The clitoris is located at the top of the vulva, just above the urethral opening, where the inner lips meet. It sits beneath a small fold of skin called the clitoral hood, and the visible portion is a small, rounded nub roughly the size of a pea. Finding it is straightforward once you know where to look and what to expect, but normal variation in size, hood coverage, and sensitivity means the experience differs from person to person.
Where Exactly It Sits
If you’re looking at the vulva from the front, the clitoris is at the very top, nestled where the two inner labia (the thinner, inner folds of skin) converge. Directly below it is the urethral opening, and below that is the vaginal opening. The visible part, called the glans, is the external tip of a much larger internal structure that extends several inches beneath the surface, wrapping around the urethra and vagina.
The glans is partially or fully covered by the clitoral hood, a small piece of skin formed by the meeting of the inner labia. Hoods vary considerably. Some barely cover the glans, leaving it easily visible. Others drape over it completely, so you need to gently pull back the hood to see or feel it. Both extremes are normal.
How to Locate It With a Mirror
The simplest method is a hand mirror and good lighting. Sit or recline in a comfortable position, hold the mirror between your legs, and look at the uppermost point of your vulva where the inner lips join. You may see a small bump or slight protrusion. If the hood covers it fully, use your fingers to gently retract the skin upward toward your belly. The glans will be just underneath.
Touch is often more reliable than sight. Starting from the top of the vulva, use a fingertip to press lightly and move downward along the midline. The glans feels like a small, firm, rounded structure, distinct from the softer tissue around it. Because it contains over 10,000 nerve fibers (more than any other structure of comparable size in the human body), even light pressure on it produces a noticeable sensation, which itself confirms you’ve found the right spot.
Why It Can Be Hard to Find
Several things make the clitoris less immediately obvious. Size varies widely from person to person. The visible glans can be just a few millimeters across or noticeably larger, and both are within the normal range. A larger clitoral hood can obscure it entirely when you’re not aroused, and the surrounding tissue may make it harder to distinguish by sight alone.
Arousal changes everything. Like the penis (which shares the same embryological origin), the clitoris is made of erectile tissue. During arousal, blood flow increases, the tissue swells, and the glans becomes more prominent and protrudes slightly from under the hood. This is why many people find it much easier to locate when already aroused. If you’re exploring for the first time, spending a few minutes touching other areas of the vulva first can make the glans noticeably more visible and sensitive.
If the hood is particularly prominent and the glans stays hidden even during arousal, you can gently press the palm of one hand against the lower belly or mons (the padded area above the vulva) to pull the skin upward while using the other hand to explore. This retracts the hood and exposes the glans more clearly.
What You’re Actually Touching
The tiny external nub is only a fraction of the full clitoris. Research using MRI imaging revealed that the complete structure includes two internal “legs” (crura) that extend along either side of the vaginal canal, plus two bulbs of erectile tissue flanking the urethra and vaginal opening. The entire organ is roughly 9 to 11 centimeters in total length. This internal network is why pressure on the front vaginal wall or surrounding areas can also feel pleasurable: you’re indirectly stimulating parts of the same structure.
Understanding this helps explain a common experience. In a large survey of 749 women, 94% reported that clitoral stimulation could produce orgasm, and women consistently ranked direct clitoral contact (by hand or mouth) above vaginal intercourse for reliably reaching orgasm. The external glans is the most nerve-dense access point to this larger internal system.
If You’re Locating It on a Partner
The same landmarks apply. With your partner lying on their back, the clitoris is at the top of the vulva where the inner lips meet. Start with broader touch around the vulva, inner thighs, and labia. As arousal increases, the glans swells and becomes easier to identify by feel. Use a fingertip to gently explore the area just above the urethral opening, moving slowly and paying attention to your partner’s response. The combination of anatomy and feedback will guide you.
Communication helps more than technique. Ask about pressure, speed, and location. What feels best varies not just between people but from one encounter to the next. Some prefer indirect stimulation through the hood rather than direct contact with the exposed glans, which can feel too intense.
Changes Over Time
The clitoris isn’t static. Hormonal shifts during menopause reduce estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels, which can cause the clitoral tissue to shrink slightly, become less responsive to stimulation, and appear paler from reduced blood flow. This is called clitoral atrophy, and it can make the glans harder to locate and less sensitive than it once was. Hormonal changes during breastfeeding or from certain medications can have similar effects.
If you notice a significant drop in sensitivity or difficulty finding the glans where it used to be, this is a recognized medical condition with treatment options, not just an inevitable consequence of aging. Regular stimulation and maintaining blood flow to the area can help preserve sensitivity over time.