Labia piercing

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Labia piercing
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Labia piercings are a type of female genital piercing. This piercing can be placed either through the labia minora or the labia majora. They are one of the simpler and more common genital piercings performed on vulvas, and are often pierced in symmetrical pairs. Like all genital piercings, depending on jewellery and placement, they may provide additional stimulation to one or both partners during sexual intercourse.

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History and culture

There is little direct evidence of pre-contemporary practice of labia piercings, outside of anecdotal reports of the use of these piercings as chastity devices. Like many genital piercings, the contemporary origin of labia piercing resides in the BDSM culture that gave rise to the resurgence of body piercing in contemporary society. In contemporary practice, these piercings often simply fill a decorative role, rather than a purely sexual one.

This piercing plays a prominent role in the French erotic novel, Story of O . [1] The heroine, O, has a hole pierced through a labium, through which a stainless-steel ring is inserted. Another ring is linked to it, and to that, a metal disk with identifying information on it, including the name of her Master, Sir Stephen.

Comparing piercings of labia majora, minora

Labia majora (outer labia) piercings tend to heal slower than labia minora (inner labia) piercings, depending on the anatomy of the individual. They also tend to be more painful because there is more tissue to pierce through. Stretching of labia minora piercings occurs on its own in most cases due to the relatively high elasticity of the tissue, whereas labia majora piercings are much less likely to do so.

Jewellery

Many types of jewellery can be found in labia minora piercings, although rings are the most commonly used, both as initial jewelry, and on a long-term basis. Both types of labia piercings can be stretched to accommodate large jewellery; the wearing of heavy jewellery in these piercings may be a form of ongoing or temporary sexual stimulation. Both types can also be stretched to accommodate flesh tunnel or flesh plug style jewellery.

Jewellery worn in labia piercings may have a fetish purpose. Rings or other specialised jewellery may be worn to block access to the vagina, as a form of short-term or long-term chastity piercing. Other chastity devices might also be worn that make use of the piercing, sometimes incorporating locks.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labia minora</span> Flaps of skin on either side of the vaginal opening in the vulva

The labia minora, also known as the inner labia, inner lips, or nymphae, are two flaps of skin that are part of the primate vulva, extending outwards from the vaginal and urethral openings to encompass the vestibule. The labia minora are situated between the labia majora and together form the labia. They vary widely in size, color and shape from individual to individual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Albert (genital piercing)</span> Male genital piercing

The Prince Albert (PA) is a penis piercing which extends from the urethra to the underside of the glans. It is one of the most common male genital piercings. The related reverse Prince Albert piercing enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the glans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral hood piercing</span> Type of body piercing

A clitoral hood piercing is a female genital piercing through the clitoral hood surrounding the clitoris. In addition to being an adornment, a clitoral hood piercing can enhance sexual pleasure during masturbation, foreplay and intercourse. In an empirical study at the University of South Alabama, the authors reported a positive relationship between vertical clitoral hood piercings and desire, frequency of intercourse, and sexual arousal. There are two main types of clitoral hood piercing: the vertical clitoral hood (VCH) piercing and the horizontal clitoral hood (HCH) piercing. As the names indicate, the difference is in the direction the piercing is oriented in the skin above the clitoris. Neither of these piercings penetrates the clitoris itself, although in common parlance they are sometimes called "clit" piercings. The deep hood piercing is a variation of the clitoral hood piercing that passes deeper through the clitoral hood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mons pubis</span> Rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symphysis

In human anatomy, and in mammals in general, the mons pubis or pubic mound is a rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symphysis of the pubic bones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tongue piercing</span> Type of body piercing

A tongue piercing is a body piercing usually done directly through the center of the tongue. Since its decline in popularity around 2011, it has seen a recent upsurge making it now the second most popular piercing amongst young women aged 18-25 in 2019. It has become quite unpopular amongst men, although in the 1990s and early 2000s, it was more popular for men than women to get and associated with punk culture. Midline tongue piercings, or one hole through the center of the tongue is the most common way to have the tongue pierced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frenum piercing</span> Penis piercing

A frenum piercing is a type of body piercing located on the underside of the shaft of the penis. A series of parallel frenum piercings is known as a frenum ladder. A frenum ladder may be extended to include lorum piercings, hafada piercings and guiche piercings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genital piercing</span> Form of body piercing on a part of the genitalia

Genital piercing is a form of body piercing that involves piercing a part of the genitalia, thus creating a suitable place for wearing different types of jewellery. Nevertheless, the term may also be used pars pro toto to indicate all body piercings in the area of the anus, perineum, penis, scrotum, and vulva, including piercings such as anal, guiche, and pubic that do not involve perforation of genitalia. Genital piercings can be done regardless of sex, with various forms of piercings available. The main motive is beautification and individualization; in addition, some piercings enhance sexual pleasure by increasing stimulation. Pre-modern genital piercings is most culturally widespread in Southeast Asia, where it has been part of traditional practice since ancient times. Records of genital piercing are found in the Kama Sutra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triangle piercing</span> Genital piercing

