I decided about a month ago that I was ready to get my first piercing. I hadn't even had my ears done. Originally I looked at navel rings, but somewhere along the way became quite taken with the vertical hood piercings (VCH) and triangle piercings. The more I researched, the more certain I was that genital piercings would be more worth the pain than the navel piercing (meaning they're sexually functional, I love it!), and, as far as I've seen, have less chance of rejection or infection.
At A Glance Author JJagger Contact JJagger@bme.anon When It just happened I checked with my local piercing studio, where it was made very clear that the triangle was not an option because the piercers will not perform them. VCHs, however, were common and easy, if less exotic. I was a relieved to have the choice made for me between the two, since this was my first time. I happily asked if I could get one that afternoon, providing my anatomy proved compatible. Strangely, the piercer I was speaking to began to get a little uncomfortable, saying he preferred to "warm up" with less intimate piercings first. I was the first one in the shop that day. Perhaps it wasn't in my best interests, but I pressed a little. After all, that afternoon was the best time for me within the week, and I'm not a terribly patient person. He agreed and we signed the paperwork. I was set to get a 12ga shot.
In retrospect, things from this point on go less than smoothly on both our parts, mainly due to assumptions and overlooking the little things. Certainly, I should have known better, so I pass this part of the story out specifically for those of you going in for this piercing as your first. Keep track of the details of what you want versus what you're piercer is giving so you know where you'll end up.
I had worn a skirt with the intent of getting pierced during the visit. The piercer actually asked me to strip anyway, so I pointed out that my clothing was easier to lift, would that be ok? Surely he's seen this before (he did say he'd done plenty of these piercings). He said it was fine too, so I got adjusted on the edge of his table. I realized at this point that maybe I should have shaved down there (I usually don't). Again, he said it would be fine. I was told to breath in and out and concentrate on continuing while he readied his tools.
I was somewhat put off that it was only at this point that he made sure that the piercing would fit me, but it's better late than never. He marked me, but didn't ask me to check it against my liking- I let it slide and definitely shouldn't have! Be aware that their professional opinions, while they might be good ones, might not match your vision of the end result. Anyway, he inserted the receiving tube gently and told me to breath in, asked if I was ready, and pierced at my affirmative. I jerked, badly, and made a kind of choking noise because it hurt, of course. I survived. Nothing else to do, right? Then, he gets up and goes to dig through a drawer for the jewelry. Is that standard? The piercing did NOT stop hurting, it started throbbing. I asked if the needle was still in my skin, and he said it was. We stayed that way longer than I thought necessary. I kept staring at the ceiling and breathing until he came back and put the jewelry in, which hurt in a sharp but bearable way. The pain didn't stop immediately, but it decreased. I started to worry at this point, because so many of the VCH experiences I'd read talk about a quick relief from pain after the jewelry settles.
Here's another little problem: He never showed me the piercing in a mirror. That may be because I felt faint and asked if I could sit up and grab my vitamin water (I always faint, so I come prepared to doctor's offices and the like and tell people what I need, when I need it). He had a hand mirror laid out on his counter before the piercing - I remember seeing it, so I assume I distracted him before it went for it. Not the end of the world, but not great. He still seemed a little awkward and nervous, and, after checking that I was ok and telling me to lay down if I feel worse, he headed out the door to wait for me in the front.
I had to sit a few more minutes, then followed, paid, tipped for his effort, and left. The piercing stung. The car ride sucked. I had to stop to buy saline solution for cleaning on the way home, and walking around looking for it wasn't fun. Buy it FIRST! Then get pierced.
When I got home, I limped to a mirror to look at my new jewelry, and there's the surprise- the "VCH" ran from the bottom of my hood to where my outer labia come together, the very top of the hood and right below the bone ridge between my legs. Beyond that, I could now see that I had a straight barbell. I had assumed, based on what a counter man had told me prior to speaking with the piercer, that I would be given a curved barbell. I wanted the curve. No problem, I thought, I'll just change it when it heals. However, I now also noticed that the length of a new bar needed to be nearly an inch long in order for the bottom ball to leave the hood. My VCH is more of a Nefertiti, if not the real thing. It's nearly twice as long as any of the VCH accounts I've read. I'm not sure my body will hold a curved bar of that length, but it's certainly what I have my heart set on. I don't like this straight bar at all, and as my skin relaxes around it I'm finding it too short- the lower ball is hiding in my hood. As a final note to those of you who don't shave your genitals- a lot of the stinging pain was coming from pubic hair that had been shoved into the new piercing by the jewelry. pulling the bloody hair out again by myself hurt, but I'm glad I found it. That's a lesson- shave, or at the very least, trim. luckily, these things can all be corrected, assuming I can heal this deeper piercing enough to change the metal.
And I have decided to heal it. I find that I like the Nefertiti, now that I know what it is. If I hadn't been intimidated by the thought of one of the rarer and more painful piercings, I might have asked for it to begin with. I think it will be properly stimulating when it heals a little more. That, of course, was my main reason for wanting the VCH. It seems now like I'm swelled at the top of my hood, where a fair amount of tissue was cut. When it goes down I'll know for sure if this hole will work for me. On the up side, I bet a real VCH, if I opt to try again, will be easier and faster to heal.