Labia piercing

History and culture

There is little direct evidence of pre-contemporary practice of labia piercings, outside of anecdotal reports of the use of these piercings as chastity devices. Like many genital piercings, the contemporary origin of labia piercing resides in the BDSM culture that gave rise to the resurgence of body piercing in contemporary society. In contemporary practice, these piercings often simply fill a decorative role, rather than a purely sexual one.

This piercing plays a prominent role in the 1954 French erotic novel, Story of O by Anne Desclos.{{cite book

Labia piercings are one of the most popular vulva piercings, along with clitoral hood piercings. The prevalence of vulva piercings is estimated at 0.2% of the female population, and they are more common in younger age groups. The reasons for having labia piercings are often reported as erotic agency and sexual self-expression. Some people have labia piercings as a ritual to reclaim their bodies after sexual trauma.

Comparison of different types

The labia minora run from the clitoral hood to the fourchette, and the tissue of the labia minora is similar to that of the clitoral hood. Clitoral hood piercings can allow jewellery to continually stimulate the clitoris and labia minora piercings can similarly stimulate the clitoris if they are placed high enough on the vulva. Some vulvas allow labia majora piercings to stimulate the clitoris if they can be positioned either side of it. and they are more visible if they are placed further forward.

Labia minora piercing is usually less painful than labia majora piercing because the skin tissue of the labia minora has relatively high elasticity making it easier to stretch and because there is less tissue to pierce through. The stretching of labia minora piercings occurs on its own in most cases, but this is much less likely to happen with labia majora piercings.

Tenderness, swelling or bleeding can occur after the procedure. Possible complications include cellulitis and trauma during sexual activity.

Jewellery

The most common type of jewellery used in labia piercings is rings, though curved barbells are not uncommon. Weights, bells or charms are sometimes added. After enough time has passed – often around a year – labia piercings can be stretched to accommodate larger jewellery. The wearing of heavy jewellery in these piercings may be a form of ongoing or temporary sexual stimulation. Both types can also be stretched to accommodate flesh tunnel or flesh plug style jewellery.

Jewellery worn in labia piercings may have a fetish purpose. Rings or other specialised jewellery may be worn to block access to the vagina, as a form of short-term or long-term chastity piercing. Other chastity devices might also be worn that make use of the piercing, sometimes incorporating locks.

If heavy metal jewellery is worn inserted through pierced labia, the weight can result in labial asymmetry or labial hypertrophy.

References

References

1. (2022). "Ridley's The Vulva". John Wiley & Sons.
2. Romanienko, Lisiunia A.. (2011). "Body Piercing and Identity Construction: A Comparative Perspective – New York, New Orleans, Wroclaw". Palgrave Macmillan.
3. Hyman, Jane. (1999). "Women Living With Self-Injury". Temple University Press.
4. Vegas, Laura. "Straight Talk About Body Piercing: Make Absolutely Sure You Create The Body Piercing Sensation Of A Lifetime". CashFlowProducts.com.
5. (2012). "Emans, Laufer, and Goldstein’s Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology". Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
6. (2007). "Vulvar Disease: A Clinicopathological Approach". CRC Press.
7. Nagrath, Arun. (2012). "A Colour Atlas of Surgeries of the Vulva". Jaypee Brothers Publishers.