A triangle piercing is one of several forms of genital piercing applied to the vulva. It is a horizontal piercing that passes from side to side, beneath the base of the clitoral hood tissue where it meets the inner labia and under the clitoris. The name is derived from the tissue where the labia meets the clitoral hood, which looks like a triangle when pinched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina piercing</span> Female genital piercing

A Christina piercing, also known as a Venus piercing, is a female genital piercing. It is located where the outer labia meet, below the pubic mound. The Christina piercing is anatomy dependent; it has a high rejection rate, and is not possible for all women due to anatomical variation. If the flesh above the clitoris where the outer labia meet is fleshy enough to pinch, a Christina piercing may be successful. If the flesh in this area is too tight to pinch, a Christina piercing is contraindicated. The piercing does not facilitate sexual stimulation and can be found uncomfortable when pressure is applied. It is usually pierced with either a custom-made curved barbell or surface bar to reduce the risk of rejection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourchette piercing</span> Female genital piercing

A fourchette piercing is a female genital piercing. It is a piercing done at the rear rim of the vulva, in the area of frenulum of labia minora. Many women do not have a pinchable flap of skin in the area, and are not suited for this piercing. Otherwise, placement and piercing tends to be relatively easy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labia</span> Parts of the vulva

The labia are the major externally visible portions of the vulva. In humans and other primates, there are two pairs of labia: the labia majora are large and thick folds of skin that cover the vulva's other parts while the labia minora are the inner folds of skin between the outer labia that surround and protect the urethral and vaginal openings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guiche piercing</span> Body piercing through the perineum

A guiche piercing is a body piercing through the perineum. Guiche piercings are much more common in men than in women. Although a guiche normally runs perpendicular to the direction of the penis, lateral placements are possible. A series of guiche piercings in parallel to the direction of the penis is called a guiche ladder, and might commonly be seen as an extension of a frenum ladder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoris piercing</span> Type of body piercing

A clitoris piercing is a genital piercing placed directly through the head (glans) of the clitoris itself. It is a relatively uncommon piercing by choice because of the potential for nerve damage, and because many may find it too stimulating to allow the constant wearing of a small ring or barbell. Most piercing studios will refuse to do a clitoral piercing. It is often confused with the more common clitoral hood piercing, which pierces only the hood covering the clitoral glans, allowing the jewelry to make only occasional contact with the most sensitive area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labiaplasty</span> Plastic surgery procedure for altering the labia minora

Labiaplasty is a plastic surgery procedure for creating or altering the labia minora and the labia majora, the folds of skin of the human vulva. It is a type of vulvoplasty. There are two main categories of women seeking cosmetic genital surgery: those with congenital conditions such as intersex, and those with no underlying condition who experience physical discomfort or wish to alter the appearance of their vulvas because they believe they do not fall within a normal range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chastity belt (BDSM)</span> Device to prevent sexual activity in BDSM play

Chastity belts are a type of chastity device used in BDSM as part of the practice of orgasm denial, to prevent the wearer from engaging in certain types of sexual activity without the permission of the dominant, who acts as "keyholder", possessing the key that unlocks the chastity belt. Without access to the key, the wearer usually cannot take off the chastity belt or device. Dominants may also enjoy long-distance chastity with their sub by keeping the key in a third location that the chastity wearer cannot access by themself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genital jewellery</span> Jewellery to wear on or accentuate the genitals

Genital jewellery, also known as sex jewellery and adult jewellery, is jewellery which is designed specifically for wear on or to accentuate the genitals. In a wider sense also nipple rings and some butt-plugs may be called genital jewellery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chastity piercing</span> Type of genital piercing

Chastity piercings are types of genital piercings that can be used to impose chastity in males and females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body piercing</span> Form of body modification

Body piercing, is a form of body modification, that involves the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn, or where an implant could be inserted. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice. It can also, by metonymy, refer to the resulting decoration, or to the decorative jewelry used. Piercing implants alter the body and/or skin profile and appearance. Although the history of body piercing is obscured by popular misinformation and by a lack of scholarly reference, ample evidence exists to document that it has been practiced in various forms by multiple sexes since ancient times throughout the world. Body piercing can be performed on people of all ages, although most minors are only permitted to have earlobe piercings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulva</span> External genitalia of the female mammal

In mammals, the vulva consists of the external female genitalia. The human vulva includes the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vulval vestibule, urinary meatus, the vaginal opening, hymen, and Bartholin's and Skene's vestibular glands. The urinary meatus is also included as it opens into the vulval vestibule. The vulva includes the entrance to the vagina, which leads to the uterus, and provides a double layer of protection for this by the folds of the outer and inner labia. Pelvic floor muscles support the structures of the vulva. Other muscles of the urogenital triangle also give support.

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