A hypersensitive clitoris is a problem that affects many women. Persistent burning, clitoral pain, and excessive sensitivity to touch are discomforts that can significantly reduce the quality of life. As a result, women often lose interest in sexual activity, experience lowered mood, and feel unwell.
Table of contents:
- Anatomy of the Clitoris
- What is Clitoral Hypersensitivity?
- The Impact of Clitoral Hypersensitivity on Women's Quality of Life
- Causes of Clitoral Hypersensitivity
- Frequency and Diagnosis
- Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Clitoral Hypersensitivity
- Bibliography
A hypersensitive clitoris can be a symptom of serious conditions, hormonal or nervous system disorders. However, the problem often arises from mechanical injuries, such as those caused by improper or too intense stimulation. Proper prevention, communication, and above all, knowledge about one's own body help to take care of both physical and mental health.
Anatomy of the Clitoris
While the clitoris is often described as a "button" located at the junction of the inner labia, the reality is quite different (Brochmann & Støkken-Dahl, 2017). What we commonly call the clitoris is just a small part of a larger organ located further inside the vagina. Its structure can be likened to an inverted Y shape.
It is estimated that the clitoris has over 8,000 nerve endings that receive and transmit stimuli perceived as pleasure or pain. The concentration of nerves in a small area makes the clitoris about 50 times more sensitive than the penis (Brochmann & Støkken-Dahl, 2017).
What is Clitoral Hypersensitivity?
Clitoral hypersensitivity, also known as clitorodynia, is a clinical condition characterized by excessive sensitivity to touch. As a result, women often experience chronic clitoral pain upon touch, as well as burning and itching sensations (Goldstein et al., 2011). This condition can significantly impact a woman's quality of life, including her sexual and mental health.
Clitoral hypersensitivity is often mistakenly identified as vulvodynia, which presents similar discomforts but affects the entire perineal area, not just the clitoris.
What are the Symptoms of Clitoral Hypersensitivity?
Among the most common symptoms of an overly sensitive clitoris are chronic pain and burning sensations that occur during specific activities (Moyal-Barracco & Lynch, 2004). Patients may also experience burning or itching (Goldstein et al., 2009). There is also sensitivity to even the lightest touch. All of this can lead to difficulties in maintaining intimate hygiene, and consequently, the development of other health issues (Reed et al., 2007).
Sensitivity vs. Hypersensitivity of the Clitoris
When discussing hypersensitivity, it is important to distinguish it from clitoral sensitivity, which refers to a completely different condition. Clitoral sensitivity pertains to the normal reaction to touch (O'Connell, Sanjeevan, and Hutson, 2005). As established, the clitoris is an extremely sensitive and richly innervated female organ. This natural sensitivity is crucial for women's sexual health as it contributes to the experience of pleasure and sexual satisfaction. For most women, it is the easiest way to achieve orgasm.
The fundamental difference lies in the intensity and reaction to stimuli. Sensitivity is a normal, physiological state that allows for the experience of pleasure. Hypersensitivity, on the other hand, is a pathological condition that causes clitoral pain and discomfort, often hindering daily functioning and negatively impacting sexual health.
The Impact of Clitoral Hypersensitivity on Women's Quality of Life
There is no doubt that excessive sensitivity of the clitoris significantly impedes proper functioning for women, both physically and mentally or emotionally. The pain and discomfort accompanying this condition can lead to the avoidance of sexual activity. This, in turn, often negatively affects partner relationships and overall life satisfaction. Women affected by this condition may also experience anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem (Bachmann & Leiblum, 2004).
Causes of Clitoral Hypersensitivity
The causes of clitoral hypersensitivity can be very diverse. Much depends on hormonal changes in a woman's body, which occur almost constantly. The condition can also be caused by organic factors resulting from diseases or mechanical injuries, as well as neurological factors.
Hormonal Factors
Hormonal causes of clitoral pain result from changes occurring in a woman's body. These are most often due to the menstrual cycle, menopause, or hormone therapy (Harlow, Wise, & Stewart, 2001).
