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">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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penis enlargement</span> Technique aimed to increase the size of a human penis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Androgen</span> Any steroid hormone that promotes male characteristics

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metoidioplasty</span> Surgical procedure used to create a penis from the clitoris

Metoidioplasty, metaoidioplasty, or metaidoioplasty is a female-to-male gender-affirming surgery.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genital tubercle</span> Body of tissue present in the development of the reproductive system

A genital tubercle, phallic tubercle, or clitorophallic structure is a body of tissue present in the development of the reproductive system of amniotes. It forms in the ventral, caudal region of mammalian embryos of both sexes, and eventually develops into a primordial phallus. In the human fetus, the genital tubercle develops around week four of gestation, and by week nine, becomes recognizably either a clitoris or penis. This should not be confused with the sinus tubercle which is a proliferation of endoderm induced by paramesonephric ducts. Even after the phallus is developed, the term genital tubercle remains, but only as the terminal end of it, which develops into either the glans penis or the glans clitoridis.

<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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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testosterone enanthate</span> Chemical compound

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corpus cavernosum of clitoris</span> One of a pair of regions in the clitoris that contain the blood during erection

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral pump</span> Type of sex toy

A clitoral pump is a sex toy designed for sexual pleasure that is applied to the clitoris to create suction and increase blood flow and sensitivity. A clitoral pump is designed to be used on the entire external clitoris including the clitoral hood. Other designs of pump exist for the labia, the entire vulva and, in some cases, the nipples.

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

A micropenis or microphallus 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 for age. 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. Traditionally, a microphallus describes a micropenis with hypospadias. 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

Clitoral erection is a physiological phenomenon where the clitoris becomes enlarged and firm.

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual arousal</span> Physiological and psychological changes in preparation for sexual intercourse

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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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