Piercing Information Library

Outer Labia Piercing

The area of the female sex organs is referred to as the vulva. Women are attracted to having their vulva pierced for many reasons not least that it is seen as being sexy. The allure for some is the possibility of a heightened sexual sensation, whilst, for others, it is the thought of being kinky. Women on the whole have found that wearing rings, bracelets, necklaces and other jewellery helps them both look and feel more feminine and attractive. Wearing jewellery in their innermost sanctum of feminine sensuality might be seen as a natural extension of these kinds of metal adornment.
The legality of having a piercing for the purpose of sexual gratification in English law is unclear. Given this climate of legal uncertainty, most piercing operatives will be prepared to pierce genitalia, but may, for reasons of sensible caution, be reluctant to engage in conversation about the possible sexual benefits of the piercing.

Description and Location:
The labia are the outer pair of lips that protect the female genitalia. They are hair covered, fleshy folds of skin, containing sweat glands. It is best to shave any hair from yhe labia before they are pierced. Usually BCRs are worn, although specially designed labret studs are available.

Piercing Procedures:
Choosing a piercing operative that you can trust and feel comfortable with is a very important consideration. With all intimate piercings you will need to undress below the waist. For this reason, it is best to wear clothing that is easily removed. Thoroughly wash the area to be pierced directly before your appointment. To ensure an accurate piercing, measuring and marking the piercing is very important. Female genital piercing can be the most difficult piercing to align and mark. Once pierced, a small amount of bleeding occurs, stopping usually within a few minutes. A panty liner worn immediately after the piercing and for the next few days can help improve personal comfort. There can be major differences in the design of female genitalia. Therefore the viability of a particular piercing is dependent upon these individual anatomical variations, and, in some cases, a piercing is either inappropriate or not possible.

Swelling:
The traumatised skin in the immediate piercing area will swell, but this is not usually excessive and generally recedes within a few days.

Healing Time:
Most general piercings are normally trouble free and quickly heal. The healing period can be as little as three months, although, in some cases, this can extend to over six months.

Types of Suitable Jewellery:
Although most female vulva piercings are carried out using 1.6mm gauge jewellery, in order to avoid any `cheesewire or migration complications, it is advisable, once the piercing is healed, to up-size to 2.0mm or 2.4mm jewellery. Both BCRs and barbells are worn, the suitability of each varying according to the piercing types and position. Specially designed labret studs can also be worn in the labia.

Extra Care Considerations:
Don`t have a piercing whilst you are menstruating. The flesh of the vulva is easily irritated. Pressure from bodily movement and rub from clothing can lead to the development of minor sores and abrasions. Inner horizontal vulva piercing can be prone to migrate or park in a new position. This can be alleviated by checking daily and applying salt water to clean the area. With pressure of movement, jewellery of too small a gauge can lead to enlargement of the piercing holes, and may cause tearing.