Sexpert: Piercings

Dear Sexpert,\nI'm really curious about genital piercings and how they can enhance sexual contact. My girlfriend and I are both considering going under the needle, but we are concerned about the risks involved and whether it will be worth it. What do you think?\nPricked with Curiosity\nDear Pricked,\n My strongest recommendation is that you get yourself to a professional piercing parlor and talk with them about the different types of genital piercings, and then decide which one would be best for you. This is definitely not a try-it-at-home-with-a-safety-pin-and-an-ice-cube kind of thing.\nAmong men, the most common piercings are the Prince Albert (a ring that goes through the underside of the glans and extends through the urethral opening) and the frenum, which goes side-to-side through the fleshy part just below the head on the underside of the penis. Some guys with frenum piercings wear rings that can swing up to encircle the head of the penis.\nIt is possible to have both these piercings at the same time. You can also have your scrotum pierced or get a barbell-style ring through the head of your penis, either vertically or horizontally.\nA certain piercer at Big Red's Genuine Tattoo Parlor is the proud owner of a Prince Albert, and he says his orgasms have vastly improved since being pierced. (He also insists that the actual piercing process is a lot less painful than one might expect.) But he does point out that his girlfriend has not noticed any phenomenal increase in the amount of stimulation she receives during vaginal intercourse, and even asks him to take it out before engaging in anal sex. The piercer at Skinquake, on the other hand, likens frenum and Prince Albert piercings to the ribs on a condom, saying they add an extra element of texture and stimulation during intercourse.\nAs for women, piercings through the inner or outer labia and the clitoral hood are the most common, and are said to provide extra stimulation during sex. Rings are generally worn with hood piercings so that the ball of the ring rests directly against the clitoris. Both the piercers I talked to warned against getting the clitoris itself pierced, as it is too sensitive and there can be too much scar tissue.\nNipple piercings are extremely popular with men and women, and have a reputation for greatly increasing the sensitivity of the nipples in both sexes. Big Red's piercer warns that this is the most painful area to get pierced -- especially for men, who have a lower threshold for pain.\nThe length of time required for piercings to heal varies from a few weeks to a couple of months. I strongly urge you to use condoms and dental dams during the entire healing process, as having sex with an open wound can not only leave you more prone to infection, but will put you in contact with more bodily fluids, greatly increasing your risk of contracting little unpleasantries.\nPiercers often say the procedure itself is not what poses the greatest risk -- it's usually a matter of whether or not the customer takes proper care of it during the healing process. So do your part and follow the instructions your piercer gives you. \nSend questions and comments to jfinkel@indiana.edu.