What is a clitoral pump?
A clitoral pump is a sex toy designed to increase blood flow to your clitoris to temporarily enlarge it, which can be a great way to make sex and masturbation feel even better.
The pump consists of a cylinder to cover the clitoris and a pumping mechanism that uses a suction motion to create a vacuum. As you pump, blood is drawn into your clitoris to enlarge it, mimic your body’s natural arousal response, and make the area more sensitive to touch and other sensations.
Clitoral pumps are generally pretty safe to use, as long as you make sure to read the instructions that come with the product and avoid any sore areas or broken skin. Most clitoral pumps are manual, so you have total control over the sucking action.
Very occasionally, using the pump for too long can cause tissue damage, so the first thing to do to minimize risks is to make sure you know where the release valve is. This valve quickly releases all the pressure in the vacuum if you get a little carried away while pumping.
Pumps are also very inclusive sex toys. They’re often used by trans men and non-binary people to experience temporary genital growth, which can contribute to feelings of gender euphoria (the sense that a person’s gender and body align) during sex.