Born Without a Clitoris?

[Saibine]

I'm kind of embarrassed to ask this question, but I'm getting quite desperate and confused.

It seems that by some terrible error I was born without a clitoris. Although I am still technically a virgin, I have been with a couple different guys before and none of us were ever able to find it. (believe me, we looked XP) In addition, I really get no pleasure  from down there. Really, you must belive me!

I'm not inhibited, and I wasn't raised by strict Catholic parents, it just doesn't make very much sense. A couple of people have mentioned that it might have to do with my hormone levels. I never really went though a very dramatic  puberty, and a lot of people say I look and sound a lot younger than I am (which is 21) In addition I have absolutely no libido and any contact down there is very uncomfortable (thus I'm still a virgin)

Do you think I am just young and inexperienced, or could there be something physiologically wrong with me?

[AnnieBrooke]

You could get a good checkup, maybe you are a genetic anomaly of sorts.  At least you could rule such a thing out.

[tlh777]

you probably have a clitoris.it could be that you have phimosis or a buried clitoris or clitoral adhesions.if your foreskin/prepuce/clitoral hood is too long or adhered to your clitoris you can be circumcised the way a male is and your clitoris will be exposed.go to a gynocologist and don't worry this is pretty common with about 25% of sexually mature women having phimosis.

October 31, 2000
Anatomy and Sexual Dysfunction
By Carol Ezzell



Why do so many women have difficulty reaching orgasm? A new study suggests that, for some, an anatomical disorder may be to blame. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine report that roughly one quarter of the women they have treated for sexual dysfunction have clitoral phimosis, which means the hood of skin surrounding their clitoris is too tight or there is no opening in the skin for the glans of the clitoris to protrude for stimulation. The scientists, who were led by Irwin Goldstein, presented their findings at the Female Sexual Function Forum, a four-day meeting in Boston of physicians and therapists that ended Sunday.



Female Circumcision:
Indications and a New Technique

W.G. Rathmann, M.D.
GP, vol. XX, no. 3,  pp 115-120 , September, 1959


Redundancy or phimosis of the female prepuce can prevent proper enjoyment of sexual relations; yet some modern physicians overlook indications for circumcision. Indications for, and relative contraindications against, use of this procedure are presented, and a new technique is described. Properly carried out, circumcision should bring improvement to 85 to 90 per cent of cases - with resulting cure of psychosomatic illness and prevention of divorces.




Clitoral Unhooding, also referred to as Hoodectomy, is a minor feminine genital surgical procedure to remove excess Prepuce tissue—the surrounding “hood” that sheaths the clitoral node on three sides. Normally, the Prepuce is anatomically designed to offer the clitoris a degree of protection against undue abrasion—or over stimulation—and naturally retracts during sexual intercourse, thereby leaving the highly innervated surface of the clitoral node—what is commonly referred to as the exterior G-spot—or Glans, to be more exposed . . . resulting in female sexual orgasms. Sometimes however, women with small clitoral nodes or those that have excess Prepuce tissue—both common conditions—find that they can’t achieve orgasm, or have a harder time reaching climax, because the clitoris is literally covered, or restricted by too much skin tissue, thus greatly lessening tactile sensation, and/or even eliminating it entirely.

In another closely related condition—and as was reported by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine—roughly 25% of all women treated for sexual dysfunction suffered from what was medically termed Clitoral Phimosis, a condition whereby the Prepuce tissue is so closely aligned with the clitoral node, there is not enough tissue flexibility to allow the clitoris to naturally move beyond the surrounding skin and protrude, permitting needed stimulation to achieve climax. This condition, also addressed through Hoodectomy, involves the surgical retraction and/or excising of tissue surrounding the Clitoris.

