Clitoris Health Dictionary

The external genitalia of the female. The LABIA majora and minora – comprising folds of ?esh, the latter inside the former – surround the openings of the VAGINA and URETHRA. The folds extend upwards as an arch over the CLITORIS. The vulva also contains vestibular glands which provide profuse mucoid secretions during sexual activity.... vulva

A condition of inflammation of the penis or of the clitoris... balanitis

The term applied to the ends of the PENIS and the CLITORIS. In the penis the glans is the distal, helmet-shaped part that is formed by the bulbous corpus spongiosum (erectile tissue). In an uncircumcised man the glans is covered by the foreskin or PREPUCE when the penis is ?accid.... glans

The production of an ORGASM by self-manipulation of the PENIS or CLITORIS.... masturbation

The condition in which masculine characteristics develop in the female; it is commonly the result of an overactive suprarenal gland (see ADRENAL GLANDS), or of a tumour of its cortex. It may also result from an ANDROGEN-secreting ovarian tumour (see OVARIES, DISEASES OF) and also from the POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME. The overproduction of male-sex (androgen) hormones can produce excess growth of hair, male pattern hairline, stopping or disruption of MENSTRUATION, enlargement of the CLITORIS and conversion to a masculine body shape.... virilism

Surgical excision of the external genitals (see VULVA). In simple vulvectomy the LABIA majora and minora and the CLITORIS are surgically removed, usually to treat a non-malignant growth. A more extensive operation is radical vulvectomy in which there is wide excision of the two labia and the clitoris along with complete removal of all regional LYMPH NODES on both sides and the covering skin. This procedure is carried out to treat cancer of the vulva.... vulvectomy

An operation to remove the clitoris (see circumcision, female).... clitoridectomy

An inherited condition, the adrenogenital syndrome – also known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia – is an uncommon disorder affecting about 1 baby in 7,500. The condition is present from birth and causes various ENZYME defects as well as blocking the production of HYDROCORTISONE and ALDOSTERONE by the ADRENAL GLANDS. In girls the syndrome often produces VIRILISATION of the genital tract, often with gross enlargement of the clitoris and fusion of the labia so that the genitalia may be mistaken for a malformed penis. The metabolism of salt and water may be disturbed, causing dehydration, low blood pressure and weight loss; this can produce collapse at a few days or weeks of age. Enlargement of the adrenal glands occurs and the affected individual may also develop excessive pigmentation in the skin.

When virilisation is noted at birth, great care must be taken to determine genetic sex by karyotyping: parents should be reassured as to the baby’s sex (never ‘in between’). Blood levels of adrenal hormones are measured to obtain a precise diagnosis. Traditionally, doctors have advised parents to ‘choose’ their child’s gender on the basis of discussing the likely condition of the genitalia after puberty. Thus, where the phallus is likely to be inadequate as a male organ, it may be preferred to rear the child as female. Surgery is usually advised in the ?rst two years to deal with clitoromegaly but parent/ patient pressure groups, especially in the US, have declared it wrong to consider surgery until the children are competent to make their own decision.

Other treatment requires replacement of the missing hormones which, if started early, may lead to normal sexual development. There is still controversy surrounding the ethics of gender reassignment.

See www.baps.org.uk... adrenogenital syndrome

A surgical procedure to remove the prepuce of the PENIS in males and a part or all of the external genitalia in females (see below). Circumcision is mainly done for religious or ethnic reasons; there is virtually no medical or surgical reason for the procedure. (The PREPUCE is not normally retractable in infancy, so this is not an indication for the operation – by the age of four the prepuce is retractable in most boys.) Americans are more enthusiastic about circumcision, and the reason o?ered is that cancer of the penis occurs only when a foreskin is present. This is however a rare disease. In the uncircumcised adult there is an increased transmission of herpes and cytomegaloviruses during the reproductive years, but this can be reduced by adequate cleansing. PHIMOSIS (restricted opening of the foreskin) is sometimes an indication for circumcision but can also be dealt with by division of adhesions between the foreskin and glans under local anesthetic. Haemorrhage, infection and meatal stenosis are rare complications of circumcision.

