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I am 40 and have clitoral atrophy — Ask Dr Jean

Ask Dr Jean 18 Jan 2021

When it comes to women's health, there is no such thing as a silly question. Do you have a question you want answered, but have been too afraid or embarrassed to bring it up with your GP? Or you forgot to ask while you were in the doctor's surgery? Now, you can 'Ask Dr Jean'.

Answering your questions for this edition of 'Ask Dr Jean' is gynaecologist and Jean Hailes Medical Director, Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM (pictured below).

Question

I am 40 and have clitoral atrophy. With all the research I have done I cannot find an answer to the only question I have. With treatment will your clitoris come back to regular size or is it gone forever? If you can please help to answer this question I would be very grateful.

Answer

If you have not had a genital examination, then I recommend you see a women’s health GP or a female GP to examine you. The size of a woman’s clitoris that is visible is only a small part of the whole organ, and varies in size from woman to woman.

There are some conditions where the clitoral size or appearance may change. After the menopause the clitoris may appear to become smaller and there are skin conditions where the clitoris may become covered/buried, with its hood adhering together over the top of it.

Once again this is another reason to see the GP to exclude any treatable conditions.

Learn more about the vulva and vagina.

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Jean Hailes content is reviewed byt the Medical Subject Matter Experts team.
Last updated:
25 August 2023
 | 
Last reviewed:
03 October 2023