Vaginal Piercings
Female Genital Piercings
What are some different types of genital piercings in females?
Curious about genital piercings?
While the location may seem unusual to some, people still do opt for genital piercings either to enhance sexual pleasure or for ornamental purposes.
“Vaginal” or “clitoral” piercings are actually misnomers; piercings are most commonly located around the clitoral hood or labia (majora/minora).
- Vertical clitoral hood (VCH) – a vertical piercing done through the skin above the glans of the clitoris and rests on top of the glans. This is often done to enhance sexual pleasure for the female as the piercing jewellery places pressure on the clitoris during sexual activity
- Horizontal clitoral hood (HCH) – a horizontal piercing done through the skin above the glans of the clitoris. This is usually more ornamental as it does not come into contact with the clitoris and thus does not provide any sexual stimulation
- Triangle – a horizontal piercing that is done through the skin beneath the base of the clitoral hood and rests under the clitoral shaft
- Princess Diana – similar to a VCH but it is done to one side rather than in the centre of the clitoral hood
- Clitoral piercing – actual piercing of the clitoris itself is not so common as it comes with risks of pain and nerve damage
- Labial piercings – either the labia majora or labia minora can be pierced
- Fourchette piercing – a vertical piercing through the skin of the perineum (between the vaginal entrance and the anus)
- Christina – a surface piercing through the mons pubis and is purely decorative
Do they provide any sexual benefits for both partners?
Not all female genital piercings help with sexual pleasure but for those which do (e.g. the VCH, triangle), the female will enjoy more physical stimulation from the piercing than her male partner will. Piercings such as the VCH or triangle, which place pressure on or come into contact with the clitoris, contribute to clitoral stimulation during foreplay or intercourse, increasing sexual pleasure for the woman.
Fourchette piercings may be felt by your male partner during penetrative vaginal intercourse.
What are the risks that come with female genital piercings?
The usual risks associated with any piercings apply, such as the risk of blood borne infections if correct sterile standards are not observed, as well as risk of piercing infection which could potentially lead to scarring. Botched piercings where the clitoris is pierced instead of the clitoral hood alone can cause significant pain and nerve damage.
During the healing process, the piercing is essentially an open wound and you would be at increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) so using condoms during this period is important.
Are female genital piercings painful?
Female genital piercings are not quite as painful as one would imagine. While the perceived pain level is bound to differ between individuals depending on your pain threshold, it is generally accepted that the pain level is similar to piercings elsewhere. This is because the piercing is actually done through the skin (e.g. the clitoral hood rather than the clitoris itself).
During the healing period, using condoms is a must as contact with your partner’s body fluids (genital fluids or saliva) places you at great risk of infection.
How long does it take for the piercing wound to heal?
Healing time for female genital piercings generally ranges between weeks to months. VCH, HCH and Princess Diana piercings heal between 4-8 weeks, while triangle piercings may take 3-4 months. Christina piercings take upward of 6 months for healing.
Will the piercing hole close if I remove the piercing jewellery?
Fresh genital piercings close extremely quickly once you remove the piercing jewellery. For healed piercings, the duration they remain open can vary and depends on how long or well healed the piercings have been for. It is generally accepted that even well healed piercings may close within days.
Also read: Penile Piercings
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