From: pdavies@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Paul Davies)
Subject: pierce faq 3/4
Organization: University of Toronto Chemistry Department
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 00:14:41 GMT

*** PIERCE FAQ PART 3 OF 4 ***

Analgesic liquids, sprays or ointments are normally used to anaesthetise
mucus membrane areas, such as the inside of the mouth, inside of the nose,
penis, clitoris, clitoris hood and inner labia. These are very safe and
effective but can take a long time to take effect as they are absorbed
through the skin. On other areas the most commonly used anaesthetic is
ethyl chloride spray, which freezes the tissue, but great care must be
taken as too much can cause frostbite. It is therefore very important that
only skilled operators should use ethyl chloride.  The main advantages of
anaesthetics are that pain is minimised, the piercee is less nervous and
he or she is therefore less prone to flinching while the piercing is in
progress. Nevertheless, the administration of and recovery from all types
of anaesthetic is uncomfortable. This should be borne in mind when
contemplating any piercing.  [SM.  A bit of ice is sometimes a safe and
easy way to reduce the pain of a piercing]  Basically, there is no
completely painless method of piercing but different people interpret pain
in different ways, and just because one person says that their piercing
hurt dreadfully it does not necessarily mean that you will find it very
painful at all.  If you decide that you do not want the piercing after it
has been done, the ring or barbell can quite easily be removed. It will
heal up remark- ably quickly and usually any small mark or scar will very
soon disappear completely.

If, however, a piercing is actually rejected by your body - in other words
the piercing moves towards the surface of the skin as it heals (and this
can happen with some people and some piercings) - then you will be left
with a scar, which will become less noticeable as time passes. If
rejection seems to be happening, discuss it with your piercer as he or she
will want to know and will probably be able to suggest ways of improving
the situation. Often a change of jewellery will put things right, but
sometimes the only course of action is to remove the jewellery as soon
as possible and allow the piercing to heal over. If a person who has had a
piercing reject decides to try again and have the same piercing re-done,
the second time it may well behave perfectly unless, of course there was
some fault in the original piercing technique, placement or jewellery
which is repeated when the piercing is tried once more.

People are different and their bodies behave differently. Some people have
no trouble at all, no matter how many piercings they end up with, while
others find that their piercings take a very long time to heal.  If you do
find that you are having problems with a piercing and it seems to have an
infection or won't heal up, you should re-contact your piercer and explain
your problem. If the piercer cannot deal with it, then it is always wise
to consult a doctor. Piercings which have been kept clean very rarely
become infected, but it can happen, particularly if you are run down or
ill (for example with influenza) but a short course of suitable
antibiotics can generally clear up any infection within a few days. If you
are unwilling to ask your usual doctor, then your piercer might be able to
put you in touch with a sympathetic doctor.  In cases of infection, simply
removing the jewellery may cause more problems than it solves because the
external part will heal over very quickly, thus cutting off the outlet for
any matter that may have formed inside. The jewellery itself, providing
that it has been sterilised (if previously used  and thoroughly cleaned,
is very rarely the source of an infection.

Some people, however, are allergic to the metals used in 9 carat gold
jewellery (pure gold is too soft to hold its shape properly and even 18
carat gold cannot hold a fine screw thread properly). Most people have no
problems with the high-quality gold used in body jewellery, even in new
piercings, but surgical quality stainless steel is particularly inert and
is the safest possible option for a new piercing.

In general, sleepers, ball closure rings and barbells are the most suita-
ble pieces of jewellery for new piercings. The great advantage of ball
closure rings over other types of rings is that it is difficult for them
to come open by accident. It is almost impossible to open ball closure
rings of 2.5mm gauge or thicker without a pair of circlip pliers: This
makes them particularly suitable for genital piercings. Barbells are in
general very secure, but care must be taken when tightening the balls: Do
this with dry, un-greasy fingers - a ball which has not been securely
fastened can easily come loose and drop off.

It is unwise to change the jewellery before the piercing is fully healed.
Until a piercing is well established, changing jewellery should be done
with care so that the newly healed piercing will not be damaged. The
gentlest way of doing this is to push out the old piece of jewellery with
the new jewellery, keeping them in contact all the time to prevent the
piercing closing up. If this  follow through' method cannot be used and a
somewhat blunt ended barbell is to be inserted, then a tapered rod with an
indentation in the blunt end into which the barbell can be located will
make the insertion much easier. In addition, lubrication using a mildly
antiseptic ointment such as Savlon will help the jewellery to slide into
place easily.

