Prince Albert piercing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Prince Albert piercing (PA) is a common form of male genital piercing. The PA pierces the penis from the outside of the frenulum and into the urethra. There is also the “reverse Prince Albert piercing” which enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the glans.
A nerve bundle runs along the centre of the frenulum. While some piercers may choose to avoid the bundle, others do not. The piercing may be centered if the bearer is circumcised. Otherwise, the piercing will be done to the side because the skin in the area needs to be able to dynamically reposition itself.
The PA heals more quickly than many other piercings, as the area is highly vascular, and the tissue being pierced is relatively elastic. Some believe that the frequent bathing of the piercing with urine, which is usually sterile, contributes to the healing process. Infections of Prince Alberts are relatively rare. Initial healing typically takes from one to two weeks, with full healing taking as much as nine months or more.
Some men find that the dribble caused by the PA when urinating necessitates sitting down to urinate. This is not caused, as might be suspected, by the hole made during piercing, but rather by urine traveling along the surface of the jewellery. At other times, if a ring is worn that is too thin (this can happen if the wearer downsizes from a large gauge jewellery to a smaller), or if no ring is worn at all, an additional stream of urine may come from the hole in the frenulum. This effect may be exaggerated by different sizes and styles of jewellery. This is usually a problem only when using urinals. It can often be mitigated by either twisting the penis so that the hole is above the flow from gravity, or by holding the finger or captive bead against the hole, effectively sealing it off.
A common misconception is that the PA is a painful piercing because of the high concentration of nerves in the area. However, nerves are specialized in their function, so the high concentration of nerve cells does not correlate to increased sensitivity to pain[citation needed]. Anecdotal reports from people with PAs suggest that it is not particularly painful, although psychological state, adrenaline, and one's pain threshold all affect this judgment.
Most PA wearers report no negative effect on sexual function, and many say it enhances sexual pleasure for both partners (though female pleasure is questionable given the limited nerve structure of the vaginal interior). While the bearer can wear a condom without removing the jewellery, there is a risk of tearing it, so it is highly recommended to use a reinforced condom, such as the "extra-strength" variety of popular brands. Like most piercings, there is small risk of the jewellery becoming caught on clothing, etc. and being pulled or torn out. Unlike most body piercings, the PA can be removed by the wearer for significant periods of time. Since most men stretch their PAs, it is common for the piercing never to close fully once the jewellery is "permanently" removed.
[edit] Jewellery
Prince Alberts typically are pierced at either 12 or 10 gauge (2 to 2.6 mm). In the case of a 12 awg (2 mm) piercing, they are often immediately stretched. The stretching prevents bleeding during the initial healing stages by exerting pressure on the fissure. Outside of this initial stage, they are rarely seen below a 10 gauge (2.6 mm). PAs are sometimes stretched to a 0 or 00 gauge, or about 11/32 inch (8 to 9 mm) diameter. Stretching to sizes of 6 to 4 gauge (4 to 5 mm) is probably most common.
Very large gauge or heavy jewellery can cause thinning of the tissue between the urethral opening and the healed fistula creating an accidental meatotomy. Conversely, extremely thin jewellery can cause the same tearing in what is commonly referred to as the "cheese cutter effect", either during sudden torsion or over a long period of wearing, especially if the thin jewellery has anything heavy attached to it. In some cases this can be corrected surgically. While most wearers find that PAs are comfortable to wear and rarely remove them, even during sex, some individuals might find that extremely large or heavy jewellery is uncomfortable to wear for long periods or interferes with the sexual functioning of the penis.
Jewellery usually worn in a PA includes the circular barbell, captive bead, and the Prince's Wand. Short curved barbells are usually about 3/8" or so length, so one ball sits on the lower side of the penis and the other ball sits at the urethral opening. This type of jewellery prevents discomfort that can come from larger jewellery moving around during daily wear.
The Prince's Wand is a particularly unusual piece of jewellery. It consists of a hollow tube with a threaded cap at the end. The tube is inserted into the urethra, and a stem is inserted through the PA piercing and into another threaded hole on the side of the tube. The general shape is similar to a policeman's nightstick. The side stem holds the tube in place. The threaded cap, often just a ball, can be removed so the wearer can urinate through the hollow tube without having to remove the jewellery.
[edit] History and culture
The Prince Albert piercing may have been practiced in European culture for some time, and while there are many tentative theories as to its origin, the true origin of this piercing is unknown. Many of the theories regarding this piercing's history suggest that the piercing was used to secure the penis in some manner, rather than having a sexual or cultural purpose.
The ancient Indian book Kamasutra by Vatsyayana describes piercing of male organ while standing in a flowing river.
The Prince Albert piercing is often claimed to be named after Queen Victoria's consort Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. It is alleged that he wore a ring attached to his penis which was then strapped to his thigh, in order to maintain the smooth line of the tight trousers that were in fashion at the time. It is very difficult to ascertain the validity of this story, and the claim seems highly unlikely. No contemporary account of him adopting the practice has come to light, and many suspect that it was a myth invented by Doug Malloy who helped popularise body piercing in the United States, and who also created much of the false history commonly attached to many body piercings. It has also been theorized that the name actually refers to Queen Victoria's grandson Prince Albert Victor. This second theory probably stems from attempts to link Prince Albert Victor with the Jack the Ripper murders.
Like many other male genital piercings, it has a history of practice in gay culture in the twentieth century and became known outside that culture at the same time that body piercing began to emerge in popular culture in the late 1970s. The relatively easy procedure, rapid healing and claims of additional sexual stimulation (both to the wearer and his partner in sexual intercourse) attributed to this piercing have come to make the Prince Albert the most common male genital piercing.
[edit] External links
- Body Modification E-zine entry on Prince Albert piercings
- BMEzine PA piercing experiences
- UK Fetish Info article
- another Australian Guide
- Association of Professional Piercer's body piercing aftercare guidelines
| Types of body piercing | |
|---|---|
| Ear piercings | |
| Earlobes and helix | Stretching (body piercing) | Tragus | Antitragus | Daith | Conch | Rook | Industrial | |
| Facial and oral piercings | |
| Bridge | Cheek | Eyebrow | Anti-eyebrow | Lip | Lip frenulum | Nose | Tongue | Tongue frenulum | Uvula | Monroe | Medusa | |
| Body piercings | |
| Corset | Hand web | Madison | Navel | Nipple | Nape | Surface | |
| Male genital piercings | |
| Ampallang | Apadravya | Hafada | Foreskin | Deep shaft | Dolphin | Dydoe | Frenum | Frenum ladder | Guiche | Lorum | Prince Albert | Reverse Prince Albert | Pubic | Transscrotal | |
| Female genital piercings | |
| Christina | Clitoris | Clitoral hood | Triangle | Fourchette | Isabella | Labia | Nefertiti | Princess Albertina | |
