I have genital piercings enough of them to refer to them as a genital project. Over the years I have had 4 outer labias, 2 Christina's, 2 vertical hoods and one horizontal hood. In addition to my genital work, I have both nipples pierced horizontally and several ear rings; two inner conches, rook, Daith. After my tattoos, my genital mods are the most important to me. It is not just how they look, it's how they make me feel.
At A Glance Author Liz Contact Liz@bme.anon When N/A Artist Erin Studio Chameleon Location Cambridge, MA In the past I would've felt terrible if a piercing had to be retired. The worst for me were my Christina's; both Christina's had to go, the first one after two years. I waited over 9 months to have it repierced and then the second one lasted only 12 weeks. I was heartbroken. I think the Christina is the most beautiful of the female piercings, just my opinion. (You always love what you cannot have)
Today I removed my very first outer labia ring, it has been in for years but as anyone with piercings can attest to-sometimes a perfectly happy piercing can turn cranky and out of nowhere create problems.
My labia are full but overly so but still, outer labias are a lot of tissue to go through. When pierced years ago, I could feel every second of it as the 14 gauge needle pushed through the inch or so of skin.
When I sought the first outer labia piercing, I wanted mine to sit further up the lip, more forward (closer to my navel Vs my vagina) It was kind of an usual placement but I liked the way it looked and my piercer saw no reason not to do it.
I shaved all the pubic hair; that way I could get a "clean" piercing. Erin told me once that she had a client who had a stray pubic hair grow into the hole in her outer labia causing all kind of problems. Over the years I made sure to tweeze out any crazy 'pubbie' trying to worm it's way into my piercing.
Because of the high placement I think it took more abuse than my lower (and more traditionally placed one.) It has been bothering me for a while. I tried a jewelry change but that didn't help.
When I had my outer labia pierced it hurt with a deep burn sensation which differed from the sharp, fast prick of a hood piercing. I would not describe it as a pinch; that would come later. When you have outer labia rings or barbells, you have to watch yourself for a while maybe even for the life of the piercing. You watch the way you sit, the way you dry yourself with a towel, the way you hold a cloth in the shower, {ATTENTION; those scrubby-things are totally out of the question.} I banned them from my home! They will catch on anything and are a dangerous, unnecessary and painful risk to any piercing.
I have a high pain threshold and I ignored as best I could the increased pinching coming from my right outer labia. I checked the mirror and I did not notice any migration but the inside hole was tender, more so than the outside hole. I would use soaks and massage, every method that is suggested here but this piercing continued to be cranky. Pretty soon I was noticing it all the time and that is a sign of danger. A good piercing should sit there unnoticed, looking good and saying nothing. This labia piercing began to pinch and pull causing me to pull at myself, (picture a major- league baseball player groping at his crotch or a 3 year old needing to use the toilet.}
I would stick my hand down the front of my pants, (nice visual) and gently try to realign the jewelry. CBR or Barbell, it made no difference, this hole was in trouble. No matter how much I loved it and how attached I was to it- it was causing more problems than it should and I finally gave in and recognized that it was not going to get better, only worse and that it was time to take it out.
This morning I took a very hot bath, soaked for awhile. After I got out and towel-dried, I sat on the toilet with a small pair of pliers, the type used for jewelry making. I opened the CBR and the ball fell out. I put the pliers down and gently slid the opened ring out. With a bit of a pinch (the last one) it slid out of my skin. I had instant relief. I looked at the piercing closely and the inside hole was raw. Poor thing. Every time I sat down or even walked, this piercing was being irritated. When I saw the condition of the delicate tissue on the inside of the labia lip, I knew I had made the right decision to remove it and any doubts or regrets I had or might have had, were immediately gone.
It's been almost an hour and I feel much better, I can't believe I waited all this time. Sometimes we aren't all that rational about the things we love. Yes, I had this piercing a long time and yes I loved it but I knew it was going south. But it's doesn't mean it's the end. I can (and will) allow my labia to heal. Maybe next summer or perhaps the fall, I'll revisit the studio and get my right labia repierced. This time I will have it pierced lower, like the one on the left side labia. Good luck to you all and enjoy your piercings.Liz