From: ebail@ctp.com (Erik Bailey)
Subject: Re: Questions:Frenum/apallang/PA
Organization: Cambridge Technology Partners
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 14:02:12 GMT

In article <cfLOz7O00WB0Q=PFNS@andrew.cmu.edu> Andrew Steven Raab <ar2b+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Hi there.  I am seriously considering one of these three genital
>piercings...i've read the FAQ, but I was hoping to hear from someone who
>has had one of these three piercings.  Any answers to these questions
>would be greatly appreciated:

Certainly, but my answers won't be TOO helpful, since I only got my PA five
days ago... :-) Incidentally, I considered all three piercings. I decided I
didn't really want the frenum because I didn't like it that much. Although
you don't mention the apadrava (sp?), I also negged on that because I don't
really like how the vertical bar looks. I may someday get an amp, but I'm
concerned with a) the *long* healing period, and b) the number of people
I've heard (esp on this group) that don't get any particular sensation from
it. Although I have heard that it's *amazing* for the person on the other
end...

>1)How long did your piercing take to heal?  How long was it until you
>could masterbate/engage in sex?

Well, it seems to have calmed down a bit. It bled a fair amount when I
first got it, and it hurt to pee (a stinging sensation probably very
similar to what a UTI would feel like). Now it does't bleed anymore (except
once, see below). The ring doesn't hurt, so sex or masturbation should
theoretically be ok. The guy at Gauntlet said I could use it as soon as I
wanted, but to use a condom for the first month (no bodily fluid contact
allowed).

>2) Any complications(other than sitting down to pee for the PA)...like
>what kind of cleaning regimine did you have to undergo?

However, I had a bizarre (and scary) experience in the shower last night. I
aws washing it with soap, and my hands were sliding up and down, and I was
getting aroused, so I figured that since I hadn't yet "inagurated" my
pierce, that I'd masterbate with the soap as lubricant. Well, everything
was going great, until I felt something pull, and blood started flowing
from my pee-slit (is there a name for that?)! I was scared -- it bled for a
full minute or two! But then it stopped as quickly as it satrted, and I've
had no blood since. Have *no* idea what it was...

As for peeing, I've had zero problem. I sat down for the first two days,
because the stinging was easier to deal with sitting down. But I have no
trouble directing the flow of urine when standing up; maybe that's because
my stream is so irregular to begin with (it regularly splits into two
streams -- in fact, in some ways the PA has made peeing easier! :-)).

As for cleaning, I'm using two tubes of goo: one of a hydrogen peroxide
gel, and one of Bacitracin Triple Antibiotic. The Gauntle folk recommended
Hibiclens (the PA is gold so I can't use Povidine like I did with my
niobium nipple rings, since it would tarnish the gold), but I looked all
over NYC drug stores and couldn't find any. My solution, coupled with
plenty of soap & water, seems to work just fine, and I have no plans to
switch (after all, I've heard so many horror stories about Hibiclens!).

>3)How does it affect the sensations you recieve during sex, and the ones
>your partner recieves?

Dunno that one yet, since I haven't tried it. But one thing I do notice --
the sensations I get from my PA are not *nearly* as intense as those from
my nipple piercings (I got them in early October). In fact, it's barely
there. This is neither a bad thing nor a good thing; it's just a fact. I
very much like the piercing, and have no regrets...

>4) Does it interfere with oral sex, or make it uncomfortable for you
>partner to perform oral sex on you?   

I've been wondering about this one. I suspect the only oral sex it will
interfere with at all is deep throating. The ring seems perfectly happy to
flop to the side, flush with the glans, so it should be nicely "out of the
way", unless it is desired to be out front. But again, I haven't tried it yet.

>5) Will it be necessary to now use a condom when engaging in sex (I'm in
>a monagamous, disease free relationship) to pretect the piercing from
>infection from the vagina/anus/mouth?

Yes, as I mentioned above, for at least the first month (and for the anus,
I'd be tempted to say longer -- anyone know?). This is a drag for me, since
condoms & I do not get along (I'm in a long-term monagomous relationship,
so we don't use them).

>Thanks for any advice/info you could give...it'd be greatly appreciated
>
>Andrew

You're very welcome, Andrew! Feel free to post or email any further
questions! --Erik

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Erik Bailey   | Cambridge Technology Partners      | The usual disclaimer
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