---
title: "Clitoris Changes with Age | Sutter Health"
description: "Does the clitoris disappear with age? After 70?"
url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444"
---

1.  Home /
2.  Clitoris Changes with Age

# Clitoris Changes with Age

* * *

Medically reviewed by

-   Susan Maayah, M.D.

## Question

Does the clitoris disappear with age? After 70?

## Answer

The clitoris never actually disappears, but it can become smaller over time after the loss of circulating female hormones with menopause. This is part of a normal condition with aging called urogenital atrophy.

When women enter menopause, many changes occur due to loss of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These changes can impact libido and sexual function. The vaginal tissues become thinner, and vaginal dryness is a common phenomenon in postmenopausal women. This same thinning of the tissues can happen around the clitoris, changing sensation during sexual activity for women - in some cases, even turning pleasure into pain.

Women without risk factors for taking estrogen (such as a family history of female cancer) can see their gynecologist about options for hormone treatment. These can include systemic hormone replacement as well as topical (local) hormonal therapies.

Women can also use pH balancing, over-the-counter topical preparations or lubricants (that do not contain hormones) to help the body accommodate to these normal menopausal changes. While these changes in the tissues cannot be reversed, they can certainly be improved.

## Explore related topics

Women's healthMenopauseGraceful AgingSexual health and relationshipsGynecologic Health

## Meet our care team

Susan Maayah, M.D.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Clitoris Changes with Age"}]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444","name":"Clitoris Changes with Age","description":"The clitoris never actually disappears, but it can become smaller over time after the loss of circulating female hormones with menopause.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#question","name":"Clitoris Changes with Age","text":"Does the clitoris disappear with age? After 70?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#answer","text":"The clitoris never actually disappears, but it can become smaller over time after the loss of circulating female hormones with menopause. This is part of a normal condition with aging called urogenital atrophy. When women enter menopause, many changes occur due to loss of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These changes can impact libido and sexual function. The vaginal tissues become thinner, and vaginal dryness is a common phenomenon in postmenopausal women. This same thinning of the tissues can happen around the clitoris, changing sensation during sexual activity for women - in some cases, even turning pleasure into pain. Women without risk factors for taking estrogen (such as a family history of female cancer) can see their gynecologist about options for hormone treatment. These can include systemic hormone replacement as well as topical (local) hormonal therapies. Women can also use pH balancing, over-the-counter topical preparations or lubricants (that do not contain hormones) to help the body accommodate to these normal menopausal changes. While these changes in the tissues cannot be reversed, they can certainly be improved.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#expert"}}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/clitoris-changes-with-age-1051061444#expert","name":"Susan Maayah","honorificSuffix":"M.D."}
```