Clitoral enlargement methods

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Clitoral enlargement methods are forms of body modification that have the potential to increase the size of the clitoris and enhance sexual pleasure. Clitoral enlargement can be accomplished through a variety of means, each potentially having certain side effects and risks. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The congenital or acquired medical condition known as clitoromegaly or macroclitoris contrasts intentional enlargement of the clitoris, though any abnormal enlargement of the clitoris is sometimes referred to as clitoromegaly. [1] [5]

Purpose

There are multiple reasons someone might want to enlarge their clitoris. For some, it is a personal aesthetic choice. People who believe that the size of their clitoris prevents adequate stimulation from sexual acts that can directly stimulate the clitoris, such as the coital alignment technique, may choose to enlarge the clitoris in the hope it will be easier to stimulate.

Methods

The most common methods of clitoris enlargement are:

There is disagreement on the best approach; many claim size increases from pumping while others say testosterone is the only way to obtain significant results. Both methods involve some risk. If pumping is done incorrectly, it can cause damage to the erectile tissue and blood vessels. The use of any steroid such as testosterone incurs risk as these compounds can have systemic effects.

While the systemic effects of testosterone are both expected and desired in both trans men and non-binary people using it, cisgender women generally do not want the other masculinizing effects of systemic testosterone. Applying cream or gel containing testosterone directly to the clitoris, rather than injecting it (the usual route of administration for transgender hormone therapy), lessens systemic absorption, and may be sufficient for those looking only to have a larger clitoris and avoid other unwanted virilizing effects. Anecdotal evidence suggests that DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a very potent androgen, can effectively be used for this purpose with minimal side effects. No scientific studies have confirmed this effect in female anatomy, but research targeting the treatment of micropenis has found that local application of DHT is very effective at stimulating penile growth in microphalli. [6] Due to the biological similarity between penile and clitoral tissue, significant growth of the clitoris is likely. Unlike testosterone, DHT cannot be converted into the estrogen estradiol and is thus ideal for generating purely androgenic effects. However, DHT is not available in some countries, including the United States.

Clitoral pumping is another applied method of clitoris enlargement. Evidence proving its effectiveness is still lacking but it continues to be a popular activity. The potential dangers of vacuum pumping are well known to those familiar with penis pumping. If the applied vacuum pressure is too great it can cause bursting of blood vessels, bruising, blistering, damage to erectile tissue, and other types of trauma. Safe pressures are generally considered to be less than 5 in-Hg of vacuum or 0.17 atm (16 kPa).

A less common approach to clitoral enlargement is saline injection. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

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In amniotes, the clitoris is a female sex organ. In humans, it is the vulva's most erogenous area and generally the primary anatomical source of female sexual pleasure. The clitoris is a complex structure, and its size and sensitivity can vary. The visible portion, the glans, of the clitoris is typically roughly the size and shape of a pea and is estimated to have at least 8,000 nerve endings.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as impotence, is a form of sexual dysfunction in males characterized by the persistent or recurring inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection with sufficient rigidity and duration for satisfactory sexual activity. It is the most common sexual problem in males and can cause psychological distress due to its impact on self-image and sexual relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priapism</span> Medical condition where an erection lasts excessively long

Priapism is a condition in which a penis remains erect for hours in the absence of stimulation or after stimulation has ended. There are three types: ischemic (low-flow), nonischemic (high-flow), and recurrent ischemic (intermittent). Most cases are ischemic. Ischemic priapism is generally painful while nonischemic priapism is not. In ischemic priapism, most of the penis is hard; however, the glans penis is not. In nonischemic priapism, the entire penis is only somewhat hard. Very rarely, clitoral priapism occurs in women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benign prostatic hyperplasia</span> Noncancerous increase in size of the prostate gland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral hood</span> Part of the vulva that covers and protects the glans of the clitoris

In female humans and other mammals, the clitoral hood is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the glans of the clitoris; it also covers the external clitoral shaft, develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin in the male reproductive system. The clitoral hood is composed of mucocutaneous tissues; these tissues are between the mucous membrane and the skin, and they may have immunological importance because they may be a point of entry of mucosal vaccines.

