At A Glance Author mc IAM mc When A year ago Artist Julie Studio Cold Steel Location London, UK INTRODUCTION
My PA experience has been sitting on my hard drive for a while now. I've been waiting until the piercing was fully healed so I can give a full account of the experience. However, what's made me submit this now is reading this experience on BME: http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/09-male/pa/A50704/papafora.html. My experience was near identical, right down to the person who pierced me and the healing problems! I also had the same issue of finding sensible advice afterwards. I strongly recommend you read the article above in conjunction with this one. Anyway, here goes...
MY PA EXPERIENCE
I originally started looking at BME two or three years ago for inspiration for a small tattoo that I wanted. At the time I was not really into the idea of larger tattoos, partly due to disapproving parents (despite being 31 years of age!) and I had absolutely no interest in getting any piercings. Of course I found the whole thing quite addictive and went on to get several more tattoos including a chest piece and a navel piercing.
Although the idea of getting a genital piercing appealed in the back of my mind, I was pretty horrified at the thought of someone shoving a receiving tube down there and piercing it with a needle. However, the more I read and saw, the more the idea of a Prince Albert appealed and eventually I decided I would have to at least try it out for a while – I figured it would only be a short amount of pain (my other mods had taught me that) and I could always remove it if I found it too uncomfortable or didn't do anything for me.
I didn't have any trouble raising the idea with my girlfriend – she actually suggested it, although as a joke! When I said, "OK then I'll do it" her response was something like "What? you must be mad" and then began to worry about what it would be like for her. As I'd already done lots of research I told her that hopefully it would have benefits for her in the long run. However, we decided to wait until after our honeymoon which was in a couple of months time to have it done!
The week after we returned from holiday, I thought about booking the appointment but it took me a few days of careful consideration first. Was I really going to go through with it, despite saying I wanted it for several months? I decided on the Thursday that it was now or never and booked an appointment for the following day with Cold Steel in London. There was no question about where to go. I got my navel done there - they are highly professional, give good advice and the atmosphere is relaxed.
The day came and I took a nervous journey up to London on the train. I got to Cold Steel just before 2pm as arranged to pay the deposit. I was supposed to come back in an hour but I asked if we could bring it forward to avoid the agonising wait and luckily they were free in about 10 minutes. I had a final visit to the loo and a cigarette and then they were ready for me.
I was to be pierced by a woman (Julie I think), which I didn't mind at all. I've never been particularly embarrassed about my bits and I knew she'd have done the procedure many times before. She explained the procedure and aftercare well (although I already knew most of it already from research I'd done).
I looked down at the table beside her and caught sight of the receiving tube and a cue tip. They both looked massive and far too big to fit inside my urethra! She told me to lie back and relax, then inserted the receiving tube slowly. I couldn't watch this bit. It was very uncomfortable and stung a little bit when she moved it down. She got as far as she needed it to go (too far for my liking) and then asked if I was ready. I asked for a few seconds to prepare myself, then said "go for it"!
I took a deep breath as instructed and as I exhaled I felt a horrendously sharp pain down below. It really was unbearable - I shouted something obscene and instinctively tried to sit up and brought my arms up, although I knew I couldn't do anything about it. Thankfully, it was all over in literally 1 or 2 seconds and then the pain went. She put in a 2.4mm CBR and then asked me to have a look. I looked down and just said "Wow"! There was a tiny amount of blood. She then wrapped me up in a paper towel and placed a glove over it, securing with an elastic band. I thanked her, paid and tipped her and then I was off home!
It didn't really hurt at all on the journey home although I could feel something had been done down there. I was also walking more slowly than usual and trying not to knock it. When I got back I decided to have a shower to wash off the blood that had accumulated and also to have my first piss! I had been warned it might sting but as I had drunk lots of water on the way home, it didn't at all. In fact, it has very rarely stung during urination and even when it has, it has been very mild.
Luckily I had been told to expect lots of blood. After the first night, I unwrapped a very sodden, red paper towel. Inside was the mother of all blood clots, a couple of inches long! I went to the loo then had another shower.
The next week or so was pretty difficult to be honest. Walking quickly was out, as was wearing underwear that was too restrictive or too loose (it has to be just right!). Also, my dick seemed more smelly than usual – this has improved now so it must have been something to do with the healing process. Playing football two days afterwards was interesting – I had to wrap it up well with tissue and the glove and hope that I didn't get a football in the groin (I didn't), and it had pretty much stopped bleeding by then anyway. I also had to play football a few days after that and then go on a stag do on the Friday which involved surfing and mountain boarding, but apart from being a bit sensitive to the touch, I didn't do any damage. In fact, a week later and it feels pretty good and the ring is now rotating freely. Urination isn't too bad either – I don't have two jet streams (yet) and because I'm uncircumcised, I will also be able to use urinals I think.
I managed to abstain from any sexual activities for a whole week but after a salt soak one day decided I had to have a quick try out! All I can say at the moment is that it felt amazing – don't know if it was to do with not having had any for a week, but I have tried it again since and the sensation was just as good so long may it continue! I'm going to wait a further week before trying it out with my wife, though, as I don't want to cause it any damage.
All in all, a trouble free experience, but be prepared for a difficult and worrying first week. For anyone thinking about doing the same, then I can definitely recommend it!
UPDATE – 1 YEAR ON
The piercing is now totally healed. However, it wasn't as quick as everyone says. Like the guy in the article I referenced in the intro, I too developed a sort of raised lump around the piercing. Best guess was scar tissue or a keloid, although it seems to aggravate it and hurt more following any activity down below. Thankfully this has improved over time and it's barely visible any more and certainly doesn't hurt. I was tempted to take it out a few times but glad I kept it now. Other than that and the initial blood and sensitivity, it was trouble-free. I should also mention that my wife's not particularly keen on it and likes me to take it out when we have sex sometimes, but this isn't a major issue.
It really is one of the best piercings you can have. People wince when you talk about Prince Alberts, just because of what they go through, but don't knock it till you've tried it!