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Hi Alice,
Ummm, I'm too embarrassed to ask the doctor or anyone, but my clitoris seems a lot bigger than every other girl's I know. Is this normal or should I see a doctor? Please answer me ASAP. I'm worried. Thank you so much!Dear Reader,
You do not have to worry. Your clitoris may seem or be, in fact, bigger than other girls' you know; for example, sometimes adrenal glands produce hormones during fetal development that cause women to be born with a larger clitoris. However, this doesn't upset its function, as the purpose of the clitoris is to give pleasure (a clitoris has more nerve endings than a penis!). Nor do any two clitorises look alike. Similar to a penis, the clitoris also varies in size, with a wide range of "normal." Women's clitorises can be longer or shorter, thinner or wider, flat/less prominent or more obvious. The tip of the clitoris, known as the glans, may be visible or hidden. During arousal, the clitoris becomes swollen and changes position.
You didn't mention your age in your e-mail, so it's unclear if you've ever been
to a gynecologist or a woman's health care nurse practitioner for an exam. If
you haven't yet, this might be the time. Usually, you meet with the health care
professional before you are examined, and have a chance to talk with the person
first. You can mention your concern to the health care provider, write a note
on your history form, or prepare a private note to be handed to him or her before
you are examined, that can go something like this: "I am worried about something.
This is really embarrassing to bring up. I am concerned about the size of my
clitoris. I'm afraid it's too big." Chances are your provider will reassure
you that it's within the normal range, and then s/he can address your fears
as well as examine your anatomy.
You may want to peruse the following resources that include illustrations and
photographs of the clitoris and vulva before you go to your appointment. The
book Sex for One by Betty Dodson, the Genital
Art Gallery on her Web site, and the 1978 version of I Am My Lover edited
by Joani Blank can work wonders at demystifying, reassuring, and educating both
women and men about the variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and parts of women's
inner "hearts." If you have any more questions about the clitoris, the book,
The Clitoral Truth by Rebecca Chalker can also be interesting.
