The clitoris, sometimes called today the clitoro-urethro-vaginal organ (CUV), is an organ of the female genital system. Long restricted to its only visible part, the glans, the clitoris is in reality a complex organ, largely hidden. Often called the organ of pleasure, it has only one function: that of giving pleasure to women.

The clitoris, sometimes called the bulbo-clitoral organ or the clitoro-urethro-vaginal organ (CUV), is an organ of the female genital system.

The visible “button” of the clitoris is actually only a small part of this organ, which is largely hidden, and is made up of 4 distinct elements:

• the glans of the clitoris is the only partially visible part. Small turgor located outside the vulva, below the pubis, it is made up of connective tissue. In some women, it can be completely hidden by a small fold of skin called a hood. At the front, it is attached to the labia minora by another small skin fold, the frenulum;
• the two pillars of the clitoris are two branches that can measure up to 12 to 15 cm, and running along the internal face of the bones of the pelvis. Cavernous bodies covered with a fibrous envelope called albuginea, these are erectile bodies: they swell with blood under the effect of sexual arousal;
• the body of the clitoris, sometimes called the corpora or root, is formed by the junction of the two pillars. This part is kept suspended from the pubic symphysis. Between the vagina and this root of the clitoris is the urethra surrounded by numerous Skenne glands;
• the bulbs are made up of two spongy bodies, also erectile, descending on either side of the urethra then ending on either side of the vagina. This bulbar arch which partially encloses the vagina communicates with the body of the clitoris via a network of veins called the Kobelt plexus.

However, it is only relatively recently that this anatomical architecture of the clitoris is well known, or at least recognized. An organ only intended for female pleasure, the clitoris was in fact long forgotten in scientific studies and other anatomical treatises.

Between 1998 and 2005, the Australian urologist Helen E. O’Connell and her team published a series of scientific articles reconstructing research carried out on the anatomy of the clitoris, on the basis of dissection.

In 2009 and 2010, the gynecologist Odile Buisson, author of Who’s afraid of the G-spot, associated with Dr Pierre Foldès, a French urologist who pioneered the reconstruction of female genital mutilation, for the first time performed ultrasounds of the clitoris and the G-spot in action – in this case during intercourse. These ultrasounds made it possible to show, in particular, that the clitoris was a mobile organ. It moves in particular during the contractions of the perineum.

The clitoris is the only human organ used only for pleasure. It is crossed by a rich network of nerve fibers, and endowed on certain parts with nerve endings and mechanoreceptors (Merckel disc, Ruffini corpuscles, Vater-Pacini corpuscles, Finger corpuscles …) each sensitive to different types of stimulation (caress , pressure, vibrations…).

The primary erogenous zone would be located on the glans of the clitoris. Its stimulation can be done either directly at the level of the glans, or at the level of the body of the clitoris through its cap, or by the interior of the vagina, by pressure at the level of the base of the body of the clitoris. This stimulation can also be more indirect, by the pressure of the pillars or that of the bulbs under the effect of the contraction of the muscles, or by the compression of the bulbs during vaginal penetration. So the orgasm said – wrongly – “vaginal” would be due to the stimulation of the internal parts of the clitoris. Contractions of the perineum are also actively involved in this sexual pleasure.

Clitoral pain

Sometimes called clitorodynias, clitoral pain is a relatively little studied pathology. According to Canadian work published in The Journal of Sexual Medecine, a certain number of women would nevertheless be victims. These more or less intense pains, provoked or not, have a real impact on their daily life and, of course, sexual life. This pain may be localized to the clitoris only or related to other genital pain, such as vulvodynia (pain in the vulva). Also according to this study, different triggering factors were identified: tight clothing (80%), sitting position (79%), sexual arousal (74%), stress (74%) and masturbation (66%).

Clitoral infection

Different infections can affect the clitoris in the same way as the vulva, the mycosis caused by Candida albicans being the most common. It is then manifested by swelling of the glans of the clitoris and itching.

L’excision

Excision, today called female genital mutilation (MSF), is not a pathology or an anomaly of the clitoris but a surgical intervention instituted in the habits and customs of black African countries and some regions of Asia. It consists of the removal of the external female genitalia (glans of the clitoris, or even the labia majora and / or labia minora), and therefore deprives the woman of part of her sexual pleasure.

Reconstruction of the clitoris after excision

Excision of the clitoris amputates only the glans of the clitoris. A surgical technique developed by Dr Pierre Foldes, a French urologist who is a pioneer in the field of reconstruction of the clitoris, now makes it possible to reconstruct the clitoris from its internal part, and to restore its sensitivity.