This story starts a couple of years ago when, after many months of deliberation, I decided I really wanted an apadravya. It was great. Wish I'd had it done years earlier. Liked it soooo much I decided stretching it up to 3.2mm to see if that felt even better. It did!... but very shortly after that, it started to grow out :-( Before I did some serious damage to my glans, I removed the bar and left it to heal over for a couple of months. I was amazed how quickly the hole disappeared.

It was only a couple of months ago that I decided the previous piercing had healed sufficiently to be replaced and managed to get an appointment back with the piercer to investigate the practicality of a rebore. I had suffered two months of REALLY missing that metal through my dick. After a twenty minute discussion we agreed that it might be better to try an ampallang. For one thing, it would go through more flesh than the apadravya thus giving additional stability and secondly, would avoid the original tissue that had been disrupted. The exact positioning was debated at length, marked up, jewelry chosen and, many pairs of gloves later, clamp applied.

A few (genital) piercings on from my first adventure I was well aware of the drill. Take a deep breath, hold it and let it out slowly and deliberately while...... I was well prepared for the sensation that was about to hit me bigtime. This was, without doubt, the most intense physical experience of my life. I estimate it took around five seconds to get that 2.4mm needle through my glans. Many people have described the sensation in many different ways so I may as well include how it was for me. I felt the prick of the needle as it went in, a searing pain as it cut through, another prick as it emerged from the other side and then just a throbbing. I had the urge to wiggle my feet around for a few minutes while I gradually floated back down to earth and the nice piercer let me hang onto his arm laid across my chest – the reassurance of having somebody close by to hold seemed to help somewhat. After a couple of minutes I had calmed down sufficiently to let him proceed with fitting the barbell in place of the needle. That bit was painless. Virtually no blood.

Several people have asked me how long I was "out of action for". "Pain" as such only lasted while the section of flesh was being punched out. Discomfort lasted another five minutes or so and thereafter, I was aware there was "something different down there" for a couple of hours or so. Thereafter, it just felt good when it moved. I tried sex (with an extra strong condom) after five days but the bar was oversized by 3mm (very difficult to size correctly at a first attempt and should never be too tight as apparently that's painful) and it wasn't a comfortable process. Five days on, the wound had settled sufficiently to enable sex to feel really good again. The only longer-term hassle has been using condoms to prevent infection. I was advised to continue use until the piercing is completely healed which is expected to take six months or so. I still wash it three or four times a day and rinse it in saline solution every day.

A few other associated points spring to mind that I would like to include here and invite comment on. I made the trip on my own (my wife flatly refused to accompany me). From what I've read on BME so far, people often take partners along when being pierced. I haven't yet spotted an account from somebody (receiving a genital piercing) who just took a mate in with them. I certainly found it reassuring to have the physical reassurance of the piercer – as far as I was concerned we had just shared a very powerful experience and that counted as some sort of bond. I had invited him to modify my genitals and in my book at least, that's a big deal. I would be interested to hear what others feel on this subject. Is the piercer, for you, merely a service provider with whom you want no form of emotional bond, however short-lived it may be? I would be even more interested to hear from piercers and find out how they view their clients.

Some readers who are considering a piercing may find it interesting to know the reaction I get from the everyday bloke in the street (so to speak). Due to its well- concealed placement, the only strangers to see it are other guys in changing rooms etc, or occasionally, a guy standing next to me in public toilets. For the majority of the time, I don't think people notice – well, most don't bother to look "down there" do they. However, I've noticed that if I'm the only other person in the room and the jewelry is spotted, it isn't very unusual to get the "B***** H***! That must have hurt" line. There then follows the question on whether sex feels any different, and why I did it. Once, at a beer festival, a loud comment such as this resulted in a whole crowd gathering. Most embarrassing. Good job I had already had several drinks.

On only a couple of occasions has somebody looked as though they found it distasteful and would rather I wasn't around – a view that I find quite disappointing as I would much rather they comment, even if unfavorably, so that I can explain my viewpoint. The record for the most dramatic reaction goes to a guy who had collected just about every possible facial piercing. He noticed me standing at the other end of the line of urinals in a pub, said f***, F***, F***!, as he ran out of the toilets and left me rather bemused and mystified. He returned in less than ten seconds with two of his mates who immediately came over to have a good look! Apparently one of them wanted to have his foreskin pierced but hadn't been able to muster the courage so they wanted to know all about the pros & cons of genital piercings.

I try to keep my pierced status unknown to colleagues but, in my last job, word leaked out because I rattled when taking a leak and apparently that attracts stares. So if you opt for genital piercings -- you have been warned!

I think that just about covers what I wanted to say. Please feel free to email any comments or questions you may have. pauld4u@hotmail.com