Some piercings behave better when newly done by using a thinner gauge than
would be used for other piercings, but you must take your piercer's advice
on this matter. Remember that, once healed, a piercing can always be
gently enlarged to take whatever gauge jewellery the wearer wants.

Enlargement to a thicker gauge can be done using tapered rings or by
coating sleepers or other jewellery with increasingly thick coats of clear
nail varnish. Two similar sets of jewellery are necessary for this method:
The set of jewellery not being worn is painted with one even coat of nail
varnish and allowed to dry for at least 12 hours. The coated jewellery
then replaces the jewellery bein  worn and the pieces which have been
removed are then painted with 2 coats of nail varnish and allowed to dry
for at least 24 hours. Using this method, and replacing the jewellery no
more than once or twice a week, a piercing can be very slowly enlarged. As
the coats of nail varnish get thicker, the drying time must be lengthened
accordingly so that all the solvents in the varnish can evaporate before
it is introduced into the piercing. [SM.  The use of teflon tape is also
very good for this purpose as teflon is completely inert and the tape has
no hard edges.  Using the tape allows the same piece of jewelry to be used
to enlage the piercing]

Body jewellery does not need to be removed for sex - quite the reverse.
If left in place it greatly enhances sexual activity and, if the correct
jewellery is worn, will not be in any way harmful to either partner.
However, common sense must always be exercised and body jewellery and
Publications Limited cannot take responsibility for any accident, injury,
illness or inconvenience resulting from any use of body jewellery.

FEMALE GENITAL PIERCINGS

INNER LABIA 
Healing time 1-2 weeks. 
Probably the most popular of all female genital piercings . Rings pierced
through the inner labia heal very quickly and after a comparatively short
time the jewellery can be removed for long periods without causing the
piercings to heal over.  Labia piercings should not be made too close to
the outer edge of the labia, otherwise the thin web of flesh may be too
weak. Usually, for comfort and hygiene, these piercings are done through
the upper (front) part of the labia. They can, of course, be done all the
way down but the lower ones can be uncomfortable while walking,
particularly while healing.  Rings are best in a new piercing but barbells
can be worn in healed labia piercings. However, care should be taken to
ensure that the barbell balls are fully tightened so that they cannot be
loosened by the action of walking.

OUTER LABIA 
Healing time 4-6 weeks. 
Again, outer labia piercings are best done in the top (front) half of the
labia, though it is possible to pierce all the way down their length.
Healing time is longer than for the inner labia because of the greater
thickness of the tissue.  Barbells are the most suitable jewellery,
particularly during healing, as they tend to move around less than rings
while walking, etc.  As with inner labia, jewellery can be removed if
required and the piercing itself is not really obvious unless it is
actually being looked for.

CLITORIS HOOD or PREPUCE 
Healing time 1-6 weeks. 
Providing that the hood of the clitoris is reasonably well developed it
can be pierced horizontally or vertically, either with a barbell or a
ring.  Women with particularly plump upper thighs can find the vertical
piercing much more comfortable than the horizontal, which may have a
tendency to twist.  This piercing tends to be sexually stimulating and
causes little inconvenience while healing. However, the presence of
jewellery in both a clitoris piercing (see below) and a clitoris hood
piercing may cause discomfort by nipping the flesh in between the two
pieces of jewellery.

CLITORIS
Healing time 2-8 weeks.
This is a particularly erotically stimulating piercing which heals fairly
quickly. Some women have reported that they were unable to orgasm during
intercourse until they wore a clitoris ring. However, due to variations
in anatomy, clitoris piercing is not suitable for every woman.  Some
clitorises, even when not erect, are hidden under the clitoris hood and
jewellery through a clitoris piercing can be placed under permanent
tension by pressure from the clitoris hood. In addition to being extremely
painful, this pressure will usually cause the piercing to move towards the
surface and eventually be rejected. Some professional piercers will not
perform clitoris piercings because of these possible complications.  The
most suitable jewellery for a horizontal clitoris piercing is usually a
small ball closure ring of around 9mm internal diameter. A small barbell
can also be worn although this is more common in vertical piercing.

