Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationStructureVariationsRoleConditionsMedical Tests
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Location
Structure
Variations
Role
Conditions
Medical Tests
Theclitoris, or “clit,” is located at the point where the labia majora (the outer lips of the genitals of people assignedfemaleat birth) meet near thepubic bone. Most of the clitoris is inside the body, but it has a small nub called the glans clitoris that you can see from the outside.
The clit plays a key role in sexual stimulation and pleasure. It develops from the same structures in the human embryo as thepenisdoes and is similarly sensitive to touch and arousal.
This article discusses the clitoris, its location, structure, and function. It also explains some health issues that can affect the clitoris.
Westend61 / Getty Images
Clitoris Location and Female Anatomy
To best understand exactly where the clitoris is, it helps to know what is around it.
Thevulvaencompasses all external female genital organs. Thevaginais an internal organ.
The parts of the vulva are located around the vagina. These organs include the clitoris, as well as:
The internal clitoris describes the portions of the organ located inside the body. These account for most of its size and contain all of its erectile tissue.
How do you find the clitoris?
Vulva Anatomy: External Female Genitalia
Structure of the Clitoris
The parts of the clitoris you can see include:
The internal parts of the clitoris wrap around theurethra(the tube that allows urine to exit your body) and extend to the top of the vagina. These parts include:
Clitoral function also relies on the following nerves:
These supply the structures of the vagina. This may be part of why stimulating the clitoris leads to sexual arousal.
How big is the clitoris?The length from the tip of the glans to the end of each crura is usually around 9 cm (4 inches). The external glans is usually about 2.5 cm (about 3/4 inch to 1 inch) and has a similar diameter.
How big is the clitoris?
The length from the tip of the glans to the end of each crura is usually around 9 cm (4 inches). The external glans is usually about 2.5 cm (about 3/4 inch to 1 inch) and has a similar diameter.
Where Is the G-Spot? How to Find and Stimulate It
Anatomical Variations
There are differences in how the genitals develop in some people. These are called intersex conditions.
Some of these involve changes to the clitoris and how it looks at birth.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, for example, may lead to a larger clitoris that looks more like a penis.
Surgeons have “corrected” these differences in the past. Many now recommend postponing surgery until a person is old enough to decide this for themselves.
The exception is when these anatomical differences make urination difficult or impossible. That is a problem that needs to be corrected surgically for medical reasons.
What Is Intersex?
Role of the Clitoris in Sexual Pleasure
The primary function of the clitoris is sexual arousal and pleasure during sex.
There is still some debate about the role of clitoral anatomy in sexual function andorgasm. The specific pathways for how the clitoris affects arousal and orgasm are not entirely understood.
In some people, the clitoris becomes slightly enlarged during sexual activity. When this happens, it becomes even more sensitive.
Many people need to have the clitoris stimulated to achieve or enhance an orgasm.
What Is Sexual Dysfunction?
Conditions Affecting the Clitoris
Like most organs, there are health conditions that can affect the clitoris. Some are very mild and easy to treat. Others are more serious.
Some of the most common symptoms of these conditions include:
Most conditions affecting the clitoris, includingyeast infectionsorsexually transmitted infections(STIs), can be treated. Depending on the cause, a healthcare provider may suggest antibiotics or creams soothe irritation.
What Causes Clitoris Itching?
General signs that you might have an STI include:Painful urinationAbnormalvaginal dischargeor odorVaginal itchingPainful sexVaginal bleeding(not related to one’s menstrual cycle)Soresorwartson the genital area
General signs that you might have an STI include:
There are a few conditions that can directly affect the structure or health of the clitoris as well.
Clitoromegaly
This is the name for a larger-than-typical clitoris.
It may not need to be treated in infants. However, when it arises in childhood, it is often due toneurofibromatosis, a disorder in which tumors form on nerve tissues.This can be treated surgically if needed.
Lichen Sclerosus
It can, in rare cases, cause scarring of the genitals. In severe cases, the scar tissue may affect the function of the clitoris.
Clitoral Adhesions
These can occur when the clitoral hood sticks to the glans and can no longer fully retract. Why this happens seems to vary and is not fully understood.
Risk factors appear to include:
These adhesions can be mild to severe and may lead to clitoral pain. Minimally invasive surgery may be a treatment option.
Metastatic Cancer
Though rare, cancer that spreads from another site can cause lesions on the clitoris.
Scientists have reported such spread to the clitoris in cases ofbreast cancer,cervical cancer, andendometrial cancer.
It’s unlikely that you’ll need any medical tests for issues involving the clitoris.
If there are changes in its size or shape, a biopsy may help to determine the cause. For some people at risk of a spreading cancer, imaging may be used too.
The one exception is when infants are born with clitoromegaly. Healthcare providers will often try to determine the cause of the enlarged clitoris. This may involve blood tests to check hormone levels or genetic tests to look for different potential intersex conditions.
Understanding the cause may offer insight into a child’s later expression ofgender identity.
