Out of my various tattoos and piercings, I've decided to write about my experience getting my labia pierced as my first submission because there are relatively few experiences in that section.
At A Glance Author becks. Contact becks.@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Jesika Studio St. Sabrina's Location Minneapolis, MN BACKGROUND
(if you just want to read about the actual piercing, scroll down to the next section) :)
First off, a bit about me to provide context. I'm a recent Ivy League graduate, a former sorority president, and a four-year varsity athlete. I've been pierced I think 17 times now (11 remain) and have spent a little short of an hour getting four tattoos. Interpret that however you please. ;) That said, this was my first genital piercing.
For me, body art is just that – art. I think I look more aesthetically pleasing with certain body decorations. For the past four months, I've been fascinated with labia piercings. I'd never seen one until about two weeks ago – I've never really liked the way my bits looked, as everything down there is pretty large while I'm a small girl, but I thought my labia would look awfully pretty with a ring through it.
Two events motivated me. First was the loss of my virginity. I often get a tattoo or piercing to commemorate events – a genital piercing to celebrate sex just made sense to me. I still waited three months, contemplating getting something sharp shoved through a quite sensitive area. The final straw was when, three days into my new job, a boss asked me to take out my small, plain, inoffensive nostril screw – that activated my rebellious, stubborn streak. I went to St Sabrina's, where I go for piercing when I'm in Minnesota (because they're the best), to get a clear retainer for my nose (which, so far, has placated the bosses). The piercer who changed my nose ring was a woman. I'd never seen a female piercer at St Sabrina's when I was there; I took this as a sign because I'm a bit shy and didn't want a guy poking around my bits. I asked her a few questions about labia piercings and she told me she liked doing genital piercings and felt it was one of her strong suits. She then directed me to her book of photographs and sent me to check out BME.
THE ACTUAL PIERCING
A few days later I was back, ready to get the piercing. First, a plug for St Sabrina's and Jesika, the piercer: so knowledgeable. so patient. so professional. Seriously, I'm the worst piercee. I get very nervous beforehand, particularly about the pain, and I tend to babble when I'm nervous. I like having piercings - I do not like the feeling of being pierced. So there's me, skirt hiked up to my waist lying on the piercing bench, procrastinating trying to get comfortable... (I found bottom of foot to bottom of other foot was most comfortable) Poor Jesika dealt with what felt like ages of me talking myself into it and talking myself out of it (asking her to compare the pain the anything imaginable – 'so I got this bee sting when I was two...'). She was so patient, explaining everything. Honestly, I think I was more nervous about lying bottomless with my crotch in a near-stranger's face than about the damn piercing! However, it wasn't until she hit that stubborn streak of mine by suggesting that maybe I wasn't ready that I shut up and let her do it.
It was pretty painful – different than other piercing pain though, hard to describe. I jumped. But it was FAST. Needle through, jewelry in in one quick move (I got a 12g curved barbell, which I'll probably have switched to a CBR when it's healed). Jesika got me some water and a sucker, because I have a tendency to get quite pale and faint after piercings and tats. Jesika was fabulous – thank you!
HEALING / AFTERMATH
The first few days of healing were pretty eventful. I bled a fair amount, and the piercing was constantly sore for about five days. Probably didn't help that I got my wisdom teeth out on day 2 – I figured being basically immobile for a week would allow the piercing to heal. Forgot all about immune system overload... I found that showering in the mornings and just rinsing the piercing, knocking off crusties in the shower, and then in the evening doing sea salt soaks by holding a small plastic cup of salt water over my labia and immersing the piercing, then using a Q-tip to knock off crusties, worked best. I've always found the LIMA (leave it mostly alone) method works well for my body though.
I had a scare on day 4 – woke up with a smallish river of blood on my leg, bled through my pajama pants and all. Shaking, I got in the shower to discover the inner ball covered in a thick layer of congealed blood. I sat in the shower for about ten minutes, letting the water loosen stuff up, then carefully pulled the blood off without touching the actual piercing. The blood looked and felt like a small rubber ball. I tend to move a lot in my sleep and I figure I tore it. Since then, though, I've had no problems, except a little pinching due to crusties.
It's been a week now, and I love my labia ring. I love the way it looks and what it reminds me of. I want to tell everyone and yet I want it to be my secret – it's fun, having a surprising piercing that few people know about. So, thank you Jesika, thank you St Sabrina's, and thank you BME!