of testosterone. Vulva owners with higher levels of testosterone just tend to have a larger clit. While there is a link between smaller clitorises and a lower libido, correlation doesn’t necessarily mean causation.
Either way, most vulva owners don't orgasm from penetration alone, and most of us can only get off with an intentional focus on our clits.
Location Location Location
While all clits live at the top near the inner lips of the vulva, your clit’s exact location to your specific anatomy will vary. In fact, if you’re focusing on orgasms achieved during penetration, the distance from clit to vaginas may be more important than the size itself. The clits that are 5 to 6mm further apart from their respective vaginas reported more trouble orgasming, likely because they don’t receive as much friction because they’re simply further away. Either way, most vulva owners don’t orgasm from penetration alone, and most of us can only get off with an intentional focus on our clits. It’s completely normal, so go ahead and give yourself a hand.
Hoods?
Let’s not forget about the clitoral hood, either. That’s a piece of anatomy that will also vary vastly between people. The clitoral hood is a fold of skin covering the clitoris to protect it from being bothered by friction or any other hazards your sensitive genitals might run into. But like the rest of your body, the clitoral hoods will vary in coverage from person to person. Even if you’ve only ever seen folks with small hoods you might not even notice, they actually can run the gamut from barely there to hoods that cover the full clitoris and even a bit of the vulva.
All of it is normal, and if your hood covers more, you might have to apply more pressure than others might. You can also experiment with gently pulling back your clitoral hood so that you can more directly stimulate your clit. It’s all about finding what works for your body. Some fun experimentation can help you figure out the unique benefits of your specific configuration. For particularly hooded clits, a wand-style vibrator might give you the power and broad vibration to push you over the edge.
Getting older is actually a plus for clits because your clit keeps growing throughout your life.
Desensitization danger
I’ve personally put in hundreds of vibrator hours into flicking my bean, and trust me, even I (the power queen) haven’t worn out my clit. This is a common worry for folks who like strong vibrations or vibrators in general. The good news is clits don’t go numb from a lifetime of wear and tear, and they, fortunately, don’t become less sensitive in any way. Getting older is actually a plus for clits because your clit keeps growing throughout your life. The clit will start growing at the beginning of puberty, and by the time you turn 32, your clit is approximately four times the size it was when you hit puberty. So it might give you a little more surface area to work with, which may also increase your odds of orgasming in any given situation. If you’ve overstimulated your clit, just leave it alone for some time and let it rest. You’ll be able to stimulate it again soon enough. Or use an all-natural stimulating gel to draw the blood to the surface and make your clit more sensitive.
Different Types of Sensations for Clits
So now that you’re looking to get to know the ins and out of your clit, what are some of the different sensations you can provide for it? Your fave sex shop is likely to have plenty of options if you know what you’re looking for.
- If you enjoy grinding and humping, be sure to check out the Pelle Whim, Starsi, or Ruby.
- If you enjoy circular motions on your clit, check out the Filare with its rotating beads or the Nymph with its swirling fingers.
- If you like a tapping sensation, the Carezza might be the ideal toy for you.
- Enjoy a good old fashion shower head? Check out the Waterslyde
- Enjoy the sensation of a mouth sucking on your clit. Go for any of the air pressure toys.
Like a more fluttery vibration? Give the Volta a shot.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line? Clitoris size itself won’t inhibit your actual orgasm. However, if you’re worried about it, or anything else, it could make it much harder to get there. Overthinking and stress are a bigger roadblock than your genital configuration. If you think it’s your clit size that is preventing you from experiencing as much pleasure as possible, there are ways to aid in working to increase your hormone levels. Focus on finding ways to relieve stress, which is one of the top libido killers. Use exercise to increase endorphins that can boost sexual arousal. And most important, masturbate every day if you can find the time. Frequent erotic touch will flood your body with hormones that can help make future orgasms even easier to achieve. While it’s still up for debate on how much of a role the clit size plays, there’s no doubt that hormones play an important in erotic pleasure.
Try not to worry about what you feel your genitals should look like, and just revel in all the pleasures your body is capable of experiencing. It’s important to get familiar with your body in general, especially your intimate areas. Figuring out how to best please your body is step one toward having explosive, mind-blowing orgasms. And really, who cares how big or small anything is if you’re in a state of orgasmic bliss?