The decision to get my hood pierced was not planned like any of my other piercings. Genital piercings were never on my list until I learnt about what it may be able to do for me sexually and what exact part of me would be getting pierced. So the thought initially entered my head, "Ah, a visually appealing piercing with a great function," and I was soon thinking how my partner, Ben, would react.
At A Glance Author seahorse girl Contact seahorse girl@bme.anon IAM seahorse girl When A month ago Artist Mitch Studio Four Roses Body Piercing Studio Location Adelaide, South Australia When I got my nipples pierced, I asked the piercer, Michelle about a VCH, although she was interested, once she explained that she had only done, 'a few' I was not so interested anymore. At the time Ben didn't say much about it, but when he saw me getting out of the shower for the first time with newly pierced nipples, plus my other random bits of metal, all he could say was, "I think you should get your VCH done." Putting it lightly, I was stunned momentarily but told him that I was thinking about it too. However, seeing as I had rejected the one piercer in my town, I knew that I would have to go to Adelaide (800kms away) to get it done.
After a couple of months, I got my holiday leave approved at work and convinced Ben to get some time off too. We started planning a trip away for a week and thought that as we going to be going near Adelaide, we may as well drive all the way there, and see our friends there for a couple of days. We stopped at my parents a few days before and I rang some studios to get some prices and see if they would do a VCH at a 12g or 10g. A few phone calls later, I was getting disappointed at some of the reasons I got from piercing studios, from not even having 12g needles, to piercers telling me that they will not pierce at a larger gauge because the hood is such a fine piece of skin. Excuse me? The whole reason I wanted it at a larger gauge was because it is such a delicate piece of skin. I am also not the 'gentle, soft lovemaking' type either. My last call was to Four Roses Body Piercing & Tattooing Studio, where I had my navel pierced 10 years ago and my tongue 5 years ago. Although I didn't get to speak to the piercer, I spoke to Tanya, and whilst she explained they wouldn't do it a 12g (only 14g), but at least they gave me a valid reason (too much bleeding and it cuts away more tissue that could be stretched instead). I tentatively booked an appointment for 4pm that Friday and was told that Mitch was working that day. Mitch did my other piercings and although I could have paid less elsewhere, the relief of having someone I am familiar with was comforting. Ben & I decided that as it was the last day of our road trip, I would get it done if we had the time and the money.
I prepared myself for not having enough cash and coming home with no new jewellery and on the Friday we were out for lunch with friends and Ben announced that we were going to Four Roses afterwards. I suddenly realized that I needed to eat more and we only had a couple of hours left! We then set off with one of our friends to the new studio at Goodwood that Four Roses had recently opened. When we parked the car, the nerves started and all I could tell myself was that it could not be as bad as my nipple piercings. I knew what to expect from all the reading I had been doing and my other preparation involved watching videos of Elayne Angel (Wings of Desire) performing the piercing.
I went in and told Tanya that I was the one with the hood appointment. Mitch came from out the back and got me to pay beforehand. The piercing room in the new studio was impressive and this place would put some doctors clinics to shame. The room was so bright and clean, and more importantly, I felt at ease.
Mitch got me to drop everything from the waist down and get up on the chair, carefully explaining that she would perform the piercing first and then we would go through aftercare and other topics afterwards. Ben remained in the corner quietly holding my bottle of orange juice, underwear and a fresh panty liner. Mitch then cleaned the area up using a type of sanitary wipe and told me she was grateful that I had gone for a complete wax the day beforehand.
After changing gloves multiple times and getting all the tools ready, she let the back of the chair down so I was lying down and told me to position my legs the same way I would for a smear test. She seemed to spend a long time lining things up and explaining a few things about the jewellery placement to us, although she seemed to be explained this for Ben's benefit, not mine. Once I saw her reach for the receiving tube, I stared at the ceiling and started taking the deepest breaths I could manage. Concentrating on my breathing and ignoring everything else, I felt a quick, hard pinch and she told me it was done and she just needed to put the jewellery in. I could not even feel this happening, and then Mitch got me to sit up. I leant over to look down, only to find a CBR looking back at me from my hood. I was expecting to see a curved barbell and felt like an idiot for not asking beforehand. Mitch quickly explained that the CBR would be easier to clean. Once I saw it in the mirror, she probably could have put anything in there and it would have still brought a smile to my face. I knew I would be stretching after healing anyway.
I gradually got dressed after some initial bleeding and noticed I did not get the same 'rush' I had whilst getting my nipples pierced, the whole procedure was that quick. Maybe it was the breathing helping me keep in control. Mitch started talking aftercare, which mainly consisted of not using anything but a sea salt solution twice a day for two weeks and ensuring the jewellery gets rotated. We discussed stretching and trying different types of jewellery and the best way to try different things with the piercing.
That night and the following day, the only issue I had was to make sure I sat down more carefully. Within three days I couldn't feel it at all and even when I could feel it beforehand, it wasn't painful. I started having sex again (using a condom) after about day four. It's now been three weeks and we have ditched the condoms and have started the 'experimental' stage, which has been more than satisfying to date. However, if you think that a VCH will equal instant multiple orgasms, it's probably not the piercing for you. For me, it's the new sensations and different feelings that provide pleasure and lead to a more intense sexual experience.
One thing I can say about this experience is that it has raised the level of awareness I have of myself. I cannot fully express everything I feel about this piercing, it is more than a type of liberation alone. As time goes on, I have this perspective that my piercings are externalizing so many things I keep inside or hidden from people - it's like finally I am moving towards being the strong woman that I see inside my head. I feel like there is a new sense of freedom within myself, without really knowing what was holding me back in the first place.