The following is my account of my first genital modification: an apadravya. I've used an itemized, (somewhat) succinct format to better serve the needs of the inquiring reader.
At A Glance Author Agglepraxis Contact agglepraxis@yahoo.com When Three months ago Artist Jeremiah Currier Studio Pain Hate Pain Location Akron, OH USA Artist/Shop: I chose Jeremiah at Pain Hate Pain because I had already established a rapport with him and trusted his competence. His (as he is the proprietor) studio is clean and comfortable and, all proper sterilization routines are scrupulously followed.
Cost: The piercing cost ~$80 (US currency) plus appropriate tip. I found this fair.
Motivation: Having suffered through a sexually unfulfilling relationship for many months I conceived of this piercing as a way to resume control of my own sexuality.
Setup: Marking the area to be pierced was by far the longest segment of the entire procedure. The proper angle and positioning was agreed upon after much consultation, taking perhaps 25 minutes. I was very reassured by the fact that my piercer seemed neither hurried nor reluctant, calmly (and very professionally) investigating the area to be pierced. Curious, I laid on the piercing table (or bed or whatever the proper term may be; the vinyl reclined benches that your dentist likely uses) with my upper body propped up on my elbows so that I could watch. Using a hand mirror, I confirmed the placement and clamps were lightly applied, I then readied myself for...
Piercing: After asking if I was ready (to which my answer was "yup," feigning nonchalance as well as my nerves would allow) Jeremiah touched, with almost no force, the tip of the 10ga needle to the underside of my penis. The sharp, unfamiliar poke made me jump with cartoonish intensity. This threw off the awaiting needle, so Jeremiah repositioned it once I settled (in retrospect I wonder if he intentionally caused the jump just to "get it out of the way," which would be a clever trick). With the admonition "I'm really gonna do it this time, ready?" from Jeremiah, I nodded and he told me to breathe sharply. He then drove in the barb. I assure you, I knew coming into this operation that the pain would be intense; I was entirely unprepared for the reality of the situation. I later estimated (and Jeremiah confirmed) that the needle took about seven seconds to complete its journey. For the first one or two seconds I tensed and gasped, spitting wordless breaths, followed by "FUCK...." through gritted teeth, and finally devolving to an uncontrolled bellow that lasted until the needle was through.
Immediately after: "Are you alright?" Jeremiah asked. "Yeeeeah," I said, my head starting to spin from the experience. The shop had grown very, very quiet. Jeremiah then let me catch my breath and reassured me that the pain was entirely over. He screwed the internally threaded 10ga barbell (long to allow problem-free healing) to its taper guide and slipped it through the needle, then through entirely. True to his claim, I didn't even register the sensation. Tightening the balls, Jer wrapped my penis in sterile gauze and medical tape and advised me to calm down a bit before standing. A drink of water, some chit-chat, and my day at the shop was over. The piercing bled a bit that evening and slightly the next day, but overall there was little blood loss.
Aftercare/ healing: The routine I adopted was as follows: soak for ten minutes in sea salt solution (1/8 tsp/coffee cup) each evening and wash with Provon soap for 1 minute (followed by a thorough rinse) each morning in the shower. I also intermittently used H2Ocean spray.
Stretching: I did not make "use" (i.e. intercourse) of this piercing until I returned to the shop some 9 weeks later and had the unit tapered up to 8ga. This was a drawn out process that, while not as painful as the initial piercing was protracted to the point of being in many ways less pleasant.
Sensation: The pain of the piercing was intense, as described above. The area stayed mildly sore for two days or so. Beyond that the only pain occurs when the bar is accidentally torqued or struck (a common happening, unfortunately), but this discomfort is minor. Sleeping on the area can lead to discomfort, too, as can long-lasting morning erections (which seemed to increase in frequency and strength within several days of the piercing). Masturbation (which was avoided for two weeks, then performed sparingly) was mildly more pleasurable, but also a bit more awkward. Intercourse (vaginal) was another matter entirely: The bar stimulated my partner's G-spot, about which she was indeed very pleased. For me, the bar had the unsuspected effect of isolating my most sensitive areas from direct stimulation. This enabled me to maintain my erection for quite long periods (until my partner became exhausted). This is a boon and a liability: I wasn't able to achieve orgasm without stimulating myself, which I was afraid would lead to feelings of inadequacy in my lover. Using a tighter barbell may alter this dynamic.
Closing remarks: If you're new to genital modification, this piercing will definitely test your mettle and provide ample reward for your efforts. The knowledge of your own accessory, even if unmentioned, can be gratifying. I would advise anyone with interest and whose partner is amenable to the change to consider it, but be sure to choose your professional carefully and follow your aftercare regimen tightly.