What exactly is the clitoris?

The clitoris is a woman's sexual organ. It sits where the inner vulva lips meet at the front. Strictly speaking, this little mound is just the clitoral head, because the clitoris is much bigger than you think. Most of the clitoris cannot be seen from the outside. It runs invisibly in the body and extends under the inner lips to around the entrance of the vagina. Like the penis, the clitoris consists of erectile tissue. During sexual arousal, this erectile tissue fills with blood and swells. This results in an erection of the glans and clitoral shaft. For this reason, the clitoris is larger than usual during stimulation. It erects and the vulval vestibule widens. How much it swells varies from woman* to woman*.

The clitoris is very rich in nerve endings and therefore very sensitive. For many, stimulation of the outer clitoris is the most reliable way to orgasm. The foreskin of the clitoris protects the clitoral glans, i.e. the "bean", from overstimulation.

Do all women have a clitoris? 

Basically, yes. If there is no malformation or injury, all women* have a clitoris by nature. The only difference is that it looks different on each person. And that's perfectly fine.

I think my clitoris is broken; I never reach orgasm.

Don't worry, your clitoris is not broken. Chances are that the difficulty in reaching orgasm is due to another reason. Your sexual sensations want to be explored. You have to find out how you like to be touched, what you like and what you don't like. You can take all the time in the world for that. Masturbation gives you the opportunity to discover your own needs in a safe environment. Many women reach climax more easily through masturbation than with a partner. This can be due to stress, pressure, shame or lack of communication. Take time to get to know your clitoris. Take your time to discover how you like to be touched and what you like less. Talk to your partner and try to say what you like, what you would like and what you dislike. Studies show that the ability to have an orgasm increases with age. This is partly because you know your own body and your own needs better and can communicate what you like more clearly and earlier.

Why do we know so little about the clitoris?

The clitoris, as well as female pleasure, unfortunately remained unexplored for a very long time. Until a few years ago, it was believed that women could not feel an orgasm and did not have the same sexual needs as men. In the meantime, we know that this is not the case at all. Nevertheless, the relevant research on the topic is still only just beginning. Scientists are also arguing about whether there are such a thing as vaginal and clitoral orgasms, or whether the same nerves play a role in both. The fact is, there is still a lot of research to be done in this field.