Body piercing has become more popular than ever over the last ten years. There was a time when it would have seemed strange to visit your favorite store and see a teenager with a stud in their tongue or a ring in their eyebrow working at the cash resister. Today it’s common everywhere you go. What you may not realize is that not only do some people have body piercings that can be easily seen; they may also have them in places you might never think of.

Some young people today are getting them because they want to be like others who have them. It’s likely that few, if any, know the reason body piercing started a very long time ago, or what modern day body piercings are all about. For instance, a common piercing for teenagers, even as young as 13 years old, is the tongue piercing. This type of piercing is believed to enhance the experience during oral sex for the person on the receiving end. Does this mean our kids are performing oral sex at 13 or younger? Not likely, they just have no idea why these types of piercings were started, or that they are intended for sexual stimulation. Even more so, do parents know why tongue piercing was started?

Piercing was first believed to exist almost 5000 years ago. Found on a frozen mummified body found in an Austrian Glacier, were signs of piercing in the ears. Many different beliefs are thought to have inspired body piercing. Religion even played a part in ancient history. But today, it seems, sex is the motive behind some body piercing. Sexually provocative as it may be, rumors of the possibility of it enhancing sexual experiences have lead many running to get genital piercings.

Today, any area of the body that could be recognized as an erogenous zone is being pierced. Men, women, and even teenagers have every kind of piercing one could imagine.

Women have their clitoris pierced, men having their penises pierced. Does this kind of piercing hurt as much as it would seem? Many say not as much as first thought. How far has this piercing craze evolved? We will highlight some of the different kinds of piercings available in today’s parlors, and focus on types that are said to enhance sexual pleasure.

Women these days are getting holes places some would have no idea could be pierced.

Clitoral and clitoral hood (both vertical and horizontal) are some very common ones, inner and outer labia are also common. Some not as common include the "Triangle"; (below the clitoral hood, behind the clitoris) this one depends on how far the clitoris will stretch. "Fourchette" / perineum piercing (through the perineum and through the bottom of the vaginal opening) are even less common. Women are having their nipples pierced at all ages these days. This is said to increase sensation in the nipples and can even bring back sensation lost during child bearing and breast feeding.

Men as well are on board with the craze of genital piercings. Let’s start with one that’s been around for many years and was thought to be a form of chastity at one time. Foreskin piercing, just as it sounds, simply put, placing a ring though the foreskin at the end of the penis. "Ampallang"; this is placed horizontally through the head of the penis and through the urethra. "Apadravya"; almost as the Ampallang except vertical instead of horizontal. This method is basically in one side and out the other using a stud.

"Guiche" (perineum) piercing; also generally using a stud or ring that is placed under the scrotum near the anus. Of coarse the scrotum itself is a common place to pierce and has almost no limit to the possibilities. "Dydoe" is piercing a hole through the side of the head of the penis. Some more popular piercings include the "Prince Albert" where a hole is pierced through the urethra and out the bottom of the penis head. What is sometimes referred to as "Frenum" and ladder, is a very common one as well. With this type, a hole is pierced through the under side of the shaft from side to side. A piercing closer to the scrotum is referred to as "Lorum". How many of these are placed only depends on the length of the shaft and the amount of skin. Multiples of this type of piercing is known as a ladder.

Are these safe and done with little pain? Most have low risks involved with the chance of infection being the biggest and most who have them say the pain was minimal. Healing times for most are long and can take up to four weeks. You might wonder if these can be left in during sex. Most of these would not be very well suited for intercourse and would most certainly not be very condom friendly. If you’re considering genital piercing, trying some type of clamp on jewelry may be a place to start. There is no pain associated with these, no healing time, and no chance of infection. Unfortunately, there aren’t many types of clamp on jewelry available for men. So if you’re thinking about a penis piercing, you should do your research first, and make sure this is what you really want.

Try experimenting with a realistic dildo first, by placing the type of piercing you are thinking of through it. Then, give it a try with your partner and see if it’s enjoyable for them during penetration. Apply a condom to the dildo while the jewelry is in place and see how it holds up while in use. You may also want to try holding a clean, new stud at the opening to the head of your penis while you urinate so you can see how your new piercing will affect your ability to urinate standing up. Many men report not having very good results in this area and to save the mess just sit down. So remember, before you jump into something as drastic as putting holes in your genitals, make sure you understand how it will affect you sexual performance and every day activities.