Genital piercings 101

Genital piercings. If you have one (or more), you have your badass reasons. If you don’t, chances are you’re either filled with wonder and desire at the thought of getting one, or you’re a giant “Hell NO.”

Love ‘em or leave ‘em, genital piercings continue to gain popularity across diverse cultures and demographics. A 2017 Statista survey conducted in the US found that 9% of male-identified respondents and 5% of female-identified respondents had genital piercings. These numbers have likely grown since then as the reasons for getting a genital piercing seem to multiply with “modernity”; these hyper intimate piercings have become an empowering act of self-assertion for people across countless backgrounds and experiences.

As with anything, people’s motivations for getting genital piercings vary widely depending on the unique benefit that they derive from it personally.

Pro-piercer @lynnloheide on TikTok identifies some of these reasons, which range from esthetic enhancement to sexual pleasure to cultural expression to gender affirmation—and then some.

Let’s dive deeper, shall we? Here are just a few of the reasons people opt for genital piercings:

Empowerment & affirmation

A genital piercing can be empowering AF, allowing you to reclaim bodily ownership, explore your sexuality on your own terms, and express your unique identity and desires. And, as Loheide points out, gender-affirming genital piercing work—particularly for trans people—can be a great alternative to bottom surgery, creating new sensations and initiating new relationships with those body parts, and allowing people to feel more masculine, feminine, or androgynous as desired.

Sexual pleasure

Many people get genital piercings for very functional reasons—like enhancing sexual pleasure, or facilitating orgasm. Some people actually experience climax for the first time ever as a result of their piercings! Obviously, this can do wonders for transforming and improving relationships with yourself and with others—not to mention, it can also make fetishes or fantasies that were once out of reach a totally attainable reality.

The sexiness factor

Genital piercings are also just really pretty and hawt in their own right. Facts: a lot of people are insecure about the way their genitals look, comparing themselves to porn stars and the like. But the right genital piercing in the right spot can make you feel sexier and more connected to your sexual power and prowess.

Bodily reclamation after trauma

If you have experienced trauma and sexual assault, genital piercings can also be deeply rooted in bodily reclamation and healing. Many survivors relish the fact that by transforming themselves in such a way, their genital area is no longer associated with their abuser. A lot of people also like that although there’s a bit of pain and discomfort involved, it's inherently consent-focused.

Restoring agency after circumcision

Some people were circumcised at birth and wish they hadn’t been: this includes people with penises, as well as people with vulvas who have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). If you’ve undergone such procedures, you may experience medical side effects, functional side effects, and a continual upset over the robbing of your bodily agency. Getting a piercing is one way of restoring that agency and bodily connection.

Date night

Some couples enjoy getting pierced together to—as a way of trying something new, or spicing things up. What better way to celebrate your anniversary, pray tell? Better yet, you have a hand to hold while undergoing the actual procedure. Dare we suggest that matching piercings are the new matching tattoos?

Connecting with ancestors

Genital piercings have been used for centuries in different cultural and religious rites and rituals, coming of age ceremonies, etc. If piercings have cultural, historical, or spiritual significance to you and you're looking to deepen your cultural ties or connect with your ancestors, a genital piercing may just be what the good goddess ordered. Ya heard it here first.

Types of genital piercings

The most popular types of genital piercings among people with vulvas include:

- Clitoral hood: A clitoral hood piercing penetrates the “hood” of skin sheltering the clit, but not the clit itself. This is a low pain piercing with a relatively short healing time, making it a popular go-to. 

- Labia: Labia piercings can occur on the labia majora or minora (outer or inner labia). Inner labia piercings are preferred as they heal faster, are less exposed to friction, and are less susceptible to rejection than outer labia piercings.

- Venus: The Venus piercing has only been around since the 1990s. The name Venus comes from it being a piercing of the mon Venus, the area where the tops of the outer labia meet. To counter the risk of rejection, a custom barbell or surface bar is usually the go-to for this piercing.

Meanwhile, the most popular types of genital piercings among people with penises include:

 - Prince Albert/Reverse Prince Albert

- Frenum

- Apadravya & Ampallang

- Dydoe

- Scrotum

- Guiche

Explore these in more depth here!

Piercing prep & after care

Before choosing a genital piercing, always do your research and determine what kind of piercing is best-suited to your anatomy—as well as what kind you want.

After getting pierced, you’ll want to follow the cleaning and aftercare instructions you’ve been given—to a T. If you’re ever unsure about your healing process or have any questions at all, never hesitate to contact your piercer. Whatever’s on your mind, chances are they’ve encountered it before!

For more detailed info, Lynn Loheide (supreme piercing maven!) also has a super informative blog outlining what to expect in terms of prep, day-of considerations, arousal considerations, and aftercare protocols to boot.

May your journey into genital body art bring you embodied pleasure, empowered self-expression, and sensual discovery! <3