I became interested in genital piercings at about age 55. I was thinking of an eyebrow or something, but work in a professional setting and was concerned about that. I started looking around on the web and kept coming back to the genital piercings. That started me on the road to a PA. My first piercing was a frenum because it seemed the easiest to handle. I was pretty stunned at the shot of pain, but like everyone says, it is over quick. The frenum was constantly uncomfortable. Any movement pulled on it and it just did not settle down. After that: another frenum, a PA and a lorum. All pulled within a few weeks because of aggravation, wrong size, poor placement. Throughout this, I was always fascinated by the Apadravya. I kept reading every experience looking for a sign that it was not that hard to handle but the experiences are not very comforting. Then I read on BME about someone who tried it with EMLA cream, which is available in Canada. Vancouver being a few hours from here, I began reading about Vancouver piercers and read about Anatomic Adornments. I emailed them about using an anesthetic and about my history with piercings. Lisa Spitkovski promptly replied with thoughtful answers and a discussion of size. She informed me that they cannot administer anesthetics and she did not think EMLA would be very helpful but I got the impression she would not mind if I tried it. We settled on a titanium 8g. and I went up a few days after Christmas.
At A Glance Author anonymous When A month ago Artist Lisa Spitkovski Studio Anatomic Adornments Location Vancouver, B.C.
After arriving at Vancouver I went to a pharmacy and asked for EMLA. It is kept behind the counter but does not require a prescription. I applied it, covered it with a baggie and waited an hour. I could tell some serious numbing had occurred which relaxed me a little bit, because I admit I was seriously afraid of this piercing.
Having been to a lot of piercing shops, I was pleasantly surprised by Anatomic. It is not tattoo parlor and does not look like a head shop from 1965. That is a style some people like but it leaves me uncomfortable about whether the place is professional. Anatomic is modern, stylish, clean and professional looking. Then I met Lisa. Every piercer I had before packed a lot of attitude. Perhaps it was my issue but they seemed to me to have a really superior, aloof, uncaring approach. Lisa is the opposite. She has a warm friendly personality and you can tell she respects that you are getting a piercing. She also respects that this piercing is scary and intimate. She handled everything with respect and caring.
She spent a long time marking, saying she is a perfectionist and we carried on a pleasant conversation about nothing while she prepared. Then came the pierce. The initial stick felt like a PA. Surprised me but not a lot of pain. I started to expect the worst and then she said "now I just need to put on the ball." I did not even feel the rest of the piercing. She pierced super fast and the EMLA obviously worked. I did not put it far enough down the shaft on the under side but on the glans it did its job.
Thank Lisa, gave her a tip and she gave me a hug and I was on my way feeling on top of the world. I had a lot of blood for 3 days and spotting for 2-3 more. Always been a bleeder, but it is now 3 weeks later and it is healing great and there is no discomfort. It is very comfortable and Lisa hit the target perfectly. The placement is precisely on center. All in all it is the most comfortable of the piercings I have had. I think the size is helping reduce some discomfort because it does not cut into the hole. Also by just exposing the ball ends, it eliminated the torquing and pulling of an exposed barbell.
I know some will argue against the EMLA because they want the full experience. In my case, I had had 4 prior piercings and knew what the experience would be like. I was able to handle but did not think I could handle any more especially with the way people described the pain of an APA. Without the mental crutch of the EMLA I do not think I could have gone through it after the experiences I read on BME. I wanted the piercing very much and am not sad I did not have the full experience. I know I missed something but am glad I at least got the piercing. I am totally optimistic this is a keeper and if I ever have another I will go back to Lisa where ever she is. A great experience with a great piercer.