What three things do I need to know about the clitoris?

Bababam (0:04)

What three things do I need to know about the clitoris?

Thanks for asking.

The clitoris is the only organ in the human body that's dedicated solely to pleasure. It doesn't have any muscles or play any role in the body's other functions. And while our understanding of the clitoris has improved in recent years, there's still a lot to learn, as research in the area is relatively new. Why is the clitoris so sensitive? Until recently, researchers thought that the clitoris had 8,000 nerve endings. For comparison, that's more than double the sensory receptors found on the glands of the penis.

But a study led by Dr. Blair Peters from the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine challenged that belief. The study was presented at a scientific conference back in 2022 and analyzed clitoral tissue from 7 transmasculine volunteers who were undergoing genital surgery. And the results showed that there were actually more than 10,000 nerve fibres in each clitoris. That's 25% more than previously estimated. Peters is quoted in the study's media release as saying it's startling to think about more than 10,000 nerve fibres being concentrated in something as small as the clitoris.

I've heard people compare the clitoris to the penis before. Are there really similarities between the two? Yes, absolutely. And that's the second key point to understand. The small part of the clitoris that you can see is actually the glands. Most of it is actually hidden inside the body. The hood extends into two roots, each about 10 cm long, that stretch along either side of the vagina. When stimulated, that can lead to vaginal orgasms. Like the penis, the clitoris is a cavernous body, meaning it swells and grows when aroused. When it's stimulated sexually, it gets hard. The glands and shaft fill with blood and it becomes erect. So a clitoris can have an erection just like a penis. Another similarity is that the clitoris and penis have the same embryonic origin. Embryos have a genital tubercle that looks a bit like a mushroom. Around the eighth week of development, this tubercle will develop into either a penis or a clitoris, influenced by hormones. Both are composed of the same erectile tissues, spongy bodies and cavernous bodies. Finally, let's take in one more fascinating fact about this amazing organ. It continues to grow throughout a person's life, and the growth is due to hormonal changes. During puberty, it doubles in size and continues to grow even after menopause. Researchers say it can increase up to seven times in size from birth through to the end of life. There you have it.

Now you know the three main things to know about the clitoris. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.