Clitoris Health — Why And How To Take Care Of Your Little Nerve Bundle

Our understanding of sex education is not only limited, but also restricted. When talking of it, we focus only on intercourse; but it also includes your sex organs— and everything about them. As breast health awareness is reaching people, it is time that women focus on their clitoris health — the most vulnerable part of the anatomy.

Female sexuality or sexual health is still a forbidden word in most of the countries. Very naturally, a developing mind will have questions surrounding a developing body. So do people with a vagina.

But they are still hesitant to talk about it, raise questions or reach out for help in case of doubts. This hesitation has enabled the sprouting of capitalist ventures that have exploited and misrepresented female hygiene to sell intimate care products.

Why should your clitoris health matter to you?

Clitoris is the more complex part of the female genitalia that is solely devoted to sexual pleasure.

Medicinal line has long ignored the intricacies of female genitalia, giving way to a lot of misconceptions that were not merely unhealthy, but also fatal. It is easier to drive through a familiar road rather than an unknown one on a foggy night.

With recent rise in awareness, sexologists are paying more attention to studying the female genitalia. Hence, more studies on clitoris health and the vagina ailments are coming to be.

Never miss real stories from India's women.

Register Now

You can’t worry about your clitoris health if you don’t know your clitoris

To begin with— no two female genitals are similar. They differ in every way possible. Okay, now moving on to anatomy.

The entire external part of the female genitalia, what meets the eye, is broadly called vulva, while the internal half is called vagina. Your clitoris is located at the top of your vulva. It is tucked away in the clitoral hood, or the top floor of your lady part.

Now, imagine an iceberg. Only one-third of it is visible, and the rest is submerged underwater.

Similarly, what you see or mark as the clitoris is merely the clitoral glans, which has a huge number of nerve-endings that makes it all the more sensitive to touch. The rest of the clitoris is internally placed. It is said to be as long as 4-7 centimetres!

When you are sexually aroused, the blood supply to these nerve endings increases. This leads to slight withdrawal of the clitoral hood and enlargement of the clitoris.

But it is NOT equal to a penis. Since the clitoris is a bundle of nerves and is the most vital organ for sexual pleasure, it is necessary to look after its well-being.

Conditions associated with clitoris health

Literature surrounding the female genitalia is just expanding in recent times. Hence, as more comes to light, the better awareness spreads. There are not many serious conditions associated with your clitoral health.

Just like you would pay attention to discomfort in any other part of the body, you should do the same for your clitoris, or vagina, as well. It is advised to consult your gynaecologist if you feel:

• Soreness after sexual stimulation
• Pain from a prolonged swelling
• Pain from injury or infection
•  Itching or discomfort as a result of using intimate products. 

These symptoms are mild and can be easily treated with medicinal advice. They are most commonly attributed to Yeast infection.

And some more serious conditions

Apart from what is discussed above, there are conditions that are more serious. These may include Clitoromegaly, Clitoral Adhesions, Metastatic Cancer, and Lichen Sclerosus.

• Clitoromegaly is merely the term given for a larger than average clitoris. The reason might be attributed to Neurofibramatosis, a condition in which tumours grow on nerve tissues. It can be treated with a minor surgery.

• Clitoral Adhesions involves the sticking of the clitoral hood to the clitoral gland. This may hamper the retraction of the hood during sexual stimulation. Causes are yet to be studied, but it can be due to yeast infection, hormonal imbalances, any form of genital injury, etc. Again, surgery is the most likely to be the option.

• Metastatic Cancer is when the cancer cells from other parts of the body (most likely from other reproductive organs like the breast, endometrial, or the cervix) impairs the clitoris. Though it is extremely rare, there are possibilities of it.

• Finally, Lichen Sclerosus results in patches of white, thin skin. It is rarely found in the genitals, but it raises serious concern when it disrupts the functioning of the clitoris.

There are no medical tests devoted to measuring clitoral health. But common tests like common blood tests, Pap-Smear, mammographies, and ultrasonography are performed to gauge any condition.

How to maintain your clitoral health?

Much is yet to be known about the major role of clitoral hygiene specifically. However, vaginal hygiene is the broader term and does include your clitoris as well. Here are a few general tips to keep in mind for keeping your lady part clean and safe:

• Avoid intimate washes – The most controversial talk of the town are those intimate wash products that promise you a balanced pH level for safe cleaning. However, the other half of the medical field discourages the use of the same.

The products mess with the natural bacteria that lives down there and is essential for the healthy acidic maintenance of the genitalia. Use plain water daily to simply wash the clitoris. You can use mild soap, but not daily.

• Do not douche – Douching is the process of washing the insides of the vaginal cavity using either water spray or other hygiene product. Your vagina does not smell if you do not douche. It is supposed to smell.

Using water or other cleaning products to douche can lead to yeast infection, which can lead to— mild to severe dysfunction of the clitoris. Again, plain water works best.

Use fingertips to clean your clitoris and other parts of the vulva instead of a paper towel.

• Use toilet paper after peeing – Presence of excess moisture in the main part can also lead to growth of unwanted bacteria. Use toilet paper to dab the excess moisture from front to back, after peeing. Make sure you are gentle and do not wipe it dry.

• Do not use vaginal products – There are a lot of over-the-counter vaginal products in the market to help soothe the occasional itchiness or discomfort. However, it would be safer to seek the advice of your gynaecologist before using any such products.

• How much is too much clitoral stimulation – Masturbating quite often or for too long can lead to momentary loss of sensation. But it usually returns after some time.

Hence, while engaging in sexual stimulation, keep in mind to hit the clit but not for too long.

Those with a clitoris are the individuals who have an entire single organ dedicated to sexual pleasure. Yet, for a long time it was believed to be an identity mark of a witch.

Does your mind wander into witchcraft when you are at the peak of your orgasm? Or, just like the clitoris, even female orgasm is likely to be a new concept for men? I wonder.

Image source: Cliff Booth via pexels, Giuseppe Ramos – STU, Annefoster Hinh anh cua nguyen van kien, free on Canva Pro 

Comments