Prince Albert Piercing Beaten to Death
The Prince Albert Piercing is the most common of all male genital piercings. Located just below the glands of the underside of the penis, the jewelry travels into the urethra and then exits out of the natural urethral opening. The piercing itself is rapid, not nearly as painful as one would imagine, and heals quickly and easily.
The primary motivation of the piercing is to increase sexual pleasure for the wearer and their partner. Some men find the stimulation of the urethra's interior and the movement of the jewelry pleasurable. I have had the piercing for well over 20 years and have had partners who enjoyed the added stimulation of the jewelry and others who didn't seem to notice at all. If anything, the piercing has generated some questions, and I've found that most are interested or excited by the idea.
Also, with all genital piercings, it is about claiming ownership and customizing your body.
History:
History and Background:
Prince Albert piercings, often called "PAs, are more than likely a modern invention. One history, created by Doug Molly (Richard Simonton), is that the piercing was first invented and worn by Prince Albert. As the story goes, because Victorian fashion involved extremely tight pants, a "Dressing Ring" was used to avoid bulges by tying the piercing to the thigh. This urban legend also went on to say that Prince Albert wore the piercing to keep the foreskin retracted so that they penis smelled fresher and looked more appealing for Queen Victoria. This story was adopted and used well into the late 1990s by Gauntlet and others without a shred of proof beyond Molly's account, published in Adventures of a Piercing Freak in 1975. Molly would influence Gauntlet and Piercing Fans Quarterly International, spreading this history.
Another urban legend was that the piercing was used as a form of chastity by male harem slaves. Once again, there is no documented proof, but the basic gist of the story is that slaves were given a Prince Albert piercing, and then a large diameter ring, ranging in size from 4 to 6 inches, was inserted into the piercing. Thus making it impossible for the slave to copulate with the female slaves. This seems highly unlikely due to the widespread use of castration in cultures where harems were common.
In truth, like most male genital piercings, its history can be traced back to the Gay Subculture. The name and the Prince Albert story can be traced to Molly. Well into the 2000s, the history provided by Body & Genital Piercing in Brief was considered the correct history and background for most piercings. It was primarily used to promote Gauntlet and the emerging piercing industry. However, even in Molly's account, it was a relatively new piercing.
Placement, Marking, and Anatomy:
The piercing is pierced through the thin tissue on the underside of the penis through the "triangle" area. If you look at the underside of a circumcised penis or a penis with the foreskin pulled back, you will notice that there is a triangle with the bottom of the glands creating the top two sides and the area where the foreskin is connected or where the foreskin was connected.
The piercing is placed in the center of the triangle, or if the frenum is well pronounced or still intact, to one side or the other. If the piercing has to be pierced to the side, then it is usually placed on the side that the person "dresses" to. In other words, the side that the penis naturally hangs from.
When marking the piercing, I will examine and feel the area. The key thing I will look for is a tendon-like line that is often at the dead center of the triangle. This is the Frenum tenon that connects the foreskin. If it is pronounced, then it's best to avoid piercing through it. I will then ask the client if they dress to one side or the other. If they are unsure, I will let the penis drop, and it will usually lie to one side to determine the dressing side. I will then mark the piercing on the side they dress too. With those that are not circumcised, I first decide whether it is possible(more on that further down) and then mark to the side of the Frenum tendon where they dress.
Migration, Stretching, and Larger Urethra Openning:
Though the piercing is not prone to tearing or migration, it will stretch on its own. The tissue is thin and soft, so the weight of the jewelry and other factors will cause the piercing to stretch. It is not uncommon to be able to increase the gauge from 12g to 6g within a year without using a taper pin or attempting to stretch the piercing. In my experience, larger gauge jewelry not only makes the piercing more comfortable but also more stimulating. The drawback is that this can cause the piercing to thin and tear under the weight of the jewelry and the stress of normal sexual activities. Additionally, the piercing will eventually reach a point where it will no longer shrink or close. The key is to find some balance between comfort and safety.
Since this piercing will stretch on its own, resting the piercing may be required to stop or slow down the stretching. Resting is when you remove the jewelry for short periods to prevent the stretching process from occurring. I would only suggest doing this when the piercing is well seasoned and at least 6g. Begin with short periods and gradually increase them over time. I highly recommend resting regularly if you have reached your target gauge.
Heavier and thicker jewelry can also cause the urethra to enlarge over time with prolonged wear. Resting the piercing and wearing jewelry that fits properly can reduce this. However, with the piercing, the softness of the tissue may occur regardless of how long you have had the piercing. This may make it appear that the piercing is migrating.
