Clit piercings are reported to increase sexual pleasure which is one of the reasons people consider them. Most women need clitoral stimulation in order to orgasm and the jewellery does this amplifying responsiveness and heightening pleasure. Your partner may also enjoy added stimulation from the jewellery depending on the sexual position. It also doesn’t hurt that they are aesthetically pleasing and just seeing it may be arousing to both you and your partner. Here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering getting a clit piercing.
Types of clitoral piercings
There are many different types of genital and clit piercings. Three of the most common clitoris piercings are:
Glans: this is the only piercing that pierces the actual clitoris and is the rarest type. This clit piercing generally goes directly through the clitoral head.
VCH: this refers to a vertical clitoral hood piercing and is the most popular type of clit piercing. It pierces vertically through a thin section of the hood’s peak.
HCH: this refers to the horizontal clitoral hood piercing. It goes horizontally through the base of the hood.
Professional piercer
As with other piercings, it is best to visit a professional piercer working in a sterile environment to minimize risks including infection. You also need an experienced piercer so that they can advise you about the best piercing for you. Do your homework and go through their reviews and the experiences of other clients, especially those who got a similar piercing, in this case, a clit piercing. If you can, find a piercer who specializes in genital piercings.
Different vulvas
Not everyone can get any type of clit piercing because no two vulvas are alike and different vulvas are suited to different piercings. If you’re interested in getting one, you should consult an expert so that they can offer guidance about what placement would work best for you. It turns out that for 95% of women, hood piercings are not suitable or possible. Sometimes it’s due to a lack of tissue or pliability in the required places. For others, anatomical differences mean that if you got the piercing in that location, it would lead to pain rather than pleasure.
Pain level
People who’ve had it done describe a sharp, distinct, intense pain that subsides as soon as they swap in the jewellery pin, as with other piercings is highly dependent on each individual’s pain threshold. The good news is regardless of how painful it is, a clit piercing is really quick and is usually over within a split second.
Pregnancy
If you’re planning to get pregnant, factor in the healing time in advance because it is advisable that you remove the jewellery during childbirth for your safety and that of the baby. Removing the jewellery before the clit piercing heals will cause the opening to close. When scar tissue develops on the spot with time, it might harden and become painful at the time of delivery.
Women with clitoris piercings should also alert their health care providers about it when undergoing procedures including MRIs where the jewellery should be removed in advance.
Healing time
The healing time of the clit piercing varies depending on the type.
- Clitoral glans piercings take four to six weeks.
- Vertical hood piercings take four to six weeks or longer.
- Horizontal hood piercings that four to eight weeks or longer.
Aftercare of clit piercing
Bleeding, bruising, and swelling are expected within the first week or two. Consider wearing a pad or panty liner for the first few days to protect your underwear from blood and discharge. You should, however, reach out to your piercer if it goes on longer than that and if the discharge is foul-smelling or unusually coloured (green).
- Regularly wash the area with diluted saline solution then let it air-dry. You can also use antibacterial soap and water but should avoid alcohol-based products, ointments or hydrogen peroxide.
- You shouldn’t remove the jewellery until you’re fully healed.
- Avoid swimming and shared hot tubs and all similar activities to protect the healing wound.
- Always wash your hands before cleaning the piercing and don’t allow others to touch or irritate it.
- Avoid sex and all activities that include swapping fluid like saliva, semen or vaginal fluid for at least two weeks. It’s however best to wait until the piercing is healed. When you do start having sex, be careful because you will still be sensitive. Also, clean the area with saline solution or clean water afterwards.
- Go for loose, soft, stretchy, clothing and avoid tight, restrictive ones during the healing process to limit irritation.
- Do not go commando after the clit piercing. The underwear protects the wound from germs and holds the jewellery in place which minimizes trauma and irritation.
- Use another different form of birth control because a piercing may rip a condom. To be safe, always use a second form of birth control. Condoms remain the only form of birth control that protects against STDs.
- Use water-based lubricant if you’re using it.
- Shower daily and use a fresh towel.
- Urinate after cleaning your piercing or showering.
- Follow whatever other instructions your piercer gives.
Risks and dangers
As with any other time you create an opening in the body, there are risks when you get a clit piercing. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Infection
The main ways to prevent infection are to go to a professional piercer working in a sterile environment and to follow instructions about aftercare. Left untreated infections can be life-threatening so you should consult your piercer if the healing is not proceeding according to the plan they laid out.
Allergic reaction
You may have an allergic reaction to the material of the jewellery. Avoid jewellery with nickel to lower this risk. The genitals are highly sensitive which increases the risk of getting contact dermatitis.
Tearing
This refers to when the piercing gets caught on something and rips out of the body.
Embedding
This happens when the jewellery is too short and skin grows over it, embedding it.
Migration and rejection
Migration refers to when the piercing moves from its original location. It can happen if the piercing doesn’t have enough tissue to hold on to. Rejection is when the piercing slowly moves to the surface of the skin and then out of the body.
Nerve damage
Nerve damage could happen but is more likely to happen with a clitoral glans piercing. Damaging these nerves can lead to a loss of sensation partially or completely which can really put a damper on your sex life.
Botched piercing
This could happen when an inexperienced piercer pierces the wrong piece of anatomy. You may have specified a hood piercing and they end up piercing the clitoris itself. You may also experience disfigurement, scarring, and tissue trauma.
Risk of UTI
If the equipment used was not sterile or the environment was not sanitary, there is a high risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Painful genitals
Sex can be painful especially in the beginning when you’re still sensitive. During intercourse there’s a lot of friction and a lot of pain is caused. Some women experience bleeding and rupturing to their clit-hood if sex is too rough.
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