A penis piercing refers to a piercing in the penile shaft, head, foreskin, or scrotum. The most common type is a Prince Albert piercing, but there are many styles and jewelry materials available.

People have been getting their penis pierced for over 2,000 years. Some people do so for cultural practices, while others do so for sexual pleasure, self-expression, or aesthetics.

A penis piercing refers to any type of jewelry that’s inserted into the:

  • glans (head or tip of your penis)
  • foreskin (if your penis isn’t circumcised, this covers the glans)
  • shaft (length of your penis)
  • scrotum (sac that holds your testicles)

There are different ways to pierce the penis, and several types of jewelry can be used. Although penile piercings are growing in popularity, they may lead to several complications, some of which could be serious.

Keep reading to learn more about the types, possible sexual benefits, risks, and aftercare tips of penis piercings.

Penis piercing is often used as an umbrella term. There are many different ways to pierce the penis, and each piercing has its own name.

The most popular type of penis piercing is the Prince Albert. It’s named after Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel, who married Queen Victoria in 1840.

This piercing goes in through the urethra (the opening where pee comes out) and comes out through the bottom of the penis shaft just behind the glans.

Other types of penis piercings include:

  • Apadravya: pierced vertically through the glans and typically through the urethra, from top to bottom or vice versa
  • Ampallang: pierced horizontally left to right or vice versa through the glans
  • Deep shaft: typically an ampallang, apadravya, or reverse Prince Albert done down the shaft toward the penis base
  • Dydoe/king’s crown: done through the ridge at the base of the penis head, running vertically through the ridge
  • Foreskin: done through the foreskin if you’re not circumcised, with jewelry placed where the foreskin covers the glans or down toward the shaft
  • Frenum: done horizontally just behind the glans beneath the shaft, called the frenulum, or in several horizontal rows along the bottom of the shaft
  • Guiche (perineum): runs horizontally through your perineum, the skin underneath your scrotum between your buttocks and anus
  • Hafada (scrotal): done anywhere on your scrotum, often in the middle front of your scrotum along the scrotal raphe
  • Lorum: done horizontally or vertically on the underside of the penis where the base of the shaft meets the scrotum
  • Magic cross: consists of 2 to 3 piercings through the glans, usually with two barbells crossing each other with four beads poking out from under the skin
  • Pubic: consists of a piece of jewelry through any part of the area around the base of the penis
  • Reverse PA: the opposite of Prince Albert, with jewelry entering the urethra and exiting through the top of the shaft
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Illustration by Brittany England

Some genital piercings, like penile piercings, may have sexual benefits for you or a partner.

For your benefit

Piercings in the glans or shaft are stimulated by movement during masturbation and oral or penetrative sex, leading to increased pleasure.

The Prince Albert is widely regarded for this increased sensation.

For your partner’s benefit

Some piercings enhance penetrative sex by stimulating additional nerves in the vagina, clitoris, or anus.

This may include:

  • Prince Albert
  • dydoe
  • ampallang
  • apadravya
  • frenum
  • magic cross

A piercer can help you determine whether the exact piercing you want will work with your anatomy. For example, you won’t be able to get a foreskin piercing if you have a circumcised penis.

The authors of a 2017 review identified several factors that may increase your risk of developing complications after a penis piercing. These include:

Having a penis piercing won’t affect your fertility. However, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional before getting a penis piercing, as they can help you assess your risk of complications.

The type of jewelry usually depends on the piercing location. A piercer may recommend one of the following:

  • Circular barbell: horseshoe-shaped ring with removable beads on each end
  • Captive bead ring: circular ring with a single, removable bead where the two ends meet
  • Straight barbell: straight and rod-shaped with a removable bead at each end

Are there different types of jewelry material options?

Talk with your piercer about the following jewelry material options:

  • Surgical titanium: hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin
  • Biocompatible polymers (plastics): flexible, durable, and safe for initial piercings
  • Niobium: another hypoallergenic material that doesn’t break down as easily as other metals
  • Gold: 14-karat yellow or white gold is recommended during the healing process; avoid gold-plated jewelry, as it can lead to infections and allergic reactions
  • Platinum: highly recommended because it’s durable and sturdy, but more expensive and harder to find

You can expect to spend at least $50 to $60 to get your penis pierced. Here’s a typical cost breakdown:

  • Piercing service cost: This can be anywhere from $40 to well over $100. Some piercings cost more based on the complexity of the job or the delicacy of the tissue.
  • Cost of jewelry: Titanium or steel can cost as little as $15, but gold, diamond, or platinum can cost hundreds.
  • Tip for your piercer: If you had a great experience, consider tipping your piercer at least 20% for their service.