Organic Factors
Among the organic causes of excessive clitoral sensitivity are infections, chronic clitoral inflammation, dermatoses, and mechanical injuries resulting from intense sexual intercourse. It should be noted that sensitivity to stimuli decreases over time, so it is easy to overstimulate, increasing the risk of abrasions and mechanical damage to this delicate organ (Rozmysłowicz, 2019).
Neurological Factors
Excessive clitoral sensitivity can also result from peripheral neuropathy, nerve inflammation, or central pain processing disorders. One theory suggests that increased density of nociceptors – pain transmitters – is a cause of heightened clitoral sensitivity. In this case, a woman feels pain from stimuli that normally should not cause pain, such as touch or pressure (Wachowska et al., 2012). Additionally, damage to the peripheral nerves that supply the clitoris can lead to the incorrect interpretation of stimuli as pain or discomfort (Pukall et al., 2007). Often, true tantric massage can help regulate the autonomic nervous system, including triggering the autoregulation of nociceptive pathways.
Frequency and Diagnosis
It is estimated that various forms of chronic vulvar pain, including clitoral hypersensitivity, may affect 8 to 16% of women of different ages (Harlow, Wise, & Stewart, 2001; Reed et al., 2012).
To correctly diagnose excessive clitoral sensitivity, the attending physician must conduct a detailed medical history, evaluate clinical symptoms, and rule out other potential causes of vulvar pain—such as infections, dermatoses, or neoplastic changes. Assessing the intensity and nature of the pain and its impact on daily functioning is crucial. The visual analog scale (VAS) is often used to assess the severity of symptoms (Pukall et al., 2007). Imaging studies, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are also helpful in diagnosing excessive clitoral sensitivity (Goldstein et al., 2011).
Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Clitoral Hypersensitivity
Pharmacotherapy for excessive clitoral sensitivity includes the use of various drug groups. Primarily, topical or oral anesthetics, such as lidocaine, are recommended to reduce the transmission of pain impulses. Additionally, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly used (Pukall et al., 2007). However, the final decision to implement pharmacotherapy rests with the specialist physician—gynecologist.
Pharmacotherapy is not always sufficiently effective. In such cases, surgical procedures, such as neuromodulation, may be considered (Pukall et al., 2007). In extreme cases, surgery to remove or reduce part of the clitoral tissue may be necessary (Goldstein et al., 2011).
Hypersensitive Clitoris - Psychological Therapy
A frequently recommended approach, especially when an excessively sensitive clitoris strongly impacts a woman's mental health, well-being, and mood, as well as causes anxiety about sex or men, is psychological therapy. Its primary goal is to improve the woman's quality of life by changing the perception of pain and teaching effective coping strategies.
Effective treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors related to pain (Bergeron et al., 2001), cognitive therapy that allows for correcting erroneous beliefs that exacerbate symptoms (Pukall et al., 2007), and sex therapy, which includes sexual education and techniques to improve comfort during sexual activity (Goldstein et al., 2011). If the hypersensitivity arose after a traumatic experience, trauma therapy, such as Havening, may be helpful.
When choosing psychological therapy for treating excessive clitoral sensitivity, it is advisable to select a psychotherapist who is also a sexologist or psychotraumatologist. Such a specialist is likely to be more open and knowledgeable, allowing for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of the discomfort.
Relaxation Techniques and Meditation
Both relaxation techniques, meditation, and manual therapy play a significant role in reducing pain, stress, and anxiety caused by excessive clitoral sensitivity in women.
Relaxation techniques primarily include Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), which can help reduce muscle tension in the pelvic floor area (Cunningham et al., 2007). Mindfulness meditation, on the other hand, is a technique that can help patients better manage and alleviate clitoral pain (Kabat-Zinn, 1990).