Sometimes referred to as female clitoral circumcision, the Clitoral Unhooding procedure is somewhat analogous to penile circumcision in men, although male penile circumcision is still primarily performed from a perspective of genital hygiene. In women, however, Hoodectomy is done more commonly to allow women to experience heightened arousal, by reducing the tissue that forms the hood (Prepuce) covering the clitoris . . . almost always resulting in greater, faster orgasms. To some extent it has been suspected that excessive Prepuce tissue can also result in some hygiene-related issues as well for women, giving sanctuary to increased bacterial counts, and sometimes resulting in what are commonly termed “yeast” or vaginal infections from the close proximity to the vaginal canal.

[BlahinMD]

I didn't find mine until about 6 months ago (I'm 20 but I've been sexually active for 5 years)... It's just not as prominent as others. I didn't realize I had one until I gave birth to my daughter and they had to stitch my clitoris for scratches. I jumped and screamed.

It hurt but at the same time, it was exciting to know I actually had one.

After that, I started experimenting with toys to find it myself and discover what it could do.

I found my clit by myself with a mini mite. If you try buying yourself a clit stimulator toy and play with it, you may find yourself a little surprised as to what they can do :)

[cloudgirl319]

Reading this makes me feel a lot better. i know that sounds terrible, but here's why; i have the same problem. there's nothing there, i swear. I've had many panic attacks because of this, thinking there's something terribly wrong with me. it's good to know I'm not alone.

[dntblwyrcomosure]

I have the same problem. I can't find one at all, and I also suffer from panic attacks, thinking I'm not normal and that there's something wrong. Well, at least I'm not alone. It makes me feel like I'm missing out on something everybody else was born with.

[gokuangel]

srry to interupt to you have to have one thats where all your parts start from!! if you are born to be a boy you grow a penis from there and if you born to be a girl the vagina stays at that way and you get what you need!! But if there is a disfunction i had no clue!! But it is there somewhere!!

[girl2609]

hi, well i was cleaning my baby girl just the other day and i realized that she doesnt have a clit nor the inner labias..i dont understand why she had them when she was born...im a bit scared she is barely 5 months . should i take her to the doctor for a check up or what should i do..???

[DansLady]

When baby girls are born they often have an estrogen level from the mother which is heightened because of the birth that's why a lot of male and female babies genitalia are swollen and sometimes even their nipples are swollen at Birth after a few weeks this goes down when baby girls are small their clitoris is hiding in their clitoral hood for a reason to keep it safe when your daughter hits about 6 or 7 years old her clitoris and her labia will start to grow but again if you have really serious concern then yes ask a pediatrician as for the above comment that is correct every egg the embryo starts out with an X which is the clitoris when another X is added to clitoris forms and when a Y is added the clitoris grows into a penis

[sally1111]

I googled and saw this forum, and decided to join with my questions as well.

I was over 40 when I found out that I didn't have a clit, a hood, or an inner labia. I was astounded that NO ONE ever told me that I was missing these parts. I have never seen a vagina but in risque books, but assumed they were the minority not me. I went to my gyno and the midwife told me that she could find no clitoris. and she saw no scarring. I asked her if by chance I could have been circumcized, and as I said, she said she never saw scarring, my thinking was they may have blended.

I would love to know how that I could find out, I tried looking for my medical records of when I was a child, and could not. I asked all my living relatives and they knew nothing of it. So I am on my own.

I do remember an intense extreme burning down there when I was about five, but assumed that it came from a rape that I had a memory of occuring..

I had 2 normal babies, and my daughter had the flaps I call them, the inner labia.

I though am slick, nothing upon opening my outer labia exists but two holes urethra and vagina. Inside my urethra however is a bulb sort of thing that gets stimulated at times.

thanks

[EchoHead]

Wow. This site was a bunch of help!!! I needed to know about the hood/ covering thing!!! Thank u all!!

[aussiebattler07]

There is a disease called Lichen Planus that can bury the clitoris completely, and cause the lips of the labia to disappear. If you have these symptoms you should definitely get referred to a vulvo-vaginal specialist, or perhaps a dermatologist, but the first would be the best.

[famousavie]

i know i am very late, but I saw your comment and googled Lichen Planus and im clarifying that Lichen Planus is an inflammatory condition of the skin and mucous membranes. as in like a burn or rash on your skin? I am not sure where you got your answer from but I am highly confused lol

[DansLady]

Maybe that's what the other poster remember s having burning sensation at 5 years old?