Foreskin and Uncircumcised Males :
Many piercers will altogether refuse to perform a PA on anyone who is not circumcised. The reality is that, though often it is more challenging to do, there is no reason that someone who is not circumcised will have issues with the piercing. However, like with all piercings, it comes down to anatomy. If the foreskin is tight and there is not going to be room for the ring, the piercing will be very uncomfortable and could cause the piercing to migrate. Also, you must consider that the jewelry may force the foreskin to be held back when the penis is flaccid. Many uncircumcised men will find this uncomfortable as the sensitive glands are now exposed to contact with clothing.
The most significant factor is the amount of pressure the foreskin applies to the jewelry. With some individuals, the foreskin is loose enough that the ring can fit comfortably inside, or the foreskin will stretch to accommodate the jewelry. In time a curved barbell maybe the best option for long-term wear.
Urinating and Sexual Activity:
Since the piece of jewelry is in contact with the urine stream, it will affect the aim and cause urine to collect on the jewelry, resulting in dripping. It can often have the effect of putting your thumb over the end of a garden hose, and instead of one steady stream, you have two or three. There is also the issue that if the piercing stretches, there may be leakage from the piercing itself. This can also affect ejaculation if the piercing begins to stretch well beyond the thickness of the jewelry. Of course, increasing the thickness or gauge of the jewelry can provide temporary relief, but I have not found a long-term solution other than regularly resting the piercing.
I found early on that the best option was simply to sit to urinate. The bonus was that cleaning the toilet and the area around it wasn't nearly as gross as it was when I stood to pee. When sitting is not an option or you are presented with a disgusting toilet, a urinal can easily handle the additional streams, and I've found twisting the penis so that the piercing is on top reduces both the split stream issues and the urine collecting on the jewelry.
With sexual activity, the number one question I'm asked is if the jewelry will need to be removed. The answer is no, but if your partner experiences discomfort, you may need to or consider a different style or size of jewelry. You are more susceptible to STDs, so you should always practice safe sex when you are with a new partner. Additionally, you may find that loose-fitting condoms and large reservoir condoms allow for additional room for the jewelry and are more comfortable. Especially during the healing period, you want to avoid ribbed or tight-fitting condoms because they will cause pressure on the piercing to the point where it can be painful.
Chasity:
This option hadn't occurred to me until a couple that is involved in a BDSM Female Domination relationship asked about the PA being used as a form of chastity. They initially requested locking a PA ring with a Guiche (a piercing at the base of the scrotum). I quickly advised against the idea because of the damage to the piercing that could be caused when the penis is erect. The fact is that the tissue with both piercings is soft, and with the PA thin, enough pressure could cause the piercings to tear. The client ended up getting a PA anyway.
About a year later, they contacted me asking about chastity devices that used PA piercings. This was a new one on me, and I began researching them online, which led to an interesting ride down the rabbit hole. There are several devices on the market, but the most common is a tube or tube-shaped cage that sits over the shaft of the penis, and then a lockable ring-shaped or bar that passes through the piercing.
The two key issues that I expressed to them were that:
- Long-term stress on the piercing can cause it to migrate, tear, or become damaged.
- Among the devices, I observed that the most common materials used are plastic, stainless steel, silicone, leather, or a combination of two or more materials. The problem is that, despite searching the manufacturer's websites, there was no clarification of the exact compound or alloy of the materials. The plastic made no mention of the material being made of dental acrylic or other materials that have undergone long-term testing in the human body. The metal ones used vague terms like "durable surgical steel" or "stainless steel". From what I could tell, most of these are manufactured in Asia, and there may be no third-party certification or mill certificates, but nowhere were words like "Implant Grade" or even 316L found. The problem is that part of this device will be in your body and your piercing. The device will have prolonged contact with urine, and for this reason, it needs to be durable. If you have any sensitivity to metals, I wouldn't advise wearing any of the metal devices. As for the other materials, there is a significant risk that as the plastic erodes, the wearer may be exposed to chemicals and other compounds used in the manufacture of these materials. I noticed that just about every one of them had the disclaimer, "For novelty use." Many are not suitable for long-term wear, especially when used inside a piercing.
Jewelry Size and Type:
The size of the jewelry should always be based on the client's anatomy. Both the shape, size, and thickness of the area should be taken into consideration when selecting jewelry, as well as their future plans.
Some issues should be considered before choosing jewelry size and type:
The thickness of the jewelry will either increase or decrease the damage to the piercing in the future. Additionally, a thicker gauge may increase the period during which the piercing can be left empty. It is a balancing act between a thickness that will not tear easily, but you also want the jewelry to be light enough not to add extra stress to the piercing during the healing process. Generally, I like to pierce at 12g or 10g. With larger gauges, you are making a larger piercing, which means that more blood vessels will be cut or nicked. That means that the larger the gauge, the more bleeding and the longer the bleeding will continue. Since there is more impact and trauma to the area with larger gauges, it means more inflammation and a longer recovery time.
