# Female genitalia, probably TMI. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650 "2002-10-24T06:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/1 "2002-10-24T06:33:39Z")
What is the deal with some women (mostly female bodybuilders from my observations) having gigantic penis-like clitoris. Is this related to the possible use of steroids or an imbalance in testosterone caused by some activity? I have also observed this in two older adult film starlets, possibly post-menopausal. No specific reason for the inquiry, I was just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/2 "2002-10-24T07:19:34Z")
Can you give some dimensions? ---
**Author:** ![Obvious\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Obvious\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obvious_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/3 "2002-10-24T08:27:12Z")
Any some pics too please. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/4 "2002-10-24T10:15:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zen101 \* > Is this related to the possible use of steroids or an imbalance in testosterone caused by some activity? I have also observed this in two older adult film starlets, possibly post-menopausal. There is no **activity** that causes a hormonal imbalance, but hormonal imbalances do occur. A certain number of girl children are born that way - either because the mother took something that upset the child’s normal hormones during development, or because of one of several various genetic or developmental disorders that expose the baby to higher-than-normal testosterone levels before birth. Certainly, using anabolic steroids to either “improve” one’s bodybuilding or sporting performance can cause a woman’s genetalia to do strange things, such enlarge the clitoris (It can also cause beard growth, lower voice, and male pattern balding in a woman, too) That’s an artificial hormone imbalance, but still an imbalance. Certain naturally occuring hormone disruptions can lead to higher than normal (for a woman) levels of testosterone, with similar effects. Menopause does alter the hormone balance, and in some women this could lead to a higher porportion of testosterone in her system, with the usual possible side effects. (In some women at menopause, testosterone production ceases entirely, leading to complete loss of libido, so both extremes are possible) And, tumors in the reproductive system or associated things can also alter hormone balance. And, assuming the OP is a guy (and het or bi), no specific reason is ever required for wondering about female bits. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/5 "2002-10-24T15:29:52Z")
I would have used a sock-puppet to ask this question… ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/6 "2002-10-24T18:49:10Z")
**Wonko** : And you would be in violation of your agreement with the board/Trib. Since my question was seriously put I’m not ashamed of it. But I would be ashamed of using a sock puppet or any other dodge, just as I would feel dumb for not asking and remaining ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/7 "2002-10-24T19:10:46Z")
zen101, I seriously wanted to know what you meant by gigantic. Are we talking about a clitoris that’s 3 to 4 inches long? ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-genitalia-probably-tmi/133650/8 "2002-10-24T19:21:22Z")
No, I wound not say that large but it’s hard to tell from photographs. I want to refrain from linking to any pornographic or images which may be viewed as pornographic so it’s next to impossible to be specific. If I had to guess I would say the largest appears to be possibly 1-1/2 inches protruding beyond the hood and definately appears to have a “head” (as do most of the large ones I have seen) whihc has a marked resemblence to the head of a penis. My e-mail is accurate so private me and I can give a more specific site, but I don’t even have the images saved anymore as I have been narrowing my image archive to name specific stuff.