[raziasshadow]

Just yesterday I was having a chat with a male friend about some of the things he likes to do with a woman in bed. When he told me about sucking the clitoris, I told him there was nothing there to suck.... and hence began my search to find mine. As far as I can tell, I do not have one - at least not a protrusion where it should be. But I have all the same sensitive feelings in the spot where it should be. I am saving myself for marriage ( I am 23) but I have fooled around before and no guy has ever said anything... so I may have a friend look or go to the doctor. Either way I find it totally strange to suddenly realize I may not be "normal." But I have all the drive down there, so I don't know. Is there a book out there about this at all?

[DansLady]

Yes there are try searching your local library

[DansLady]

Lovely Human Anatomy Female Reproductive System 96 In head anatomy ...
https://goo.gl/images/wkKEqT

[femaleappreciator]

It's sad to be reading this, but it seems that many of the questions that are being asked here seem to stem from a lack of basic understanding of the average/typical female anatomy. Of course it can be completely normal to be undersized or oversized, or to have things positioned a little different from one another, but it seems that many of you don't know where to -start- looking, and ask questions out of fear, not knowing what normalcy could possible look like.

It seems like you've all been done a major dis-service at the lack of education you've received from public education on the topic of your own anatomy. Shame on K-12 schools! Shame!

Here's a little tip. Start looking up pictures of female anatomy! There's PLENTY of it out there. Any basic image search engine can help you. Of course there is plenty of clinical imagery, but pornography can be a valuable learning resource as well. If you have Beef with porn, try to put those offending morals aside for a moment and think about this in an informational sense. Not the pictures, as those can be doctored and manipulated as badly as any fashion photo, but the movies will be more helpful.

An an example, I'll share this is a quick little story about my girlfriend, who was brought up extremely religious. She always used to have self confidence issues because when she took her clothes off to bathe at night, she thought that her body was disfigured and abnormal. In one of the later years of high school, she was spending some time at a guy friend's house. The guy left the room to go grab something, and in that moment, she came across a porn mag half sticking out from under his bed. Initially, she was tremendously offended, but she her curiosity got the better of her, she decided to take a peek, and her mind was blown. The different women in the mag actually had bodies that were shaped differently, and different textures and feature details. A few more magazines, and she didn't feel like a freak anymore. She came to grips with the idea that yes, people are different, and IT'S NORMAL.

[DansLady]

True, although clits very in size just like penises the average is about the size of one of your smaller fingernails. Maybe in ovalish shape or like a pea or kernel of corn. Look up real people p*** not the ones that are Photoshop pic maybe let's say older people. Some porn is photoshopped to make all girls nipples and clits and labis look similar! True bubble Jets from jacuzzi handheld shower head vibrating toothbrush are things you can use to try to test sensitivity.for outside not inside.for inside play go to adult store and clean sex toys properly to avoid not just diseases but yeast infections as well.

[DansLady]

Lovely Human Anatomy Female Reproductive System 96 In head anatomy ...
https://goo.gl/images/wkKEqT

[bbgbb]

Iv always been able to find mine but a way which made me notice it ALOT was when i was in the shower (its a hand held one that attaches to the taps) and i was in a squatting position and washing down there, and as i was running the water over my vagina it started to feel really nice, and the water comes out quite strong, so maybe you could try that, run it all over untill you find where it feels nicest, thats where your clit is. squatting position is probablh best too,  hope that helps a bit?

[intactivistrn]

I'm surprised that no one has researched the anatomy of the clitoris. Here is a link to recent reliable research:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16145367

J Urol. 2005 Oct;174(4 Pt 1):1189-95.
Anatomy of the clitoris.
O'Connell HE, Sanjeevan KV, Hutson JM.
Source
Department of Urology, NeuroUrology and Continence Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia. Helen.O'***@****

I hope this is of interest and help

[beemoscreamo]

I'm the same way. My boyfriend and I have looked for it for over a year and still nothing. My doctor has never said anything about it, so I didn't think it was a problem until I was sexually active. I still enjoy sex, but I feel like I'm really missing out because I can't orgasm.