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Phalloplasty is the construction or reconstruction of a penis or the artificial modification of the penis by surgery. The term is also occasionally used to refer to penis enlargement.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoromegaly</span> Unusually large clitoris

Clitoromegaly is an abnormal enlargement of the clitoris that is mostly congenital; it is otherwise acquired through deliberately induced clitoral enlargement e.g. body modification by use of anabolic steroids, including testosterone. It can happen as part of a gender transition. It is not the same as normal enlargement of the clitoris seen during sexual arousal.

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Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) is a spontaneous erection of the penis during sleep or when waking up. Along with nocturnal clitoral tumescence, it is also known as sleep-related erection. Men without physiological erectile dysfunction or severe depression experience nocturnal penile tumescence, usually three to five times during a period of sleep, typically during rapid eye movement sleep. Nocturnal penile tumescence is believed to contribute to penile health.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micropenis</span> Unusually small penis

A micropenis is an unusually small penis. A common criterion is a dorsal penile length of at least 2.5 standard deviations smaller than the mean human penis size. A micropenis is stretched penile length equal to or less than 1.9 cm in term infants, and 9.3 cm in adults. The condition is usually recognized shortly after birth. The term is most often used medically when the rest of the penis, scrotum, and perineum are without ambiguity, such as hypospadias. A microphallus describes a medical term where other sections of genitallia are different, such as hypospadias or cryptorchidism. Micropenis incidence is about 1.5 in 10,000 male newborns in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral erection</span> Physiological phenomenon involving the engorgement of the clitoris

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanics of human sexuality</span> Biomechanics of human sexual intercourse

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The clitoris is a female sex organ present in mammals, ostriches and other amniotes.

References

  1. 1 2 Horejsí J. (1997). "Acquired clitoral enlargement. Diagnosis and treatment". Ann N Y Acad Sci. 816 (1): 369–372. Bibcode:1997NYASA.816..369H. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb52163.x. PMID   9238289. S2CID   85705035.
  2. ↑ Atilla Şenaylı; Etlik Ankara (December 2011). "Controversies on clitoroplasty". Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 3 (6): 273–277. doi:10.1177/1756287211428165. PMC   3229251 . PMID   22164197.
  3. ↑ S.V. Perovic; M.L. Djordjevic (December 2003). "Metoidioplasty: a variant of phalloplasty in female transsexuals". BJUI . 92 (9): 981–985. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2003.04524.x. PMID   14632860. S2CID   11836091.
  4. ↑ Meyer, Walter J.; Webb, Alice; Stuart, Charles A.; Finkelstein, Jordan W.; Lawrence, Barbara; Walker, Paul A. (April 1986). "Physical and hormonal evaluation of transsexual patients: A longitudinal study". Archives of Sexual Behavior . 15 (2): 121–138. doi:10.1007/BF01542220. PMID   3013122. S2CID   42786642.
  5. ↑ Copcu E, Aktas A, Sivrioglu N, Copcu O, Oztan Y (2004). "Idiopathic isolated clitoromegaly: A report of two cases". Reprod Health. 1 (1): 4. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-1-4 . PMC   523860 . PMID   15461813.
  6. ↑ Choi, SK; SW Han; DH Kim; B de Lignieres (Aug 1993). "Transdermal dihydrotestosterone therapy and its effects on patients with microphallus". Journal of Urology. 150 (2 Pt 2): 657–660. doi:10.1016/s0022-5347(17)35576-3. PMID   8326617.
  7. ↑ Shannon Larratt (January 22, 2008). "Saline Clitoral Inflation". BME: Tattoo, Piercing and Body Modification News. Archived from the original on 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
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