It was the last day of university, finally we were free. A month off, no getting up early to go on placement, no assignments due, the student nurses of Glasgow University had got our summer holiday!
At A Glance Author Sam Contact chemical_soul@hotmail.co.uk When It just happened Artist John Studio Nirvana Location Glasgow It was the end of our first year and the end of 16 weeks continuous placements throughout summer. As we left the Nursing and Midwifery building you could sense the elation in all of us, we'd worked so hard and now we had some well earned time for ourselves.
I had pondered about getting another piercing as a little reward to myself for passing my exams, coursework and placements. However it wasn't till 2 of my fellow classmates and good friends decided they would be embarking on a new piercing for themselves, that I decided I would definitely join them.
What to pierce though? I don't think I would suit a constant facial piercing. I have my septum pierced, however prefer to hide it on a day to day basis and only wear visible jewellery when I'm feeling wild. I already have my navel and tongue pierced and the idea of nipples was out the window. I had them both done but they began to reject after a year. Standing on the subway I decided on my right rook.
We went to my favourite piercing studio to enquire about an appointment and I was told to come back in forty minutes. That seemed fine, my two friends preferred another piercing studio around the corner which offered local anaesthetic so they would be pierced first. I was asked my name and what I wished pierced, as I said the words "My right rook" something didn't feel right. I didn't feel the usual excitement in my stomach, I began to worry. I seen the ecstatic looks on my friends faces before and after their new piercings and began to doubt myself. I wanted a piercing for me, not just to join in with my friends experiences.
After half an hour we returned to Nirvana, the assistant handed me the usual form with the blank spaces for my name and what I would be getting pierced. I still felt uneasy. I turned to my friends and said, "You know what, I think I'd prefer to have my labia pierced instead". The statement was met with horrified faces but as the words came out my mouth I felt the excitement rise up within me. I realised I definitely did not want another ear piercing, I wanted my first genital piercing.
I walked to the counter to ask John if he would mind me switching to having my inner labia pierced instead. He merely smiled and informed he he would not force me to get my ear pierced if in fact I wanted a genital piercing. He asked me for ID and I showed him my driver's licence, it turns out John and I have the same birthday although he's obviously older than me. I turned round to face my friends with a huge smile on my face, this is the one I wanted. My friend Jaxx turned to me and asked if she could watch, I agreed of course and checked with John. We joked about the fact I hadn't had a wax in a while and that Jaxx just wanted to see my girlie bits. I was so excited.
John is so professional. He asked where exactly I wanted my piercing and explained to me that by placing it a little higher up than I'd planned would minimise friction with my thighs and also allow it to be seen when I was standing. That sounded good to me. He checked me standing, lying down and then standing again. All the while explaining that this is a most trouble free piercing with little to no blood loss and a super quick healing period. Jaxx got to be my official knickers holder and all three of us chatted away about placements in hospital, operations and our impending holidays. It was nice to feel so comfortable with the people around me even though I was lying in the most undignified positions. I was cleaned and marked, my jewellery was ready, a little 1.6mm surgical steel ball closure ring. I began breathing deeply, I didn't feel nervous but I knew what I was about to experience would be painful.
I breathed in and out, in and out, in and OUT! I felt the needle pierce my inner labia, it was a stinging sensation and quite powerful. Then I was fine, I smiled and exhaled loudly. I could feel my adrenaline pumping, in particular through my legs. I could feel my body buzzing. It was a beautiful feeling. Next the jewellery insertion. I tried to speak and mumble about how the jewellry was the worst bit but mixed up my words and sounded like a fool. I laughed and said I was probably delirious from endorphins, I probably was. The insertion of my pretty wee steel hoop was uncomfortable but was over in a second. I immediately bent over to see it and instinctively reached my fingers to it when John shouted "No touching, no touching! Your fingers aren't clean, you're a bad bad nurse". I laughed sheepishly, I really didn't mean to touch it, I just wanted to see it better. Obviously I understand hand hygiene and I'm normally over the top with it in work, but desire got the better of me in the moment and all I wanted was to see exactly how it looked from all angles.
I jumped off the table and as I collected my knickers from my spectator I was given the sex info. Use condoms till healed (I always use them anyway), no oral for 3 weeks (now that would be a bummer) as mouths are just teeming with bacteria and sex from behind may be more comfortable at first. I stepped out to greet my other friends who looked insanely shocked, I was all smiles. As I paid I was told to make up salt water even more dilute for cleaning this piercing.
As we left I answered questions like "Was it weird having a guy pierce you down there?" and "Was it sore?". Of course it was sore, but it was all over quickly and the buzz of adrenaline is gorgeous. I didn't find it uncomfortable being pierced by John as he is the most professional piercer I've met in Glasgow and I've been pierced by quite a few people here. Jaxx told me how he changed gloves at least 8 times, maybe even more.
All in all the experience was wonderful and I love the aesthetics of my new inner labia piercing. It's not something for everyone, but if it is for you, you'll know just like I did.