Also similarly to you, my puberty was smooth sailing, and even though I'm 20 and fully developed, people who don't know me think I'm still in high school (just this year two people have asked me if I'm 16).

I guess we just drew the short end of the stick :/

[DansLady]

Lovely Human Anatomy Female Reproductive System 96 In head anatomy ...
https://goo.gl/images/wkKEqT

[owen2014]

Hi ladies I am a male and I was watching this lecture from somebody called dr phil valentine and he came across this topic about women not having a clitoris, from what I gathered he explained that women never had clitoris and that its a male feature, he goes on to say that in africa if a female had such  a thing tthey would cut it of because they believed it made them more of a women and the clitoris was a  mutation of the body.  if you would like to check this out click onto the link.. I hope this helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnhkqvW0zFA
click from 16 minutes

[DansLady]

It's actually the opposite everyone has a clitoris or X but if the baby turns into a boy and a Y is added the clitoris grows into a penis.  they didn't cut them off because they thought it would make women more pure they used to cut off her parts to prevent her from cheating on her male partner. They thought if sex didn't feel good she wouldn't want to do it! Also after cutting they would sew her up and on her wedding night her husband would be able to break her open making sex for him feel very pleasurable but sex for her being very painful! It was a way to manipulate and control women! For men's pleasure! And 2out of 5 girls would die from the procedure!  female circumcision is wrong in every single way

[Greg3]

One problem is that many old books on sex incorrectly state that the clitoris is a protruding structure that is about 1/4 inch long, giving many women the wrong idea. It is rarely that large. In most cases it is just a tiny bump or button less, often tucked under the hood or surrounding skin except during great arousal.  Also, even women who have a clit so mall it is virtually indetectable, can locate the nerve endings there with experimentation and stimulation.

[peri0d]

It is possible that she was born without one but that would make her one of the 75 recorded cases in history of clitoral agenesis/aphallia.

[Edurnezuri]

I'm kinda relived that I was lucy enough to find this blog, and learned that there are other women with this problem. I am 23 now, and I always thought that I am abnormal and maybe that's a sign. Or I am just really really sc*** up, because I have a lot more thing I don't like about my appareance. And I never found anything about this topic in my maternel language.
Even thougth I am able to reach orgasm with my own hands, I never experienced it with a men (but I always was shy and full of fears)

So I am grateful that you say it's not that abnormal, but I'm still afraid of being rejected because of this, since even if it's not abnormal medically, but it makes me different of other, avarage women.

Do you now any operation or anything I can change my condition?

And sorry for talking  so freely about my feelings, But I am happy, that finally I could share my feelings.

[Edurnezuri]

lucky*

[Gs49]

I am a 70 year old male and had a female friend who is 4 years younger than I. She is in exactly the same situation as what you describe.  No matter how hard I tried I could not find a clitoris.  Also she told me that she has never orgasmed and did not think that such a thing exists!  She is married and has had children.  There is no chance that it had been surgically removed.  There are no scars and in every way the area is unblemished.  Just thought I would share this with you so you know that you are not alone.

[njblavender888]

Count me in too!  I have never seen or felt mine.

[plaidjacket]

Okay I don't want to sound more intruding than helpful, and I don't know much about where to find your clitoris etc. But maybe ur lack of libido/Sexualität arousal or pleasure has less to do with your physical anatomy? I understand the situation you are in and how uncomfortable it must be. Good luck with your research

[Guatgirl]

This is great!  Glad I'm not the only one....

