What are the most common causes of an enlarged clitoris?

Clitoromegaly describes a clitoris that’s enlarged for a week or longer. The most common reason your clitoris is enlarged is sexual stimulation. When you’re aroused during sexual intercourse or foreplay, blood rushes to your genital area. This causes the tissue around your clitoris to become erect — similar to an erection in a penis. After sexual stimulation ends, your clitoris goes back to its normal size. This is a common and normal process.

However, sometimes your clitoris is enlarged for reasons not related to sexual arousal.

An enlarged clitoris can happen in females from exposure to too many androgens during fetal development. Androgens are sex hormones associated with males. In females, having too many androgens in your body may lead to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). With CAH, your clitoris may resemble a small penis.

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Congenital conditions (disorders present at birth) that affect how your sexual organs develop can also cause a child to be born with an enlarged clitoris.

Conditions that cause a hormonal imbalance can also lead to an enlarged clitoris. These include:

Sometimes a cyst or noncancerous tumor can cause an enlarged clitoris. Additionally, any irritation to your external genitals (vulva) can cause your clitoris to swell. Vulvitis describes a swollen or inflamed vulva. Anyone with vulvitis can also develop an enlarged clitoris.

Some people are born with larger clitoral hoods, while others are born with smaller clitoral hoods. Your clitoral hood is a fold of skin that protects your clitoris. Without it, your clitoris would be even more sensitive to friction and rubbing, such as from your underwear.

Healthcare providers can perform clitoral hood reductions to make your clitoral hood smaller. If you’re concerned about the size of your clitoral hood, it’s best to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Yes. Because PCOS is a disorder that affects your hormones, it can lead to an enlarged clitoris. PCOS can cause excess androgen production in your body. Excess androgens are one of the causes of clitoromegaly.

Yes. Testosterone is a type of androgen. If you’re female, having too much testosterone in your body can cause your clitoris to swell.