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Female Pleasure · Updated 2026

Becoming Cliterate by Laurie Mintz: Review

This review breaks down what the book gets right and where it falls short for real orgasms. You'll learn whether Mintz delivers practical advice, who should read it, and what you can expect from her approach.

Read 12 min Updated May 2026 Level Beginner Category Female Pleasure
Written by
Orgasm.now Editorial
Sexual Wellness Publication
Editorial standards · Updated 2026-05-27
Lovense — recommended by Orgasm.now

Dr. Laurie Mintz claims most women never learn how their bodies actually work for pleasure.

You've heard Becoming Cliterate promises to solve the orgasm gap, but does it give you techniques that work?

Section 01What Becoming Cliterate Actually Covers

Becoming Cliterate divides into two parts: why the orgasm gap exists and how to fix it. Mintz argues that culture teaches us wrong information about how your body works, focusing on penetration when most women need clitoral stimulation to climax.

The second half gets practical. Mintz walks through anatomy basics, then moves into specific techniques for solo pleasure and partner sex. She addresses common scenarios like faking orgasms, communicating with partners, and finding what works for your body.

The Science Behind Her Claims

Mintz backs her arguments with research showing that most women need clitoral stimulation to orgasm. She explains why the clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings compared to the penis's 4,000, and how this affects the techniques that work best for pleasure.

Section 02Where This Becoming Cliterate Review Found Strengths

Mintz gets anatomy right. She explains how your clitoris extends internally and connects to sensations during positions/" class="contextual-link">penetration. This helps explain why some positions feel better than others and why external stimulation matters so much.

The communication advice hits home. When Sarah, one of Mintz's examples, tells her partner exactly what pressure and angle work for her clitoris, their sex life transforms. Mintz gives you specific scripts for these conversations instead of vague suggestions to 'talk more.'

Becoming Cliterate book cover

Becoming Cliterate

by Laurie Mintz

Laurie Mintz addresses the orgasm gap directly — why most women don't orgasm from penetration alone, and what to do about it. Practical and evidence-based.

Buy on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission

Section 03The Weak Points in Becoming Cliterate

Mintz sometimes oversimplifies complex issues. While stimulation-complete-guide/" class="contextual-link">clitoral stimulation works for most women, she doesn't deeply explore women who prefer other types of stimulation or those dealing with medical issues affecting arousal.

The book feels repetitive at times. Mintz hammers the same points about clitoral importance across multiple chapters when more specific techniques would help readers more. You might find yourself wanting more detailed instructions and fewer statistics.

Section 04Who Should Read This Book

Becoming Cliterate works best for women who suspect they're missing something basic about their anatomy or pleasure. If you've never had an orgasm or only climax through specific methods, Mintz's explanations will likely click for you.

Partners of women also benefit from reading this. The book explains why techniques from porn don't work and gives practical alternatives. If your partner has been focusing mainly on positions/" class="contextual-link">penetration, this book explains why shifting attention to your clitoris changes everything.

Section 05How to Apply What You Learn

Start with Mintz's anatomy lessons before jumping into techniques. Understanding where your clitoris actually extends helps you figure out why certain touches feel better than others. This knowledge makes the technique chapters more useful.

Use her psychology/sexual-communication-research/" class="contextual-link">communication templates with your partner. Instead of hoping they'll figure out what works, try her scripts for explaining pressure, rhythm, and positioning. Most partners want to please you but need specific guidance rather than hints.

Start Conversations Gradually

Don't dump all of Mintz's suggestions on your partner at once. Introduce one new idea per conversation and give them time to process before adding more requests.

Step-by-stepPractical Instructions

i

Read the anatomy section first

Before diving into techniques, spend time with Mintz's explanation of clitoral anatomy. Understanding how your clitoris extends internally helps make sense of what sensations work for your body. Take notes on the parts that surprise you.

Look up diagrams online while reading to visualize the concepts.
ii

Try her solo exploration exercises

Mintz suggests specific ways to explore your own responses to different touches, pressures, and rhythms. Follow her guidance for paying attention to what creates arousal versus what feels good but doesn't build toward orgasm.

Use a hand mirror to see what you're doing when something feels particularly good.
iii

Practice her communication scripts

Choose one of Mintz's example conversations about what you need during sex. Practice saying these phrases out loud before bringing them to your partner. Focus on being specific about pressure, angle, and timing rather than general requests.

Start with one small request rather than trying to change everything at once.
iv

Experiment with her positioning suggestions

Try the positions Mintz recommends for better clitoral access during penetration. Pay attention to which angles allow you or your partner to stimulate your clitoris simultaneously. Don't expect perfection immediately.

Use pillows to adjust angles until you find what works for your body.
v

Apply her mindset shifts gradually

Mintz emphasizes focusing on your pleasure rather than performance. Practice paying attention to sensations that feel good rather than trying to reach orgasm quickly. Let arousal build naturally as you explore different techniques.

Set aside at least 20 minutes for exploration without pressure to climax.

Avoid theseCommon Mistakes

Mistake 01
Rushing through the anatomy sections

You miss the foundation that makes techniques work

Fix · Spend extra time understanding your clitoral structure first
Mistake 02
Expecting immediate results from new techniques

Your body needs time to learn new response patterns

Fix · Give each technique several tries before deciding if it works
Mistake 03
Trying to implement everything at once

Overwhelming yourself and your partner with too many changes

Fix · Focus on one new approach per week or session
Mistake 04
Skipping the communication chapters

You miss tools for getting what you need from your partner

Fix · Read these sections even if talking feels uncomfortable initially
"The clitoris deserves the same attention as any other important part of sexual anatomy, yet most people know more about male pleasure than female pleasure."
Orgasm.now Editorial

Reviewing evidence-based approaches to closing pleasure gaps

FAQFrequently Asked Questions

Yes, Mintz explains anatomy basics before moving to techniques. The book works well if you're just starting to explore what works for your body or need to understand the science behind effective stimulation.
Becoming Cliterate provides specific scripts for talking to partners about what you need. Mintz gives examples of how to ask for different pressure, positions, and timing rather than hoping your partner will guess.
The techniques aren't revolutionary, but Mintz organizes them clearly and explains why they work based on anatomy. The value comes from understanding the reasoning behind what makes certain approaches more effective.
Most readers finish it in 4-6 hours. The book reads quickly, though you'll want to spend more time with the practical sections and return to specific techniques as you try them.
Mintz briefly mentions when to see a doctor but focuses mainly on technique and communication. If you have pain during sex or medical concerns about arousal, you'll need additional resources beyond this book.
Yes, if you want more consistency or better experiences with partners. Mintz's communication advice and positioning suggestions help even women who can climax solo but struggle during partnered sex.

Further ReadingRecommended Books

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