MALE GENITAL PIERCINGS

PRINCE ALBERT 
Healing time 2-3 weeks.
Probably the most popular of all the male genital piercings. Said to have
originated during the 19th century as a means of securing the penis to the
leg, thus avoiding too visible a bulge when wearing tight trousers.
Success rate of this piercing is virtually 100%. Once healed, after a
period of about six months the ring can be removed for several days
without the piercing contracting too much for re-inserting the ring.  This
is a very pleasurable piercing for both partners. Perhaps the only
disadvantage is that one's 'aim' while urinating tends to be a bit off
course due to the presence of the ring in the urethra. [SM One has to
learn to sit down all the time, a certain amount of 'urinal' justice for
women]  A ring, or a version of a ring is the only practical jewellery for
this piercing. A barbell is impractical because both ends cannot be held
to tighten up the ball ends of the barbell unless it is long enough to
have both balls outside the glans, but this can be uncomfortable due to
the rod passing through the piercing diagonally.  I have never heard of
any cases of a Prince Albert ring - provided that it is a strong ball
closure ring- causing any problems with either condoms or caps.

FRENUM
Healing time 3-5 weeks. 
Probably European in origin. This is a simple but effective piercing of
the loose piece of flesh beneath the penis head.  A small ring, or barbell
can be worn, or a larger ring which goes through the piercing and
encircles the glans fitting snugly in the groove behind the glans when the
penis is flaccid.

AMPALLANG
Healing time 8-10 weeks
Again, a pleasurable piercing for both partners. Said to have originated
in Borneo.  This horizontal piercing through the glans of the penis
behaves better, heals faster and is stronger if the barbell passes through
the urethra.  The urine of the wearer (so long as he is healthy) is
sterile to him and thus is regularly cleansing the piercing. If the
piercing passes through the urethra, it is in fact two piercings but done
as one, thus the healing is faster.  A very enjoyable piercing for both
partners. Provided the removable ball-end of the barbell is well
tightened, no damage should be caused to either condoms or caps.  If the
wearer of an ampallang has a foreskin it should be worn retracted during
the healing period. If the foreskin is worn down over the ampallang a)
air cannot get to the piercing and b) the pressure of the foreskin often
pushes the bar at an angle and can cause discomfort and can also cause the
piercing to heal at an angle.  It is not advisable to remove the barbell
before at least a year, and then not for long. The piercing will contract
very quickly making the replacement of the barbell very difficult, if
not impossible. A slim, gently tapered insertion rod as a leadin to the
barbell can be very useful to those who may need to remove and reinsert
the ampallang barbell from time to time.  If the jewellery, is removed
before healing is complete. the piercing will begin to heal almost
immediately leaving, when healed, only a very small and almost invisible
indentation in the surface of the glans.

APADRAVYA
Healing time 8-10 weeks.
This piercing is mentioned in the Kama Sutra and is vertical through the
glans.  As the barbell passes through the urethra, it is difficult to
carry out this piercing accurately unless the entry point is made through
an existing Prince Albert piercing.  A barbell is most usually worn
through this piercing: A ring would need to be of very large diameter.
This piercing behaves very much like the ampallang and the advice about
the ampallang concerning the foreskin applies in this case as well, as
does the advice about the removal of the jewellery.

DYDOE
Healing time 5-7 weeks.
Dydoe piercings are usually done as a pair - one on either side of the
glans, through the edge of the glans. These are primarily for circum-
cised men and are said to return sensations which may be lost with the
foreskin.  Unless the ridge of the glans is well developed, these
piercings tend to be a bit weak where they emerge at their higher point.
On an uncircumcised penis these piercings can migrate during healing due
to pressure from the foreskin.  Barbells with small balls seem best for
these piercings, certainly while healing, but some men prefer small rings
through their dydoes.

REVERSE PRINCE ALBERT 
Healing time 6-8 weeks.
This piercing is in fact a 'half' apadravya and has the advantage of being
less 'rigid' than the apadravya as a ring is used instead of a barbell.
This piercing combines well with a Prince Albert, the two rings overlap-
ping in the urethra without discomfort.  As with all these genital
piercings, if proper jewellery is worn, there should be no damage to
either condoms or caps.