Circumcision in women is a damaging procedure, involving the removal of all or parts of the CLITORIS, LABIA majora and labia minora, sometimes combined with narowing of the entrance to the VAGINA. Total removal of the external female genitalia, including the clitoris, is called INFIBULATION. The result may be psychological and sexual problems and complications in childbirth, with no known bene?t to the woman’s health, though cultural pressures have resulted in its continuation in some Muslim and African countries, despite widespread condemnation of the practice and campaigns to stop it. It has been estimated that more than 80 million women in 30 countries have been circumcised.... circumcision

The most extensive form of female CIRCUMCISION, involving removal of CLITORIS and both LABIA.... infibulation

A female homosexual (see HOMOSEXUALITY); lesbians form about 2 per cent of the female population in the UK. Some engage in active sexual behaviour with another woman, with MASTURBATION, mutual stimulation of the CLITORIS and oral sex being the usual techniques for achieving ORGASM.... lesbian

The masculinisation of women suffering from excessive production of the male hormone ANDROGEN. The person develops temporal balding, a male body shape, increased muscular bulk, deepening of the voice, an enlarged CLITORIS and HIRSUTISM. Virilisation may also occur in women who take synthetic androgens, a practice sometimes used (illegally) to increase physical strength and endurance in sport.... virilisation

Removal of all or parts of the clitoris, labia majora, and labia minora (see labia), sometimes combined with narrowing of the entrance to

the vagina. Female circumcision is common in parts of Africa but has no valid medical purpose. It can cause retention of urine and injuries during sexual intercourse and childbirth.... circumcision, female

The reproductive organs, especially those that are external. The male genitalia include the penis, testes (in the scrotum), prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and associated ducts, such as the epididymis and vas deferens. The female genitalia include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, clitoris, vulva, and Bartholin’s glands.... genitalia

The folds of skin of the vulva that protect the vaginal and urethral openings.

There are 2 pairs of labia.

The outer pair, the labia majora, are fleshy folds that bear hair and contain sweat glands.

They cover the smaller, hairless inner folds, the labia minora, which meet to form the hood of the clitoris.... labia

A congenital abnormality in which the external genitalia resemble those of the opposite sex, but ovarian or testicular tissue is present as normal. A female pseudohermaphrodite may have an enlarged clitoris resembling a penis and enlarged labia resembling a scrotum. A male may have a very small penis and a divided

scrotum resembling labia. (See also hermaphroditism, sex determination.)... pseudohermaphroditism

n. inflammation of the corpora cavernosa of the *penis or the corpus cavernosum of the clitoris.... cavernitis

n. abnormal development of the clitoris due to excessive exposure to androgens, either from abnormal endogenous production or exogenous administration.... clitoromegaly

either of a pair of cylindrical blood sinuses that form the erectile tissue of the *penis and clitoris. In the penis a third sinus, the corpus spongiosum, encloses the urethra and extends into the glans. All these sinuses have a spongelike structure that allows them to expand when filled with blood.... corpus cavernosum

n. 1. the reverse of erection, whereby the erect penis or clitoris becomes flaccid after orgasm. 2. subsidence of a swelling.... detumescence

n. the sexually active state of the penis, which becomes enlarged and rigid (due to the erectile tissue being swollen with blood) and capable of penetrating the vagina. The term is also applied to the clitoris in a state of sexual arousal.... erection

(FGCS) surgery to alter the size or shape of the *vulva and/or vagina when these are a cause of significant distress or sexual dysfunction. FGCS includes labioplasty (reduction or alteration of the labia), clitoral hood reduction (excision of excess skin in the fold surrounding the clitoris), and hymenoplasty (partial or complete reconstruction of the hymen).... female genital cosmetic surgery

(female circumcision) removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora for cultural reasons. The extent of excision varies between countries and ethnic groups. The anatomically least damaging form is clitoridectomy (removal of the clitoris); the next form entails excision of the prepuce, clitoris, and all or part of the labia minora. The most extensive form, infibulation, involves excision of clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora. The vulval lips are sutured together and a piece of wood or reed is inserted to preserve a small passage for urine and menstrual fluid. In the majority of women who are circumcised, *episiotomy, often extensive, is required to allow delivery of a child. FGM removes most of the possibility of sexual pleasure for a woman, is unethical, and in children is a form of *child abuse: it is prohibited under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.... female genital mutilation

(foreskin) n. the fold of skin that grows over the end (glans) of the penis. On its inner surface modified sebaceous glands (preputial glands) secrete a lubricating fluid over the glans. The accumulation of this secretion is known as *smegma. The foreskin is often surgically removed in infancy (see circumcision). The fold of skin that surrounds the clitoris is also called the prepuce. —preputial adj.... prepuce

n. the tube that conducts urine from the bladder to the exterior. The female urethra is quite short (about 3.5 cm) and opens just within the *vulva, between the clitoris and vagina. The male urethra is longer (about 20 cm) and runs through the penis. As well as urine, it receives the secretions of the male accessory sex glands (prostate and Cowper’s glands and seminal vesicles) and spermatozoa from the *vas deferens; thus it also serves as the ejaculatory duct.... urethra

n. the most extreme result of excessive androgen production (*hyperandrogenism) in women. It is characterized by temporal balding, a male body form, muscle bulk, deepening of the voice, enlargement of the clitoris, and *hirsutism. Virilization in prepubertal boys may be caused by some tumours (see Leydig tumour).... virilization