# Cliterate: 10 Things Women Weren’t Taught About Their Bodies

> Women were never taught basics about their bodies, here’s what they need to know for pleasure.
- Title: Cliterate: 10 Things Women Weren’t Taught About Their Bodies
- Summary: Women were never taught basics about their bodies, here’s what they need to know for pleasure. Only 18% of women orgasm from penetration alone; clitoral…
- Keywords: cliterate, clitoris, vagina, sexual health, orgasm, hsdd, microbiome, menopause, oxytocin, desire, Things, Women
- Source: Woman's World — https://womansworld.com/wellness/10-things-almost-no-woman-was-taught-about-her-own-body
- Author: Lisa Maxbauer
- Published: 2026-10-16T18:00:06+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cliterate, clitoris, vagina, sexual health, orgasm, hsdd, microbiome, menopause, oxytocin, desire
## The clitoris is overlooked
The clitoris has 10,000+ nerve endings and most of it is internal, not external.

> The clitoris has over 10,000 nerve endings, making it highly sensitive to touch.
## Only 18% orgasm from penetration
Most women need clitoral stimulation to orgasm, not penetration alone.

> Despite the pressure many women feel to orgasm through penetration alone, research shows this is only a reality for 18 percent of women.
## The orgasm gap
95% of men vs 65% of women report usually orgasming during sex.

> A large U.S. study involving more than 52,000 adults found that 95 percent of heterosexual men reported usually or always reaching orgasm during sexual intimacy, compared with only 65 percent of heterosexual women.
## Vagina has its own microbiome
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ with a microbiome that needs balance.

> The vagina has its own microbiome, and it matters.
## Why women misread cycles
One in three women can’t identify their fertile window or menopause.

> One in three women report not being able to correctly identify their fertile window, many say they weren’t prepared for the postpartum period and 80 percent say they never learned about menopause in school.
## Lady boners are real
The clitoris swells when aroused, like the penis.

> The penis and vulva are made from the same developmental cells and, like the penis, the clitoris is made up of spongy erectile tissue.
## Breast shape affects pleasure
Smaller breasts tend to be more sensitive to touch than larger ones.

> Overall, tissue of small breasts tends to be more sensitive to touch than that of larger breasts.
## Menopause and sex
Sex after menopause can be more enjoyable with the right approach.

> It’s no secret that menopause can impact many parts of your life.
## Sex is stress relieving
Orgasms boost oxytocin, reducing stress.

> Gynecologist Anna Cabeca, DO, tries to inform her patients about how pleasure can boost the hormone oxytocin in the body, sometimes called the cuddle or bonding chemical, creating a stress-relieving effect.
## The clitoris is a bigger deal
The clitoris is much larger than the external structure we see.

> The clitoris is much larger than the small external structure we see.
## Why this matters
Not being able to orgasm through penetration isn’t a dysfunction.

> As a sexologist, I frequently encounter women who believe something is wrong with their bodies because they cannot orgasm through penetration alone.
## You deserve desire
HSDD is a recognized condition many women haven’t been told about.

> HSDD is a recognized condition, and most women who have it have never been told.
## The bottom line
Being more cliterate leads to less shame and more pleasure.

> The more 'cliterate' we become, the less room there is for shame, confusion or guesswork, and the more room there is for real enjoyment.
## Key takeaway

Only 18% of women orgasm from penetration alone; clitoral stimulation is key for female pleasure.