Why do people pierce their genitals? Genital piercings have long been used as a rite of passage marking a transition from childhood to adulthood. It is also performed as a means of heightening sexual pleasure for one or both partners. In some cultures, it is also used as a means of imposing chastity on a person. Are you curious about this type of piercing? Perhaps, would you like to try it out for yourself one of these days? Then read on the basics first!  

Most common types of genital piercings

For women, some genital piercings include the Venus Piercing, located in the pubic mound, the area where the outer labia meet; the Triangle Piercing, which goes through the bottom of the clitoral prepuce (clitoral hood), from one side to the other, passing through the bottom of the clitoris; the Clitoral Hood Piercing, done in the clitoral prepuce or hood, most commonly in the back end area of it and the Nefertiti Piercing, a combination between the clitoral hood and the Venus piercings.

For men, the most common types are the the Dydoe Piercing, located in the top or head of the penis and goes through the ridge of the glans; the Foreskin Piercing, which goes through the foreskin or prepuce, and thus works better in non-circumcised males; the Fraenulum Piercing, located on the back of the penis; the Guiche Piercing, worn on the perineum, under the area of the scrotum; and the Hafada Piercing, located toward the bottom of the penis, in the loose skin of the area.

Piercing aftercare

What you do after the piercing is critically important if you want your genital piercing to heal properly. We're talking about one of the most sensitive and private parts of your body, after all.

First to keep in mind is you can't have sexual intercourse or play with your jewelry before your piercing is fully healed. Doing so can damage the nerves in the pierced area, tearing the tender skin, or introducing bacteria that could lead to an infection. You also can't change your jewelry prematurely. It’s best to wait until your piercing is fully healed.

As for cleaning your piercing, you have to do it 3 to 6 times per day or as directed by your piercer, but preferably not with soap. Sea salt solutions are the best things you can use to clean your piercings.

Now don't freak out when you notice excretion of lymph, which dries to a whitish crust. This is normal. You can soften that crust by applying a cotton ball saturated with sea salt solution, and then gently wipe it away. But if you experience unusual swelling or signs of an allergic reaction like itchiness and redness, then it's best to consult your piercer or a doctor.

Popular types of jewelry

Depending on the type of genital piercing, you can choose among these jewelries: Captive bead rings, circular barbells, bent barbells, straight barbells, d-rings and segment rings. But whatever kind you choose, make sure you get it from a reputable store that can provide you with quality (and affordable) pieces of jewelry--like WildKlass!