Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
Body piercing for pleasure has become common practice. Before piercing, consider the hygiene rules and health risks associated with piercing.
Piercing Cleansing & Precautions
Getting a body piercing in an unusual area such as your tongue, the head of your penis or your nipples requires some care. There may be a small amount of bleeding for 1 to 3 days following a piercing, especially male piercings. You shouldn’t participate in any fluid exchange in the area for 2 months (longer — up to a year — if you plan on doing deep tissue piercing) in order to avoid infection and allow the area to heal properly. The use of condoms and dental dams are a necessity during the healing period, which can last anywhere from a two weeks to months. It’s important to use condoms with larger receptacle ends (the space at the tip of the condom) during genital contact and oral sex to prevent the pierced area from getting infected, and to accommodate jewelry. As with all body piercings, swimming pools and hot tubs should be avoided for at least 2-4 weeks post piercing.
Always keep the area clean (even after it’s healed) by using an antiseptic product and be responsible. Genital piercings need to be cleaned twice a day with a diluted saline solution and soap and water, as well as after sexual activity. If you notice that the area is infected or constantly sore, then don’t engage in any form of sexual contact until it heals. Gentle sexual activity can be resumed when the piercing site is no longer sensitive.
Choosing An Expert
It is not recommended that anyone practice self-piercing, and needles should never be shared under any circumstances. It is possible to spread bacterial skin infections, and other infections like herpes, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, through improper piercing practices. Look for an experienced practitioner with professional training and ask if they follow the Infection Control Guidelines for body piercing.
Practitioners must always wash their hands before wearing latex-gloves and handling equipment and use new needles that have been sterilized for each treatment. Piercing guns with fixed parts should never be used because the components that make contact with the body are not disposable. Medical needles are the standard method for genital and body piercing. Reputable practitioners will post healing times for each technique.
Before the genital area is pierced it should be treated with an antiseptic, just like a piercing anywhere else. This prevents any bacteria or viruses present on the skin from entering the body and causing infection at the site of the piercing. The skin is kept taut, sometimes with the use of surgical forceps, and a needle is passed through the tissue. The jewelry is then pushed through the opening. A heavier gauge of jewelry is used for genital piercing than is used for other body piercings, since genital tissue can be easily stretched or torn by the use of thinner wires. When jewelry is removed, genital piercings tend to close very quickly. If jewelry is removed for longer than a brief period of time, it is recommended that a temporary spacer (i.e. non-metallic sterile tubing or suture) be used to ensure that the piercing does not close.
The Tongue
 Usually, people who pierce and have sexual experiences with vagina owners, pierce their tongues in order to enhance cunnilingus. Their piercing is done near the front of the tongue, whereas vagina owners who pierce their tongues get the piercing further back on their tongues. And obviously, licking their clitoris with a ball of steel attached to your salivating tongue will likely serve to enhance their pleasure.
Lick the vagina as you would even if you weren’t pierced. But if you want to add a little something to the experience, freeze the ring first by placing an ice cube or a curiously strong mint in your mouth beforehand. The heat from your tongue blended with the contrast of the cold ring will make their clitoris feel amazing.
As well, besides licking the clitoris and its vaginal neighbor, you can use your tongue to lick them all over as you would anyway. Lick the nipples, the neck, lips, and even anus… there’s no telling what good things might come of this.
People performing fellatio should perform it as usual but use the piercing to deeply explore the rim of the urethra, frenulum, and coronal areas of the penis. Apply pressure with the piercing on these areas for pleasurable stimulation.
The Penis
There are quite a few piercing varieties available for penis owners to engage in when it comes to their genitalia. Here are a few:
- Ampallang: Consists of a Titanium barbell stud (size varies depending on preference) placed horizontally through the glans (head of the penis). Results in the head remaining extremely firm during sex, and because the barbells hit the vaginal walls during sex, it enhances her pleasure. Unfortunately, it takes approximately 12 months to heal completely.
- Dydoe: Usually done in pairs, it consists of Titanium barbell studs being pierced through the Corona (ridge of the penis head). Believed to enhance sexual pleasure for both partners.
- Frenum: Piercing occurs along the length of the penis rather than side to side. The loose skin is pierced, thus not causing intense pain as with the other two. Takes approximately 2 months to heal.
- Prince Albert: Most popular piercing out there to date. Consists of a bead ring (circular barbell) being pierced into the urethra. Takes about 2 months to heal.
- Guiche: Consists of having the base of the scrotum pierced through the perineum with a circular barbell. Prone to infection because most penis owners tend to sweat in this particular area, which aggravates infection. Healing time depends on the individual.
As for condoms, since the jewelry is polished (no sharp edges), there’s no chance that it will tear the latex. Just make sure there’s adequate lube.
The Clitoris & Labia
When it comes to vagina owners, it’s usually the clitoral hood that gets pierced rather than the actual clitoris or any other area of the genitalia for that matter; the procedure is less complicated and therefore safer. Contrary to popular belief, many piercers will not pierce the clitoris because of its sensitivity and delicate clustered nerves. It can take anywhere up to 3 months to heal after the initial piercing. As well, vertical hood piercing is much easier than the horizontal variety.
While every vagina owner’s story differs, the general belief is that clitoral piercing heightens sexual pleasure a great deal. In some cases, just going for a walk might result in an orgasm for some of these lucky piercers.
When a clitoris owner is penetrated by a penis, the rubbing of the ring against the clitoris while they rhythmically go back and forth will provide heightened sensations. And yes, this one’s for the vagina owner’s pleasure only.
- The Christina: Also known as the Venus, is a piercing under the pubic mound (mons veneris). This piercing also requires specific anatomic criteria, and therefore cannot be performed on all vagina owners due to anatomical variations. This piercing is usually performed with a surface bar or curved barbell. Jewelry is often customized for the individual client, since no two Christina piercings or pubic mounds are exactly alike.
- The Fourchette: Fourchette piercings are not commonly performed, because very few vagina owners have the anatomical structure needed for this piercing. A fourchette piercing is a piercing of a flap of skin at the back of the vulva that few vulva owners have. It’s a primarily aesthetic piercing, rather than a sexually stimulating one. It generally takes 8-12 weeks to heal.
Nipple Piercing
Nipple piercing is probably one of the most popular amongst all those who pierce. Nipple piercing can be done to draw attention to the nipples as sometimes they can be neglected during foreplay and sex. Nipple piercing can also be done to help maintain the nipples in an erect stance permanently. Then again, there are those who simply enjoy the painful pleasure associated with getting pierced (ahh, endorphins). Many people find nipple piercings to be highly erotic.
General Information About Complications & Side Effects
Studies show no reported increase in pregnancy or delivery related problems among women with genital piercings. People who have penises with Prince Albert piercings may experience some problems with urinary flow and aim since the jewelry passes through the urethra. Some penis owners with this piercing prefer to sit down while urinating. Issues such as impotence and sterility are not associated with genital piercings. More than half (65%) of people with female genitalia and almost half (47%) of people with male genitalia, with genital piercings report no complications at all. The most frequently reported complications are related to urinary flow for those with penises and hypersensitivity of the piercing site for those with vaginas. However, with the proper piercing techniques and attention to hygienic aftercare, there should be little health concern associated with genital piercings.
Copyright 2022
Sources: “Kenya: Three Weird Ways Men Are Decorating Their Penis …”
Sexuality & U.ca, askmen.com, piercingmodels.com, piercingpleasures.com, Kymbra’s Closet
