Clitoral hood piercing
Encyclopedia
A clitoral hood piercing is a female genital piercing
through the clitoral hood
surrounding the clitoris
. There are two main types of hood piercing, the vertical clitoral hood piercing and the horizontal clitoral hood piercing. As the name indicates, the difference is in the direction the piercing is oriented in the skin above the clitoris. Neither of these piercings penetrates the clitoris itself.
Like most genital piercings, these piercings have relatively short healing times, due to the amount of blood flow to the area. During the healing period however, the piercing is a wound
and can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
, which often enhances sensation.
Not all women, however, have the proper anatomical placement to do a successfully healed piercing. Those interested in the procedure are commonly advised by their piercers of any location and placement issues.
can be worn in clitoral hood piercings. Barbells
, J-bars
and other bar-style jewelry are common in vertical hood piercings, and both captive bead rings and barbells are common in horizontal hood piercings. It is not uncommon for the beads of a barbell to be decorative, as is common in navel piercing
s.
It is commonly believed that these piercings, and all genital piercings, provide added sexual stimulation to the genitals. The amount of stimulation depends on many factors, including placement, jewelry and the individual. There are urban legends about hood piercings (which are often confused with clitoris piercing
s) either causing uncontrolled sexual stimulation or even orgasm
, or where the constant stimulation leads to the desensitization
of the clitoris and the difficulty or inability of the bearer to orgasm. Due to a lack of empirical study, there are no well-documented cases of either of these things occurring.
Genital piercing
Genital piercing is a form of body piercing and is considered a form of body modification. It involves piercing a part of the genitalia and subsequently inserting and keeping a foreign object in the opening until the wound heals. This forms a tunnel of skin around the foreign object, thus creating...
through the clitoral hood
Clitoral hood
In female human anatomy, the clitoral hood, , is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoral glans. It develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin in male genitals.-Variation:This is a protective hood of skin that covers the clitoral glans...
surrounding the clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
. There are two main types of hood piercing, the vertical clitoral hood piercing and the horizontal clitoral hood piercing. As the name indicates, the difference is in the direction the piercing is oriented in the skin above the clitoris. Neither of these piercings penetrates the clitoris itself.
Like most genital piercings, these piercings have relatively short healing times, due to the amount of blood flow to the area. During the healing period however, the piercing is a wound
Wound
A wound is a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.-Open:...
and can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
Vertical hood piercing
Often referred to as a VCH. In a vertical hood piercing, the clitoral hood is usually pierced in a manner that causes the jewelry to rest directly on the clitorisClitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
, which often enhances sensation.
Not all women, however, have the proper anatomical placement to do a successfully healed piercing. Those interested in the procedure are commonly advised by their piercers of any location and placement issues.
Jewelry
A wide variety of body piercing jewelryBody piercing jewelry
Body piercing jewelery is jewelery manufactured specifically for use in body piercing.Originally, hardly any other jewellery than circular earrings were used in modern Western body piercing. As the body piercing became more of a fashion, a vast amount of specially crafted jewellery became available...
can be worn in clitoral hood piercings. Barbells
Barbell (piercing)
Barbell style piercing jewelry is composed of a straight bar and with a bead on each end, one or both beads unscrewable for removal and/or changing of the beads. Often one of the beads is fixed, either via epoxy or welding, so that only one bead is used to install or remove the jewelry...
, J-bars
Barbell (piercing)
Barbell style piercing jewelry is composed of a straight bar and with a bead on each end, one or both beads unscrewable for removal and/or changing of the beads. Often one of the beads is fixed, either via epoxy or welding, so that only one bead is used to install or remove the jewelry...
and other bar-style jewelry are common in vertical hood piercings, and both captive bead rings and barbells are common in horizontal hood piercings. It is not uncommon for the beads of a barbell to be decorative, as is common in navel piercing
Navel piercing
A navel piercing is a type of body piercing. It may heal very quickly and with no problems, like an ear piercing, or may heal more like a surface piercing with the associated extended healing time. Healing usually takes less than six months, and as long as it is cleaned, it will heal nicely...
s.
History
The origin of this piercing pre-dates the popularity of contemporary body piercing.It is commonly believed that these piercings, and all genital piercings, provide added sexual stimulation to the genitals. The amount of stimulation depends on many factors, including placement, jewelry and the individual. There are urban legends about hood piercings (which are often confused with clitoris piercing
Clitoris piercing
A clitoris piercing is a piercing through the clitoris itself. It is a relatively uncommon piercing and is often confused with the more common clitoral hood piercing, which pierces only the hood of the clitoris. Depending on the anatomy of the individual, they can be oriented either vertically or...
s) either causing uncontrolled sexual stimulation or even orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
, or where the constant stimulation leads to the desensitization
Desensitization
Desensitization can refer to:* Desensitization * Desensitization * Desensitization * Desensitization of explosives, see Phlegmatized...
of the clitoris and the difficulty or inability of the bearer to orgasm. Due to a lack of empirical study, there are no well-documented cases of either of these things occurring.