Manual therapy is aimed at regulating the autonomic nervous system. It helps treat clitoral hypersensitivity by modulating nerve responses and reducing inappropriate nociceptor activation (Ruffini et al., 2018). Manual therapy, including tantric massage, and particularly yoni massage, can also positively affect the vagus nerve activity, improving sensory information flow from the lower body, including intimate areas. Although it can be uncomfortable and painful, pressure and rubbing (performed independently or by a specialist) can effectively desensitize the clitoris. Similar techniques are recommended by sexologists, including for men struggling with premature ejaculation.
Clitoral hypersensitivity can result from illness, mechanical injuries, or hormonal imbalances. By consulting symptoms and concerns with a specialist, persistent discomfort can be quickly treated, allowing for renewed enjoyment of intimacy with a partner and improved well-being. The clitoris is one of the most important organs in the female body, especially in the context of the sexual sphere, so it is essential to know all about it and take proper care of it.
Bibliografia:
Bachmann, G. A., & Leiblum, S. R. (2004). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: Evaluation and Management. Blackwell Publishing.
Bergeron, S., Binik, Y. M., Khalifé, S., Pagidas, K., Glazer, H., Meana, M., & Amsel, R. (2001). A randomized comparison of group cognitive–behavioral therapy, surface electromyographic biofeedback, and vestibulectomy in the treatment of dyspareunia related to vulvar vestibulitis. Pain, 91(3), 297-306.
Brochmann, N. Støkken-Dahl, E. (2017). Radości z kobiecości czyli wszystko z zarządzaniu narządami. (Radtke A. Red.) (Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga, Tłum.) Oslo Literary Agency.
Cunningham, N. R., Lynch-Jordan, A. M., & Kashikar-Zuck, S. (2007). Mind–body therapies for the management of pain in pediatric patients. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 19(5), 626-629.
Goldstein, A. T., Pukall, C. F., & Goldstein, I. (2011). Female Sexual Pain Disorders: Evaluation and Management. John Wiley & Sons
Harlow, B. L., Wise, L. A., & Stewart, E. G. (2001). Prevalence and predictors of chronic lower genital tract discomfort. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 185(3), 545-550.
Hawkins, S., & Hastings, T. (2020). Understanding the Clitoris: Anatomy and Function. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17(5), 876-887.
Johnson, R. L., & Wilson, C. G. (2020). A review of vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic intervention. Journal of Inflammation Research, 13, 615-623
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Dell Publishing.
Moyal-Barracco, M., & Lynch, P. J. (2004). 2003 ISSVD terminology and classification of vulvodynia: a historical perspective. Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 49(10), 772-777.
O'Connell, H. E., Sanjeevan, K. V., & Hutson, J. M. (2005). Anatomy of the clitoris. Journal of Urology, 174(4), 1189-1195.
Pukall, C. F., Goldstein, A. T., Bergeron, S., Foster, D., Stein, A., & Kellogg-Spadt, S. (2007). Vulvodynia: Definition, prevalence, impact, and pathophysiological factors. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4(4), 849-858.
Reed, B. D., Haefner, H. K., Harlow, S. D., Gorenflo, D. W., & Sen, A. (2007). Reliability and validity of self-reported symptoms for predicting vulvodynia. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 109(6), 1259-1266.
Rozmysłowicz, M. (2019). Rozgrzejmy zmysły czyli o seksualności w stwardnieniu rozsianym i w innych schorzeniach neurologicznych. Agencja Wydawnicza PAJ-Press. PTSR Oddział Warszawski.
Ruffini, N., D’Alessandro, G., Mariani, N., Pollastrelli, A., Cardinali, L., Cerritelli, F. (2018). Variations in parasympathetic activity and pain perception in patients with chronic low back pain treated with osteopathic manipulation. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 118(1), 49-59.
Wachowska, K., Orzechowska, A., Talarowska, M., Berent, D., Depko, A., Moczulska, H., Michalska, T., Gałecki, P. (2012). Wulwodynia – epidemiologia, etiologia i klasyfikacja. Część 1. Przegląd menopauzalny 4/2012, 269–274
Leave a comment