When I first heard about genital piercings, my initial thought was, "Why would anyone want to be pierced down there?" Of course, over time, genital piercings went from "EWWW!" to "I don't think I could ever get one, but I guess I could see why others would want one" to "Okay, that sounds pretty cool" to, finally, "Sign me up!" I got to that point around last spring, when a friend of mine got a horizontal hood piercing. She's the type of person you wouldn't picture to have a genital piercing, so when she got hers done, I was intrigued and envious all at once. I had kinda considered a hood piercing before, but had usually dismissed the notion. That changed when my friend got her hood done.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Stan Studio Cheap TRX Location St. Louis, MO Soon after, I told my then-boyfriend of what I was thinking of doing. He was supportive (nothing much really phased--or still phases--him), but told me to do my research. I knew to do that, but I guess he figured that, as he would be the only one to see the piercing on a regular basis--and that it would affect our sex life in some way--I should be extra careful. I totally agreed with him there.
So for about six months, I e-mailed my friend about her hood experience, and in addition, I started reading BME Zine a lot. I think I must have read at least a hundred experiences on here during that time. I also determined, from reading those experiences, that getting a vertical, as opposed to a horizontal, hood piercing would be the way to go. Additionally, after further reading, I figured out what jewelry would probably be best for the piercing--a 14ga curved barbell. Finally, I had to pick where I was going to get it done. I had heard nothing but good things about Cheap TRX, and I remember a friend recommending it to me for piercing before. Piercing are done almost exclusively by appointment, and the piercers are medically trained. So Cheap TRX it was!
Finally, in early October (so I guess that makes it nine months ago, not six!), I gathered up enough courage to make an appointment. I was so nervous doing that, considering where on my body I was about to be pierced. I think at this point, I should mention that I hadn't been pierced before, minus the single lobe in each ear via piercing gun when I was a child. Not exactly the usual route one goes with piercing, but I guess I'm not your average girl.
I was originally planning on going with a friend and my then-boyfriend, but miscommunication occurred, so I decided to reschedule the appointment for the next afternoon and, reluctantly, go it alone.
The next day, I arrived at 12:30 on the dot (weird how I can remember that). First I had my ID photocopied, and then I had to sign a form (can't remember what it was now exactly.) Then I picked out my jewelry. While going with the standard ring may have saved me some money, I already knew well enough that, when it comes to piercing, what's the cheapest isn't always what's the best. So I told the guy what jewelry I wanted, and he was impressed that I'd clearly done my research. He took out some 14ga curved barbells and showed me one that might work. The piercer came out around that time (later, I found out his name was Stan) and recommended a shorter barbell, given the type of piercing I was about to get. After selecting the jewelry, I paid the man and went into the piercing room.
As I walked in, I was surprised at just how much the piercing room would have fit in at a medical building. Everything was clean and sterilized, and even the chair itself looked like it could have been in a doctor's office. Stan had me sit down while he explained what would happen next. He went over aftercare instructions, and then I was asked to drop trou, as it were. It's not every day I show my bottom half to a stranger, but Stan made me feel incredibly at ease. He cleaned and marked the area, and then, before securing everything with the receiving tube, he warned me that I would feel a bit of pressure. He was right. It was like something was sucking down there, though not in that fun, kinky way. Still, I've felt worse.
Finally, the moment of truth. He gave me a count of one-two-three and, with a sharp pain that made my teeth clench but maybe lasted a second, I was pierced! The pain, let me reassure you, was no worse than a tetanus shot. It goes away before you know it. Then the jewelry was inserted, and Stan gave me the mirror so I could see my new, be-jeweled (or should I say be-barbelled) crotch. I couldn't believe that was my crotch for a second. But I loved the way it looked, and I was glad I'd gotten it done. I gave Stan his tip and went on my merry way.
The rest of the day, I lined my underwear with gauze, replacing the gauze if needed. I also cleaned the area with Dove soap (which, according to Stan, was okay to use, and it worked perfectly), which I kept doing every night for the entire healing period and still do here and there. I only needed the gauze the day of the piercing, though. By the next day, the bleeding had stopped.
For the next week or so, my then-boyfriend and I had to refrain from certain activities, if you catch my drift. After that, we used barriers (well, during sex, anyway--I guess we probably should have used them for other things, too, but my piercing healed fine anyway) and were fine. Actually, I did pick up on the benefits there. There were moments during sex when I was more stimulated than I would have been previously. So that was fun.
It's been nine months now, and the piercing's healed awesomely. I love the fact that I have a little secret like this. Also, the piercing's helped me be more confident with my body in a way I never imagined it would have when I was a teenager. Instead of being embarrassed about my body, I now am proud of it. Granted, one simple piercing can't make a person love her body overnight, but it's sure helped a lot. I love my hood piercing and I can't imagine my life without it!