The medical field was dominated by patriarchal beliefs for years, which has influenced the amount of knowledge women received about sexual pleasure.
Throughout time, the female anatomy has been understudied and oversimplified due to a variety of factors such as the inability to study a female cadaver, a lack of interest by male specialists, and religious views. Therefore, it is important we all understand the basic anatomy of a woman. A general misconception is that the clitoris is often mistaken for the vagina when in actuality, it is a part of the vulva. The vagina is an internal organ while the vulva totals the exterior or surrounding skin. The purpose of the vulva is to protect the vagina from infections and harmful bacterias. Ultimately, the vulva is the part that touches the front of your underwear and the vagina is on the inside of your body.
A good reference for a better understanding of the female anatomy is the book “The Vagina Bible”, written by Dr. Jen Gunter. Dr. Gunter has selected a variety of diagrams and provided detailed information on vaginas. She also has conducted extensive research for trans individuals and their reproductive systems.
Now that we are all on the same page about our vulvas and vaginas, we can take a closer look at our clitoris and understand what its purpose is and what I wish I knew about it.
I think it's important to define what a clitoris is and where it is located on the vulva. The clitoris is situated at the top of the vagina and urethra. If you look directly at it, you can only see the tip of the clitoris. The most important fact to note is the sole purpose of the clitoris if for sexual pleasure! It is the only structure in any human body where the sole purpose is pleasure. So why don't we rave about this body part more often?
When a woman becomes sexually aroused, the clitoris fills with blood. While most individuals believe the way to achieve an orgasm is to focus on the “glans clitoris”, which is the most exposed part of the clitoris, some find that a focus or the clitorourethrovaginal (CUV) complex (the area that surrounds the vagina and the urethra) is more pleasurable for their body. It is important to recognize that this is different for everybody. Some individuals find pleasure in focusing on stimulation and vibration directly on the clitoris and clitoral hood, while others don’t. What is most important to focus on is that everyone's vulva, vagina, and clitoris are different and there isn't one universal way to achieve an orgasm. Nevertheless, understanding a little more about your anatomy will encourage you to have a better understanding of how you can achieve an orgasm.
Felicia Gisondi runs the podcast Ladies, Let’s Talk About Sex! and can be found on Instagram here
