Addressing Intimacy Issues and How Clitoral Unroofing Can Help

If nothing seems to provide enough sensation during sexual activity, it can be incredibly frustrating. One common cause of this problem is called clitoral phimosis, and it’s not commonly talked about in women’s healthcare. Fortunately, an intimate health specialist at Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics can help you learn more about this issue and enjoy sexual activity. Here’s what to know about clitoral phimosis and its minimally invasive surgical treatment, clitoral unroofing.

What is Clitoral Phimosis?

Clitoral phimosis, sometimes called a buried clitoris, is a condition very similar to what men with foreskins may experience. The clitoral hood is a piece of skin that covers the upper part of the glans clitoris, the small nub that protrudes externally from the vulva where the labia minora meet. Normally, the clitoral hood retracts during sexual activity and allows for stronger stimulation. In some women, the clitoral hood doesn’t retract, continuing to cover the clitoral glans and blocking clitoral sensitivity. This can make it difficult to experience sexual pleasure and achieve orgasm.

Clitoral phimosis means that the clitoral hood is fused to the clitoris or has adhesions from certain health conditions (such as lichen sclerosus), preventing retraction. It’s different from simply having excess tissue on the clitoral hood. A different procedure, called clitoral hood reduction, can treat this issue.

How Does Clitoral Phimosis Affect Intimacy?

Women with clitoral phimosis may have a difficult time experiencing enough stimulation to orgasm during sexual activity despite the many nerve endings in the clitoris. Even with extended stimulation or the help of vibrators or other toys, you might find it difficult to experience pleasure. In fact, sexual intercourse may bring you no pleasure at all. This can significantly affect your mental health and intimate relationships. You may also have challenges with personal hygiene. Whatever your challenges with clitoral phimosis, you’re not alone, and you have treatment options.

How Can Clitoral Unroofing Help?

Clitoral unroofing is a minimally invasive surgical technique not often performed by intimate health providers. Because the clitoral glans has a staggering amount of nerve endings, clitoral unroofing requires a significant amount of experience and knowledge. It’s performed in-office using local anesthesia in our very private treatment suite. Your intimate health provider will carefully and gently separate the clitoral hood from the clitoral prepuce using small tools. This can take about an hour, but you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. Once separated, your intimate health provider will apply a steroid cream to the area to prevent it from fusing back together. Afterward, you can return home for a brief recovery.

It’s important to know that clitoral unroofing doesn’t manipulate or damage the clitoris in any way, and the procedure will positively affect sexual sensation by allowing the clitoral hood to naturally retract. Despite being a surgical procedure, no incisions are needed. Many women experience significantly better sexual function and satisfaction after clitoral unroofing, especially after many years of struggling to enjoy intimacy.

Clitoral Unroofing at Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics

At Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics, we’re proud to be one of the few providers of this extremely sensitive and life-changing procedure. To meet with our intimate health providers and learn more about your options with clitoral unroofing, contact our office and schedule a consultation. We conveniently serve the greater Long Island and Queens, NY areas.