For about 6 months before I turned 18 I was thinking about getting another piercing (I got my bellybutton done when I turned 16). This was a problem, however, because my parents would disown me if I got any visible (ie: facial, even a second hole in my ears) piercings. So basically my only options were my nipples or 'down there'. I didn't really want to get my nipples done...It just doesn't appeal to me. So I researched vaginal and clitoral piercings, and ultimately decided on a vertical clitoral hood. I think it's a very cute piercing, and everything I read said that it healed up quickly and didn't hurt for long (I'm not a pussy about pain, but I'd prefer not to have to walk around funny for a few weeks).
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Ben N. Studio Spirit Garden Tattoo Location Northfield, MN I went up to Saint Sabrina's in Minneapolis on 9-16-06, a few days after my birthday, just to look at jewelry and ask a few questions. They had a really good selection of jewelry, but I didn't have enough time to get pierced right then because my roommate had to get back to her house.
Once I got back to the dorm, I was really excited and couldn't wait to get pierced. I was going to go back to Saint Sabrina's the next weekend, but I wanted it NOW! I was planning on taking my roommate with me, but I was really anxious to get pierced. I looked up piercing salons in Northfield and found Spirit Garden. So I walked down there about a mile and a half, and went in. I wore a knee-length skirt to make it easier, but I did have on panties. I wouldn't feel right going out in a skirt without underwear!
It was a nice place, a little small, but clean. They didn't have any sterile jeweled barbells, but I don't really care if my first one was plain. I went up to the counter and asked for a vertical hood, filled out some paperwork, got my aftercare instructions, and then Ben took me into the back room. It wasn't very busy, which was good because I would have felt a little embarrassed asking for a genital piercing in front of a lot of people. He made me feel really comfortable with small talk, and explained everything really well. I apparently have a rather small hood, so he used a 14 gauge needle instead of the 12 gauge he prefers.
I lay back and he cleaned the area (which was a little weird, I'm not gonna lie! I'm only used to my boyfriend touching me there, but he did it really professionally and explained why he was doing what he was doing, which made it better), marked it, and then before I knew it he had the receiving tube and needle all ready! I could feel the needle point poking me a little and I got kinda scared. He told me to breathe in, breathe out, breathe in....And while I exhaled he pierced me.
It HURT! I cursed, and my knees tensed up. Ben was standing on the side though, so he didn't get hit with my knees (although he said it has happened in the past). I had to relax before he put the needle through the other side, which hurt again. Then he put the jewelry in (he was holding it with forceps to give him better control), screwed the ball on (I got internally threaded jewelry), and it was done! I had read that the hurting goes away really quickly, and it did! It was weird how the pain subsided after 5-10 seconds, but I was glad of it.
I went out to the front and paid (it was $80 total, and I tipped $15), I was sooo excited! On the walk back home I picked up the sea salt and distilled water for the aftercare solution, and let me tell you, the walk back to the dorm was pretty fun. It didn't hurt at all, but I could definitely notice something there. I haven't tried masturbating or having sex yet, I think I'm going to give it about a week to heal partly. Ben said it would take about 4 weeks to heal completely, but it's not like I want to take it out. I would get it done again, definitely. I really recommend this piercing and this studio.
I didn't have any trouble sleeping last night, it doesn't get caught on anything (although I haven't worn lacy panties yet), and it really doesn't hurt. I'm soaking it in warm sea salt water twice a day, and washing it in the shower too. I think I'm just going to change the top ball to a jewel, that way I'm not taking the piercing out at all and it'll look even prettier.