Clitology

CLITORIS:
1. Latin for “darned thing was just here a second ago.”
2. The only organ in either the male or the female body whose sole purpose is pleasure—which from a biological perspective might indicate that female genitals are more highly evolved than males’.
3. Sometimes regarded as the Emerald City of women’s orgasmic response.
4. Not to be approached in haste.
- Paul Joannides, The Guide to Getting It On


When most people think about the clitoris, they picture the nub of tissue that nestles between folds of skin at the very top of the vulva (the female genital area). These are called the glans and the hood, the visible parts of the clitoris, the bundle of nerves that can send a woman into ecstasy when touched the right way. This is where the magic lives—the glans has more nerve endings than any other body part on men or women. On some women, this area is very small—on others, it can protrude out from the body. There’s no right or wrong way for the glans to look; it’s sensitive and easily aroused, whether it’s a tiny one that hides under a fold of skin, or a fat juicy one that begs for attention.

The glans gets all the glory, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak—there’s a lot more clitoris down below the surface, where you can’t see it. In fact, the clitoris is anchored by its shaft, crura and suspensatory ligament—tissues that extend out to the pelvic bone and along the front wall of the vagina. All of this tissue is sexually sensitive: it responds to arousal, and it feels good when stimulated. Think of the penis: the head is the most sensitive part, but the rest of it is important too, right? The clitoris is the same way. All you can see is the head, but it’s all there, and it can all be stimulated by a lover who touches the right spots.

This is why women feel pleasure from so many different kinds of sexual touch. Most of us know that touching the glans will send us on a quick trip over the moon—but grinding, penetration, stroking, and other forms of touch can bring us to orgasm, too. It’s different for every woman, but the hidden reaches of the clitoris mean that we can discover all kinds of sexual pleasure and orgasms, even when we’re not touching the glans directly.

Stan: Chef, how do you make a woman like you more than any other guy?
Chef: Oh, that's easy! You just gotta find the clitoris!
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut


So what’s the shortcut to the female orgasm? Sorry—there’s no one way to make the magic happen. There are lots of ways—some will work for you or your partner, but the only way to find out which ones is good old-fashioned detective work, and lots of practice.

If you’ve never given much thought to your own clitoris, try starting out by yourself. Masturbation can be amazing if you take your time and figure out what gives you the most pleasure. Find a time when you won’t be disturbed, lock the door, turn down the lights, and let your fantasies run wild. You may want to put some lube on your fingers. Try stroking your clitoris. Tug on it, push at it, grind against it, do whatever feels good. Then try gently stroking the lips of your vagina, inside and out. Take your time, and pay attention to what turns you on the most. Once you’ve made yourself come a few times, you’ll be ready for more advanced methods.

One very popular method is oral sex. The lips and tongue are soft, warm and wet, so they feel good right away. Going down on a woman can be intimidating if you’re new to it—unlike a man’s genitals, which are very visible and easy to understand, women’s genitals aren’t all visible, and there are lots of folds and creases which look different on different women. The tip of the clitoris can hide in its hood sometimes, too.

But don’t let that get you down—ask your partner to give you some feedback while you lick her. Put a cushion under her bottom, so you can get a better angle, and make sure you are in a position that’s comfortable for you—chances are you’ll be down there for a while! Try different things: swirl the tip of your tongue against the hood of her clitoris. Lick her in long strokes from the vagina up to the tip of the clitoris and back down again. Flick your tongue in light, swift motions, then switch to a long, slow grind. Slip a finger or two into her vagina while you’re at it. And while you’re doing all this, pay attention to the signals she’s sending you. If she’s moaning and screaming “YES!” chances are you’re doing something right. If she’s nudging and shifting, she probably wants you to adjust or try something different. Ask her to be open with you, so you can figure out what works best for her.

Toys are also a great way of experimenting, and you can use them with a partner or by yourself.

A vibrator can be used inside the vagina or outside it, on the clitoris or any other sensitive parts, so you can experiment with what feels good. A vibrator right against the clitoris can make you come very, very quickly! Some vibrators, like Rabbits, come with attachments that tickle, touch or vibrate the clitoris or the anus, or both, while also penetrating the vagina, which means it’s working on more than one part of the 3-D clitoris.

A clitoral vibrator (such as the Sasi), on the other hand, is specially built to focus on the clitoris—it focuses on the glans, but it also vibrates against the entire outside of the vulva, stimulating the “underground” parts of the clitoris as well. Also: magic fingers action. What more could a lady ask for?

Ticklers (like the Cyber Flicker) are small vibrators with soft extended parts that “tickle” or flick against the glans, with a light touch that sends many women right over the edge. They can be used alone, in combination with other toys, or during intercourse. For example, a woman can hold it against her clitoris while a male partner (or a female partner using a strap-on) fucks her from behind, so she can come with his cock inside her. Men: if you haven’t experienced this, now’s your chance. And your cock will be throbbing right up against the internal parts of her clitoris, so she’ll come even harder. Think of it as a win-win.

A clitoral pump, like this one from California Exotic, can be used this way too—it provides suction, similar to what a partner can do with his or her mouth. This can be used on its own, or with a partner, if you want to experience the feeling of penetration and oral sex at the same time. (And trust me here—you want to.)

You might find that all of these methods make you come like crazy, or you might find just one or two that do the trick for you. If you’re experimenting with a partner, you’ll get to know each other’s bodies, and better understand how to give your partner a mind-bending orgasm every time. Once you get to know your clitoris, you’ll never have to fake it or go without—you’ll know how to pleasure yourself, any time you want. Now that’s a subject worth studying.