The width needs to be wide enough to not only pass comfortably through the piercing and out the natural urethral hole without causing pressure on the piercing when the penis is erect. Most commonly, this is between 5/8 and 1 inch.
The durability of the material is crucial due to the corrosive nature of urine. This jewelry will always be in contact with urine. Soft metals such as Gold can become pitted and lose their shiny finish. Silver should never be worn in the area due to the risk of silver poisoning. Plastic can deteriorate and also become pitted. Your best options are Implant Grade Surgical Stainless Steel, with the ASTM certification code F-138, and Titanium, with the ASTM certification code F-136. With anodized colored titanium, the color may fade over time.
Jewelry Styles:
With Prince Albert piercings, the jewelry should be a circular or curved piece with no sharp points or edges. The three most common jewelry styles are Captive Bead Ring, Circular Barbell, and Curved Barbell. It is my experience that Rings and Circular Barbells are the best options for healing the piercing because they tend to allow for extra space when the penis is erect, and often are lighter. After the piercing is healed, switching to a curved barbell of the correct length when erect, with a large ball on the front side, can be an enjoyable option. However, it will add a bit of weight to the jewelry and possibly increase the speed at which the piercing stretches.
It is essential to consider your partner when choosing jewelry. Remember, this is a complex, stiff, unforgiving piece of metal, and it can cause discomfort when it comes in contact with the cervix. During oral sexual activities, larger jewelry can cause choking, chipped teeth, and other issues. The jewelry should be smooth, without any sharp points or edges.
Prince's Wand is not very common and should be made custom to fit your anatomy. It is a 2 to 4-inch metal tube that is inserted into the urethra. Then, a threaded hole is lined up with the piercing, and a short threaded barbell is threaded into the tube. There are several different designs on the market, with some featuring a threaded ball/plug at the end that must be removed to urinate. Understand that inserting a metal tube inside your body can cause various issues, including infections, damage to the soft tissue of the urethra, and other complications. I would suggest it for long-term wear, and I highly recommend that the tube and jewelry be sterilized in an autoclave or hospital-grade sterilizer before insertion.
For more detailed information on what Jewelry to buy, go to my blog, Post Healing Jewelry Guide
The Procedure:
Consultation and paperwork.
Evaluating the piercee's anatomy to ensure that the piercing can be done safely and to size the jewelry.
Setup
Disinfecting the piercing area with a surgical scrub
Marking the piercing
Reclining the piercee
Warm up the Needle-Receiving Tube (a hollow tube about 2 inches long and about 1/4 inch or less thick) by rubbing it between your hands. Also known as an NRT.
Lubricate the tip of the NRT and insert it into the urethra
Line up the tube with the piercing mark.
Lining up the needle and distracting the piercer (usually involves a breathing exercise).
Injecting the piercing needle through the piercing area.
Insert and close the jewelry.
- Stop any bleeding and clean the piercing area. With male genitals, I usually wrap the area in a clean piece of gauze, cover it with a glove, and then tie it off with a rubber band.
Hassles and Aftercare:
Although they heal relatively quickly, within two to three months, during the first couple of weeks, they are prone to discoloration, redness, tenderness to the touch, bleeding, and swelling.
Basic aftercare will involve applying hot soaks or hot compresses made with warm water and sea salt twice a day, as well as cleaning the piercing in the shower twice daily. Additionally, you will need to take steps to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. For more details, go to Basic Aftercare Instructions.
Some things to consider before getting the piercing and additional precautions:
- The piercing, like all genital piercings, can bleed off and on for up to 5 days. So you may want to consider wearing a pad or sanitary napkin for the first week. This will not only prevent blood stains but also reduce moisture in the area and provide cushioning during the tender phase.
With some men, urinating can be uncomfortable. This can be reduced by taking a large cup and filling it partway up with water and then inserting the tip of the penis into the water. Urinating into the water seems to reduce the pressure and discomfort.
Sexual contact should be limited and genital at first, while taking precautions against cross-contamination. If something is painful, stop doing it. Also, make sure that you are using water-based lubricants and avoiding lubes or condoms that are scented, flavored, have a "warming effect", are "Longer Lasting", or have spermicide.
Pain:
The piercing can be intense, but unlike other piercings, it is a quick pain and then nothing. Then there will be tenderness to the touch for about 2 weeks. However, the Needle Receiving Tube can be uncomfortable.
Risks & Concerns:
You are also more susceptible to Sexually Transmitted Diseases even after the piercing is healed. Whenever with a new partner, please practice safe sex until you both have been tested.
Conclusion:
There is a reason that the PA is the most common of all Male Genital Piercings; they are easy to heal, heal quickly, and can increase sexual enjoyment. The change in how one urinates can be a huge lifestyle change and a hassle that is not going away and should be considered before getting the piercing.
