WOMEN’S EXTERNAL SEX STRUCTURES AND ORGANS: CLITORIS AND CLITORAL HOOD. FEMALE CIRCUMCISION
Clitoris and Clitoral Hood
Located toward the top of the vulva, in the soft folds where both labia meet, is a very important organ. It is caned the clitoris. The only purpose of the clitoris is to give girls and women sexual pleasure.
The tip of the clitoris is called the glans. The size of the clitoris varies from woman to woman, but it Ь often about the size of a pea.
The shaft that supports the glans of the clitoris separates into two “legs” that straddle each side of the vagina inside the woman’s body. The shaft and glans of the clitoris are covered by a clitoral hood. The glans of the clitoris is extremely sensitive to the touch. The clitoris contains corpus cavernosa tissue that causes it to swell with blood during sexual activity.
Female circumcision
Female circumcision is performed in some African, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian countries—and in the United States among immigrants from these countries who still follow customs of their original cultures. Female circumcision is an operation that removes the clitoral hood, the clitoris, and, often, the labia. Female circumcision is practiced for cultural reasons. It is often done in unsanitary conditions, can lead to severe health problems, and reduces sexual sensitivity. For these reasons, there is a growing international movement to ban the practice. Female circumcision is often called clitoridectomy or FGM (female genital mutilation). There are no health or medical reasons to perform FGM. Although they can still lead a sexual life, women who have been circumcised will not enjoy the same clitoral sensations during sex play.
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SEXUAL ANATOMY OF WOMEN. WOMEN’S EXTERNAL SEX STRUCTURES AND ORGANS
Vulva and Mons Pubis
The external sex organs of girls and women are nearly hidden from view. A girl will see only some of her external structures—an indentation with two folds of tissue on each side. Her external sex and reproductive organs and structures are inside this area, which is called the vulva. A mature or adolescent woman looking in a mirror will also see her vulva, but it will be covered with pubic hair. Above a woman’s vulva is an area of fatty tissue that helps protect the sex and
reproductive organs inside her body. This is called the mons pubis. The best way for women and girls to see the parts of their vulvas is to use a mirror and move and separate the folds of the vulva. The parts inside the vulva are:
• the outer lips (labia majora)
• the inner lips (labia minora)
• the clitoris
• two Bartholin’s glands
Labia Majora and Labia Minora
The labia majora and labia minora are two
folds of fleshy tissue on the outermost part of the vulva. The labia majora—the outer lips—are on the outermost part of the vulva, closer to the legs. Pubic hair often grows on the labia majora of adolescents and adults. The labia majora contains fatty tissue, so it is thicker than the labia minora. The fatty tissue helps protect the rest of the vulva.
If you hold back the labia majora, you will have a clear view of the labia minora lying inside.
The labia minora surround and protect the rest of the inner vulva. They do not have pubic hair. The inner and outer lips meet at the top and bottom of the vulva. The size and shape of women’s labia may vary greatly.
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