Before getting started I want to state that I've got no authority to tell you what's wrong and what's right. I'm not a piercer (although I've pierced myself on a number of occasions) and I'm certainly not a doctor- I'm simply an user, the proud owner of a clit hood piercing and of two (now retired) inner labia rings, and as an user, I enjoy "using" my piercings to get pleasure and fun at any given time. I do have a relatively healthy sexual life and used to even before I had my piercing, but things have changed for the better since I decided to get some metal in my knickers.
At A Glance Author strawberry Contact [email protected] IAM strawberry When N/A I've had my hood pierced twice, retired it the first time due to migration combined with an unhappy boyfriend, but repierced it recently. I'd been told it was a pleasurable piercing, something that could really help me experience no sensations, but until now I've had little to no success with it. The first time I had it pierced it was more a problem that anything else, but the second has been great.
However, I would like to give some advice to everybody considering a genital mod. I'm trying to write what I wish someone had told me before I got my hood piercing. I really do hope it will be of some help for the others.1)Research. You can never be too informed. Research on studios, anatomy, placements and aftercare. Use the internet, BME, libraries, speak to your friends, discuss your options with a respectable piercer. There are so many options available that we should really try and get the most out of them. Once you've found a placement you like carry on researching and examine yourself. Even if only a practitioner will be able to tell you if a piercing would work well on your anatomy, it's always a good idea to learn to know your body before anybody else touches it.
2)Get the chemistry right. And I mean get a good feeling with the person you have chosen to pierce you (unless you want to perform it yourself). Many studios offer both male and female piercers, so you can find somebody you feel comfortable with. Even when such thing is not an option (I've never got to choose) meet the piercer for a consultation, look at portfolios, discuss their experiences and listen to their advice. Reputable piercers will spend time talking to you and answering your questions and discussing your ideas. A piercer who isn't willing to do it is not a professional piercer and should be avoided. Also, if you have a feeling, however slight, that the person who is going to pierce you is "not right" wait before you go on or look elsewhere. Piercing should be a positive experience, not something you fall into doing.
3)Don't forget your partner. Mods should be something you do for yourself first, something that makes you happy and proud; however, if you are in a relationship it's probably worth discussing your plans for genital modification with your other half. In my experience this has often led to arguments -but it was not the mod that was wrong, it was the partner. Talk to your girlfriend/boyfriend about what you would like to get done, do some research together, explain him/her why the mod is important to you and how you could enjoy it together. Try not to do anything in secret, only to surprise your loved one -been there, done that, and my then-boyfriend nearly collapsed.
If your partner disagrees (which is a possibility, and his/her opinion should be at least accepted) but you still want to get your piercing wait a little bit, then bring up the subjec again. Often, this helps. If it doesn't consider both your reasons and then follow your instinct. We are our choices, after all.4)Aftercare. Some genital piercings require little to no aftercare, apart from some basic hygenic rules which apply to all a clean, healthy lifestyle -ie washing, changing your underwear regularly etc.. no, don't laugh, never take personal hygene for granted- whereas other require more patience and care. Always follow the instructions given to you by your piercer or research throughly on sites like BME if you've performed the piercing yourself. Avoid contact with body fluids for at least a couple of weeks and always use condoms until your piercing has fully healed. For trickier piercings, be patient and don't panic. It takes time and a lot of TLC to heal some of them -be aware of healing times and risks before you get pierced, instead of complaining about them afterwards.
5)Know your chances. There are many beautiful genital piercing that tend to reject. Unfortunately, although rejection can be prevented or retarded (at least to a certain extent) sometimes it happens and there is very little you can do about it. Sad as it is to retire a piercing, you should not allow a genital piercing to migrate too much. It can be disturbing, interfere with intercourse and can lead to scarring. Whereas this is true about most piercings, the genital area is a very sensitive one and should be treated with respect. You can always get re-pierced in the future.
6)Listen to your body. Chances are, a genital piercing will change, at least a bit, the feeling you get during sex or stimulation. I didn't enjoy my new hood-piercing because I didn't know how to play with it, but couldn't stop smiling after realizing that a few smart moves did the trick. Touch your body, listen to its responses, have fun, play and experiment -it's amazing what you can discover that way. If possible, make you partner take part in the process. It's amazing how close such an experience can make you. After all, it's a very private secret you both share, and beautiful, pleasurable secrets should never be underestimated.
These are some simple, basic suggestions, but I wish I'd known about them when I embarked on genital piercing. Oh, and a very last little piece of advice:
KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO STOP SHOWING OFF: if you, like me, live in a small community, be careful when mentioning your genital piercing. News this big travel fast and the whole village will know about it before you can say "metal in my pants". So, allow only your closest friends to know about it. Better safe than sorry, and those odd looks at the supermarkets are oh so annoying :)
Good piercing to everybody!