[adeolamotunrayo528]

Pls, I also dont enjoy sex at all and my boyfriend told me he couldn't find my clitoris ND I was embarrassed,i have never enjoyed sex for once because it's always painful.. Pls help me on what to do

[DansLady]

Most guys can't find it. Of course that's because boys don't usually pay attention in health class and somehow seem to think that the clitoris is inside when it's really outside of your body Have you used a mirror and a bright light rather than using your hand under blankets in the dark?Remember everyone's different. For everyone who has a tiny clitoris that's hiding, there's someone who's also complaining that hers is too big! If you're really really concerned I suggest you go to OBGYN not a general practitioner. Remember the clitoris is hiding inside the valva and there is a clitoral hood and labia that are attached to it - it could be just that the hood has completely grown over top and that your clitoris is completely covered with skin. If this is the case do not try to uncover it on your own - go to a doctor and ask if they can do some type of X-ray or ultrasound to figure out exactly what's going on. My one friend was born with a penis and a uterus these things do happen. If it is there but just (tiny and covered) think of it as a boy who's uncircumcised. Remember everyone has a clitoris from the start so it has to be there somewhere! Every egg starts out with an X. Later it gains either an x or a y from the sperm. If the baby gains a y the clotoris grows into a penis. So you most likely have one it is just probably stuck inside where as most come out as you grow bigger. I mean you can't always SEE the clitoris on a newborn it is hidden in the vulva for a reason! As you grow so does your genitalia and sometimes girls worry because there clitoris sticks all the way out the hood or seems "too big," whichever way yours is, it will be ok!  The only women who have reported not having one are the ones whom had female circumcision done on them. Sorry this is very long and not well organized it is too hot in here my brain is having hard time functioning!

[DansLady]

Lovely Human Anatomy Female Reproductive System 96 In head anatomy ...
https://goo.gl/images/wkKEqT

[Brianna8659]

Ok if you didn’t have a clitoris you would not be able to urinate, so 1 question can you urinate? If you answer yes then you absolutely do have a clitoris.

[CurfewX]

Women do not urinate from the clitoris. They urinate from the urethra.  It is completely possible to have a urethra and not have a clitoris.

[SS4SHAAD]

Booo! Have a seat.... alternative facts.... fake news.... clitoris isn't necessary for urination. Neither is a penis but boooo! Misinformed

[Erohiel]

The urethra isn't even NEAR the clitoris... It's like half an inch above the vaginal opening. If women peed through their clitoris, they could pee standing up.

[DansLady]

I wish you could all see my Facebook I actually just posted a diagram of this the other day. Ok a woman has labia. That is the part you SEE when she is standing up straight with her legs closed. No you cannot actually see the vagina when she's standing up straight with her legs together. Put your eyes/finger on belly button. Slowly move downwards towards pubic area to the labia. When legs are apart the first thing inside outer labia is the vulva, and under/connected to that another labia. The outer labia is the labia majora the inner is labia minora. These can be different sizes on different women and that's all right . Inside the vulva or partially sticking out of the vulva or conected to/protruding from the vulva is the clitoris.  LOL my spell check keeps changing clitoris to Citrus LOL inside the labia minora and under the vulva is the urethra opening. This is where urine exits the body. Urine - Urethra. Under that tiny/small hole is another bigger hole. This is the vaginal opening. This is where the penis is inserted for sexual intercourse and the baby comes out of it is also called the birth canal. Below the vaginal opening the labia comes back together  then there is an area that is flat. This is the perineum and then there's another hole which is the anus. The inside parts of the female are the vagina, cervix, the uterus the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. There is also one spot called the g-spot which can make your orgasms more intense. When the female body orgasms the uterus contracts creating a suction of fluid from the birth canal through the cervix this is the body's way of helping the sperm enter the uterus to find the egg. This is another reason why women can have two four even six orgasms within an hour of one another it's so the body can suck up MORE semen from the vagina and pull it into the uterus where it will search for the egg.

[DansLady]

Lovely Human Anatomy Female Reproductive System 96 In head anatomy ...
https://goo.gl/images/wkKEqT

[Panth]

So...the female orgasm doesn'the really create a suction, it is more of a dipping action where the cervix is given more opportunity to come into contact with the pool of sperms left by male ejaculated.   I realize I may be splitting hairs but just in case someone actually thought there was suction created, I thought I would elaborate.