Okay but like… where actually *is* the clitoris (and the parts you can’t see), and why does it feel so different depending on pressure/angle?

Q: Okay but like… where actually *is* the clitoris (and the parts you can’t see), and why does it feel so different depending on pressure/angle?A: The clitoris isn’t just the tiny bump you can see. That visible part is the glans, sitting at the top of your vulva where the inner lips meet, usually under a little fold of skin called the hood. But most of the clitoris is internal: it has a shaft, two legs (crura) that hug your vaginal canal, and two bulb-like structures along the sides of the vaginal opening. Think: wishbone wrapped around your vagina.It feels different with pressure or angle because you’re hitting different parts of that network. Light touch on the glans can feel intense or ticklish; deeper pressure, grinding, or penetration can stimulate the internal legs and bulbs. Hormones across your cycle also change blood flow, lubrication, and sensitivity, so the same touch can land totally differently week to week.Want to walk through your own anatomy one-on-one instead of guessing? Chat with Gush about what your body’s been trying to tell you.

Where is the clitoris located and how does it actually work?

The clitoris you can see vs. the clitoris you can’t

If you look at your vulva in a mirror:- Slide your eyes up to where your inner lips (labia minora) meet.- That little bump or pea-sized button under a fold of skin? That’s the clitoral glans.- The fold of skin over it is the clitoral hood — like a tiny hoodie for protection.Now the part no one bothered to show you in sex ed:- The glans is just the tip.- The clitoral shaft extends back under the hood, up toward your pubic bone.- Two legs (crura) branch out and run along the sides of your vaginal canal like a wishbone.- Two vestibular bulbs sit along the sides of the vaginal opening, just under the labia.So when we say the clitoris is not just a button, we mean it: it’s a whole 3D structure wrapped around your vagina.

Why different pressure and angles feel totally different

The clitoris has around 8,000 nerve endings in the glans alone, plus a huge nerve network feeding into the internal parts. Those nerves respond differently based on what you’re doing:- Light, indirect touch (around the hood, on the mons pubis, between the lips) can feel teasing, tickly, or like a slow burn.- Direct touch on the glans can feel amazing, overwhelming, or straight-up too much, depending on how aroused you are.- Pressure from grinding on a pillow, partner’s thigh, or during penetration stimulates the internal legs and bulbs, which can feel deeper or more spread-out.- Different angles in positions change *which* parts of the clitoral network your body is pressing into.If something feels like too much or not enough, you’re not being picky; you’re literally interacting with a complex nerve system from different directions.

How your menstrual cycle changes clitoral sensitivity

Your hormones are not just about pregnancy tests and PMS. They also change how your clitoris, vulva, and vagina respond to touch.1. Menstrual phase (bleeding days)- Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone are low.- Body: Cramps from prostaglandins, low energy, maybe lower mood.- Clit/pleasure: Some people feel more sensitive and crampy; others find orgasms actually help ease cramps by increasing blood flow and releasing endorphins.- Lubrication: Often lower, so the clit and vulva can feel raw if you use a lot of friction without lube.2. Follicular phase (after your period, before ovulation)- Hormones: Estrogen and testosterone start climbing.- Body: Energy and mood often improve.- Clit/pleasure: More blood flow to the pelvis equals easier arousal and more responsive clitoral tissue.- Lubrication: Increases gradually, so touch can feel smoother and more forgiving.3. Ovulation (middle of cycle)- Hormones: Estrogen peaks, luteinizing hormone (LH) surges; a small testosterone bump can boost desire.- Body: You might feel flirty, horny, or just more tuned in to sexual thoughts.- Clit/pleasure: Many people find orgasms are easier to reach and the clit feels fuller or more reactive. Some feel extra sensitive and need lighter touch.- Lubrication: Usually highest; the body is basically rolling out the red carpet for sperm.4. Luteal phase (after ovulation, PMS time)- Hormones: Progesterone dominates at first, then both estrogen and progesterone drop toward your period.- Body: Bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings, fatigue.- Clit/pleasure: Some people feel slower to arouse or more easily irritated. The clit and nipples can feel tender or sore.- Lubrication: Often lower, especially toward the end, so direct friction can feel harsh.So if a specific angle or touch felt great last week and annoying this week, that’s not you being broken. That’s hormones changing blood flow, sensitivity, and mood.If what you’re feeling doesn’t match this pattern at all — or you’re on birth control or have irregular cycles — that’s valid too. Bodies are chaotic, not standardized. If you want help connecting your cycle, mood, and clitoral sensitivity, talk it through with Gush for a more personalized unpacking.

Birth control, irregular cycles, and your clitoris

Hormonal birth control (pill, patch, ring, some IUDs) flattens your natural hormone waves. That can look like:- More stable mood but lower spontaneous desire.- Less natural lubrication.- Slightly dulled clitoral sensitivity for some, or more comfortable, predictable arousal for others.If you notice your clit feels numb, orgasms are harder, or you just feel disconnected from pleasure after starting a method, that is worth bringing up with a provider. You’re not being dramatic.Irregular cycles (very long cycles, skipped periods, super heavy or painful bleeding) can be tied to things like PCOS, thyroid issues, stress, under-eating, or certain meds.Those conditions can also affect hormones like estrogen and testosterone, which in turn affect libido and clitoral response.Seek medical advice if:- Your cycles are regularly longer than ~45 days or shorter than ~21 days.- You have severe pain that stops you from functioning.- Your desire or pleasure suddenly tanks for months with no clear reason.

Why position and angle matter so much

Remember the internal clitoral wishbone hugging the vagina? Position changes which part you press into:- On top during sex: You can usually tilt your pelvis so your clit rubs against your partner’s pelvis while something is inside you, stimulating both the glans and internal legs.- Grinding on a pillow or toy: Often hits the bulbs and shaft more than the glans, giving a deep, radiating feeling instead of sharp intensity.- Partner behind you: More penetration, often less direct clitoral contact unless you or your partner add hands or a toy.If you like penetration *and* need clit stimulation (most people do), angles that bring your clit into contact with something — their body, your hand, a toy — are your best friends.

Mapping your clitoris like the main character you are

Practical homework (yes, homework):1. Get a mirror and good lighting. Look at your vulva. Find:- Hood- Glans- Labia- Vaginal opening2. With clean fingers and lube:- Touch around the hood without pulling it back.- Gently move the hood and see how exposure changes sensation.- Press above the clit on the pubic bone area — that’s near the shaft.- During arousal, press along the sides of your vaginal opening — those are the bulbs.3. Try this across your cycle:- Late follicular/ovulation: Notice if you get turned on faster or need lighter touch.- Late luteal/period: Notice if you need more lube, more warm-up, or gentler contact.If certain spots hurt, burn, or feel totally numb, or if pain shows up suddenly and doesn’t chill out, bring it to a provider. Chronic clitoral or vulvar pain (vulvodynia, infections, skin conditions, endometriosis) deserves care, not silence.Bottom line: your clitoris is not a single button; it’s a whole network that responds to angle, pressure, mood, and hormones. You’re not crazy for needing different things on different days — you’re just living in a human body under patriarchy’s trash sex education.