Funding outcome

Sexual health problems can strongly affect quality of life. These problems may include low interest in sex, trouble with arousal or orgasm, or pain during sexual activity. They can also cause stress and affect relationships. Many people feel embarrassed to talk about sexual health or ask for help. One possible cause is clitoral adhesions, also called clitoral phimosis. This happens when skin sticks to and covers the tip of the clitoris. This can lead to pain, trouble reaching orgasm, and emotional distress. Up to 1 in 4 women with sexual pain may have clitoral adhesions. Clitoral adhesions can happen because of menopause, low hormones, infection, trauma, or skin conditions such as lichen sclerosus. Treatment involves releasing the scar tissue. A non-surgical office treatment called clitoral adhesion release (CAR) is available, but there is very little research about how to do this procedure or how well it works. This study will help us better understand clitoral adhesions and improve treatment. We plan to start in Fall 2026 and include at least 30 participants. Before the procedure, participants will have an assessment visit, learn stretching exercises, and complete surveys about pain and sexual health. Follow-up visits will happen at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. We will study whether treatment improves sexual function, orgasm, pain, and emotional distress. We will also take photos and rate the adhesions to see how the area changes over time. This research is important because clitoral health is not well studied or discussed. The results may help reduce pain, improve sexual health, and provide a step-by-step guide so more healthcare providers can offer this treatment safely.