How to Keep Your Clitoris Healthy
Summary
The clitoris plays a central role in sexual stimulation and pleasure in people assigned female at birth. Most of the clitoris resides inside the body, though you can see a small external nub.
Health issues related to the clitoris are relatively rare and, in most cases, easily treated.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Baskin L, Shen J, Sinclair A, et al.Development of the human penis and clitoris.Differentiation. 2018;103:74-85. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2018.08.001Johns Hopkins Medicine.Metoidioplasty for gender affirming care.Mazloomdoost D, Pauls RN.A comprehensive review of the clitoris and its role in female sexual function.Sex Med Rev.2015;3(4):245-263. doi:10.1002/smrj.61Jannini EA, Wise N, Frangos E, Komisaruk BR.Peripheral and central neural bases of orgasm. In:Textbook of female sexual function and dysfunction: Diagnosis and treatment. John Wiley & Sons. 2018:179-95.Claahsen-van der Grinten HL, Speiser PW, Ahmed SF, et al.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia-current insights in pathophysiology, diagnostics, and management.Endocr Rev. 2022;43(1):91-159. doi:10.1210/endrev/bnab016Pauls RN.Anatomy of the clitoris and the female sexual response.Clin Anat. 2015;28(3):376-84. doi:10.1002/ca.22524Parada M, D’Amours T, Amsel R, Pink L, Gordon A, Binik YM.Clitorodynia: a descriptive study of clitoral pain.J Sex Med. 2015;12(8):1772-80. doi:doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12934Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1MedlinePlus.Sexually transmitted diseases.Yesodharan D, Sudarsanan B, Jojo A, et al.Plexiform neurofibroma of clitoris.J Pediatr Genet. 2017;6(4):244-246. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1602789Aerts L, Rubin RS, Randazzo M, Goldstein SW, Goldstein I.Retrospective study of the prevalence and risk factors of clitoral adhesions: women’s health providers should routinely examine the glans clitoris.Sexual Medicine. 2018;6(2):115-122. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.01.003Julien V, Labadie M, Gauthier G, Ronger-savle S.Clitoral metastasis from ductal breast cancer revealing metastases in multiple sites and review of the literature.J Low Genit Tract Dis.2012;16(1):66-9. doi:10.1097/LGT.0b013e3182293a2fFilho AC, Garbeloto E, Santiago KC de SD, da Motta LL.Endometrial carcinoma metastatic to the clitoris: A case report.Gynecologic Oncology Case Reports. 2014;8:1-3. doi:10.1016/j.gynor.2013.12.002Additional ReadingFisher AD, Ristori J, Fanni E, Castellini G, Forti G, Maggi M.Gender identity, gender assignment and reassignment in individuals with disorders of sex development: a major of dilemma.J Endocrinol Invest. 2016;39(11):1207-1224. doi:10.1007/s40618-016-0482-0
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Baskin L, Shen J, Sinclair A, et al.Development of the human penis and clitoris.Differentiation. 2018;103:74-85. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2018.08.001Johns Hopkins Medicine.Metoidioplasty for gender affirming care.Mazloomdoost D, Pauls RN.A comprehensive review of the clitoris and its role in female sexual function.Sex Med Rev.2015;3(4):245-263. doi:10.1002/smrj.61Jannini EA, Wise N, Frangos E, Komisaruk BR.Peripheral and central neural bases of orgasm. In:Textbook of female sexual function and dysfunction: Diagnosis and treatment. John Wiley & Sons. 2018:179-95.Claahsen-van der Grinten HL, Speiser PW, Ahmed SF, et al.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia-current insights in pathophysiology, diagnostics, and management.Endocr Rev. 2022;43(1):91-159. doi:10.1210/endrev/bnab016Pauls RN.Anatomy of the clitoris and the female sexual response.Clin Anat. 2015;28(3):376-84. doi:10.1002/ca.22524Parada M, D’Amours T, Amsel R, Pink L, Gordon A, Binik YM.Clitorodynia: a descriptive study of clitoral pain.J Sex Med. 2015;12(8):1772-80. doi:doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12934Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1MedlinePlus.Sexually transmitted diseases.Yesodharan D, Sudarsanan B, Jojo A, et al.Plexiform neurofibroma of clitoris.J Pediatr Genet. 2017;6(4):244-246. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1602789Aerts L, Rubin RS, Randazzo M, Goldstein SW, Goldstein I.Retrospective study of the prevalence and risk factors of clitoral adhesions: women’s health providers should routinely examine the glans clitoris.Sexual Medicine. 2018;6(2):115-122. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.01.003Julien V, Labadie M, Gauthier G, Ronger-savle S.Clitoral metastasis from ductal breast cancer revealing metastases in multiple sites and review of the literature.J Low Genit Tract Dis.2012;16(1):66-9. doi:10.1097/LGT.0b013e3182293a2fFilho AC, Garbeloto E, Santiago KC de SD, da Motta LL.Endometrial carcinoma metastatic to the clitoris: A case report.Gynecologic Oncology Case Reports. 