Your piercer will:

  1. Put on sterile gloves, then wash and sterilize the area.
  2. Label with a marker where the needle will enter and exit.
  3. Push the needle in the entry hole and out the exit hole. They’ll probably ask you to breathe in and out slowly while they insert the needle.
  4. Use forceps to gently hold the skin while they insert jewelry.
  5. Clean and bandage the area.

It depends. What’s painful to some may not be as intense to others.

Where the piercing is placed makes a huge difference. For example, the glans has more nerve endings than the foreskin, so it may be more sensitive to pain.

Genital piercings account for almost 50% of foreign body injuries to the genital area. The most commonly affected part is the foreskin.

After getting a piercing, you may experience light bleeding, mild pain, and swelling for the first few days. This is a normal part of the healing process.

But penis piercings are also associated with several complications that can require medical attention. The most common complications are infection, which may include:

Other complications of penis piercings may include:

Some piercings, especially those on the glans or shaft, may affect your ability to use external condoms. Jewelry situated through the urethra could also pierce thin condom material.

When to get medical attention

Mild swelling and irritation are normal for any new piercing. This typically lasts for the first few days.

However, speak with a healthcare professional if you experience any symptoms of infection or rejection, including:

  • intense pain that gets worse over time
  • large areas of swelling
  • abnormally hot skin
  • greenish or yellowish pus or discharge
  • a stinking smell coming from the area
  • discolored, itchy bumps
  • jewelry falling out of place, even after a few days or weeks
  • jewelry falling out, unable to be put back in without a lot of effort

The healing time for a penis piercing may depend on the type and location of the piercing.

According to a 2017 review, a Prince Albert piercing may take 2 to 8 weeks to heal, while a scrotum piercing could take up to 4 months. If you don’t follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions, it may take longer.

Proper cleaning is crucial to the success of your piercing.

During the healing process, do:

  • Cover the area with a bandage, and change it at least once a day.
  • Wash your hands with gentle soap and warm water before touching the area.
  • Rinse the piercing at least twice a day with distilled water and a saline solution.
  • Gently wash and rinse away any crust that forms.
  • Pat your penis dry with a clean paper towel any time you rinse it.
  • Avoid scrubbing in the shower, just let water gently wash over it.
  • Take clothes off and put them on carefully.
  • Use condoms or other protection (after initial pain and swelling have gone down) until the area’s fully healed.

At the same time, don’t:

  • Touch the piercing with dirty hands.
  • Take pain relievers, such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for at least 7 days.
  • Have sex (oral, genital, or anal) or masturbate until the initial pain and swelling have gone down.
  • Wear tight underwear or clothing.
  • Use alcohol-based rinses to clean the area.
  • Use antiseptic rinses or soaps on the piercing.
  • Submerge your penis in a pool or bath.
  • Play sports or engage in other vigorous activities so that the penis isn’t jostled around or injured.
  • Play with or remove the jewelry until the piercing’s healed (about 3 months).
  • Allow your pubic hair to get tangled in the jewelry.

As with most non-traditional piercings, the skin in and around the piercing may grow back and force the jewelry out over time.

There’s no set schedule for when this will happen.

Your individual tissues and the level of care you provide will determine whether the piercing lasts a few months or a few years.

Wait until your piercing has healed before you try to change your jewelry. If you’re not sure if it’s ready, ask a piercer. If you prefer, have them change it out for you.

Here’s how to safely change it:

  1. Clean your hands thoroughly with warm water and a gentle antibacterial soap.
  2. Rinse the piercing area with a saline solution.
  3. Gently remove any beads from the current jewelry.
  4. Slowly remove the jewelry from the hole.
  5. Remove any beads from your new jewelry.
  6. Push the new jewelry firmly but carefully through the hole.
  7. Put any beads back on the jewelry.
  8. Make sure it’s secure and won’t fall out when you walk or otherwise move around.
  9. Rinse the piercing area one more time with the saline solution. Carefully pat dry.

Try not to remove jewelry until the piercing has completely healed. This prevents bacteria from getting trapped inside the hole.

If you’re still in the healing process and simply can’t wait, talk with your piercer. They’ll let you know if it’s safe to take it out.

Once you’ve removed the jewelry, keep cleaning the area for a few more weeks until your penis tissues are fully healed. Otherwise, you may increase your risk of infection or disfiguring the tissue.

If your piercing has already healed, take it out and let the opening close itself up. Nothing more is needed after that.

A penis piercing refers to any piercing in the penis, including the glans, foreskin, shaft, and genitals. Different styles and jewels may vary in appearance and have different sexual benefits and possible complications.

Before getting a penis piercing, consider speaking with a doctor about how your body might respond, especially if you’re taking any medications or have an underlying condition.

It’s also important to go to a professional piercer at a well-reviewed, reputable shop. They can share their insight on everything from ideal placement and potential risks to individual healing times and aftercare.

Remember, a penis piercing isn’t for everyone. Your body or skin type may not be cut out for it, and that’s OK.