2014;8:1-3. doi:10.1016/j.gynor.2013.12.002Additional ReadingFisher AD, Ristori J, Fanni E, Castellini G, Forti G, Maggi M.Gender identity, gender assignment and reassignment in individuals with disorders of sex development: a major of dilemma.J Endocrinol Invest. 2016;39(11):1207-1224. doi:10.1007/s40618-016-0482-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Baskin L, Shen J, Sinclair A, et al.Development of the human penis and clitoris.Differentiation. 2018;103:74-85. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2018.08.001Johns Hopkins Medicine.Metoidioplasty for gender affirming care.Mazloomdoost D, Pauls RN.A comprehensive review of the clitoris and its role in female sexual function.Sex Med Rev.2015;3(4):245-263. doi:10.1002/smrj.61Jannini EA, Wise N, Frangos E, Komisaruk BR.Peripheral and central neural bases of orgasm. In:Textbook of female sexual function and dysfunction: Diagnosis and treatment. John Wiley & Sons. 2018:179-95.Claahsen-van der Grinten HL, Speiser PW, Ahmed SF, et al.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia-current insights in pathophysiology, diagnostics, and management.Endocr Rev. 2022;43(1):91-159. doi:10.1210/endrev/bnab016Pauls RN.Anatomy of the clitoris and the female sexual response.Clin Anat. 2015;28(3):376-84. doi:10.1002/ca.22524Parada M, D’Amours T, Amsel R, Pink L, Gordon A, Binik YM.Clitorodynia: a descriptive study of clitoral pain.J Sex Med. 2015;12(8):1772-80. doi:doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12934Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1MedlinePlus.Sexually transmitted diseases.Yesodharan D, Sudarsanan B, Jojo A, et al.Plexiform neurofibroma of clitoris.J Pediatr Genet. 2017;6(4):244-246. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1602789Aerts L, Rubin RS, Randazzo M, Goldstein SW, Goldstein I.Retrospective study of the prevalence and risk factors of clitoral adhesions: women’s health providers should routinely examine the glans clitoris.Sexual Medicine. 2018;6(2):115-122. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.01.003Julien V, Labadie M, Gauthier G, Ronger-savle S.Clitoral metastasis from ductal breast cancer revealing metastases in multiple sites and review of the literature.J Low Genit Tract Dis.2012;16(1):66-9. doi:10.1097/LGT.0b013e3182293a2fFilho AC, Garbeloto E, Santiago KC de SD, da Motta LL.Endometrial carcinoma metastatic to the clitoris: A case report.Gynecologic Oncology Case Reports. 2014;8:1-3. doi:10.1016/j.gynor.2013.12.002
Baskin L, Shen J, Sinclair A, et al.Development of the human penis and clitoris.Differentiation. 2018;103:74-85. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2018.08.001
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Metoidioplasty for gender affirming care.
Mazloomdoost D, Pauls RN.A comprehensive review of the clitoris and its role in female sexual function.Sex Med Rev.2015;3(4):245-263. doi:10.1002/smrj.61
Jannini EA, Wise N, Frangos E, Komisaruk BR.Peripheral and central neural bases of orgasm. In:Textbook of female sexual function and dysfunction: Diagnosis and treatment. John Wiley & Sons. 2018:179-95.
Claahsen-van der Grinten HL, Speiser PW, Ahmed SF, et al.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia-current insights in pathophysiology, diagnostics, and management.Endocr Rev. 2022;43(1):91-159. doi:10.1210/endrev/bnab016
Pauls RN.Anatomy of the clitoris and the female sexual response.Clin Anat. 2015;28(3):376-84. doi:10.1002/ca.22524
Parada M, D’Amours T, Amsel R, Pink L, Gordon A, Binik YM.Clitorodynia: a descriptive study of clitoral pain.J Sex Med. 2015;12(8):1772-80. doi:doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12934
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
MedlinePlus.Sexually transmitted diseases.
Yesodharan D, Sudarsanan B, Jojo A, et al.Plexiform neurofibroma of clitoris.J Pediatr Genet. 2017;6(4):244-246. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1602789
Aerts L, Rubin RS, Randazzo M, Goldstein SW, Goldstein I.Retrospective study of the prevalence and risk factors of clitoral adhesions: women’s health providers should routinely examine the glans clitoris.Sexual Medicine. 2018;6(2):115-122. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.01.003
Julien V, Labadie M, Gauthier G, Ronger-savle S.Clitoral metastasis from ductal breast cancer revealing metastases in multiple sites and review of the literature.J Low Genit Tract Dis.2012;16(1):66-9. doi:10.1097/LGT.0b013e3182293a2f
Filho AC, Garbeloto E, Santiago KC de SD, da Motta LL.Endometrial carcinoma metastatic to the clitoris: A case report.Gynecologic Oncology Case Reports. 2014;8:1-3. doi:10.1016/j.gynor.2013.12.002
Fisher AD, Ristori J, Fanni E, Castellini G, Forti G, Maggi M.Gender identity, gender assignment and reassignment in individuals with disorders of sex development: a major of dilemma.J Endocrinol Invest. 2016;39(11):1207-1224. doi:10.1007/s40618-016-0482-0
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