Male Genital Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Male genital piercing is thought to be one of the oldest forms of piercing. Believed to originate as a coming of age ritual, there are now many types of male genital piercing. Want to know more about where you can get a genital piercing? We have answered all your male genital piercing FAQs, below.

What piercing should I get male?

Men can get a variety of piercings. As male genitals can vary in size, shape and construction, there are some male piercings that may be anatomically unsuitable for some individuals. A qualified piercer will be able to assess the piercing area, taking into account factors such as anatomical restrictions (including Hypospadias, phimosis or undescended testicles) as well as the change in size and shape that an erection will create, in order to inform you of which male piercings would be viable.

Male genital piercing options:

Ampallang PiercingInformation: Derived from the ancient 'coming of age' ritual of the Dayak people of Borneo, this piercing passes horizontally through the head of the penis, either above or below the urethra depending on your preference.
Apadravya Piercing Information: This piercing passes vertically through the head of the penis. The apadravya can be placed either in the centre of the glans or closer to the coronal ridge.
Dydoe PiercingInformation: This piercing passes vertically through the coronal ridge. Not everyone can have a dydoe piercing, as it requires a substantial amount of tissue to accommodate the jewellery.
Foreskin Piercing Information: Suitable only for uncircumcised men, this piercing passes directly through the foreskin.
Frenum PiercingInformation: This piercing is placed horizontally across the base of the penis. This piercing is always located on the underside of the genitals and can be a single piercing, or part of a 'frenulum ladder' which features three or more piercings.
Hafada Piercing Information: This surface piercing can be located anywhere on the scrotal sack, providing there is sufficient skin to accommodate the jewellery.
Lorum Piercing Information: This horizontal piercing is placed on the underside of the penis, where the shaft and the scrotum meet.
Pubic PiercingInformation: This surface piercing is typically located at the base of the penis, in the natural fold where the body and genitals meet.
Prince Albert Piercing Information: One of the few male genital piercings that many people know by name, this piercing enters on the underside of the penis and exits through the urethra.

Why is it called a Prince Albert?

It is commonly thought that the Prince Albert piercing is named after Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. It was only called a Prince Albert after the Victorian Era. It was originally called a dressing ring because its purpose was to hide the penis by using a ring and hook system in the trouser leg.

What is the point of a Prince Albert piercing?

It is commonly believed that the origin of Prince Albert piercings is during the Victorian era. Men, including Prince Albert, wore tight trousers and the point of the Prince Albert piercing was to rid themselves of the ‘unsightly’ bulge created by the penis. Tailors would place a hook in one leg of the trousers which men could attach the piercing ring to, in order to keep the penis to one side. It became known as a Prince Albert piercing and is thought to be the reason why tailors ask if you dress to the left or right. Today it is the sexual allure of the PA piercing that makes it such a popular choice. It is said to give both the wearer and the receiver a heightened pleasurable experience.

How painful is a Prince Albert?

A Prince Albert is considered by some to be a fairly painful piercing. Whereas others claim it does not hurt as much as you may think. Many find that getting the first piercing hole is relatively painless but the second hole, through the urethra, is considerably more painful. It should not hurt after the piercing has been performed but you may experience a throbbing sensation and bleeding immediately after. Bleeding is normal given the location of the Prince Albert piercing but it should not be excessive.

Is a Prince Albert piercing permanent?

Your Prince Albert piercing will close up very quickly if left without piercing jewellery before it has fully healed. The longer you have had your Prince Albert piercing the more permanent it will be, especially if you start to increase the gauge size of your piercing jewellery. If you intend to wear larger piercing jewellery in your Prince Albert piercing it is important to consult your piercer about how to do so safely. Once the piercing hole has reached a certain size and is fully healed is it less likely to close up if you leave it without piercing jewellery.

How much is a Prince Albert piercing?

Prince Albert piercing cost will vary but generally, this is a more expensive piercing due to the experience needed to carry out this piercing. On average the Prince Albert piercing price is £70 - £75. The price may depend on the jewellery you choose. It may also cost more because some piercing studios require two members of staff to be present during the piercing procedure for safety. For any piercing, particularly piercings in sensitive areas such as genital piercings and PA piercing, an experienced piercer and high quality jewellery are essentials to keep you safe and help your piercing to heal efficiently.

How painful is a frenum piercing?

Frenum piercing is not thought to be particularly painful. The frenum piercing is placed under the head of the penis, just below the skin where the foreskin attaches to the penis. It is only pierced through the outer skin which means it is less painful than other types of genital piercing that are inserted deep into the tissue.

What gauge is a frenum piercing?

Typically a frenum piercing is pierced with a 12g or 2mm needle. The frenum is a surface piercing which means it has a higher chance of rejecting. This can influence the gauge of jewellery you choose. If the piercing jewellery is too heavy there is a higher chance that the piercing will reject or migrate. It is unusual for a frenum piercing to reject completely. It is more likely that if you experience any movement (which is still rare) it will be a migration of the frenum piercing. Your piercer may recommend the size of piercing jewellery based on your anatomy as everyone is different.

What is a Dolphin piercing?

The dolphin piercing is similar to a Prince Albert piercing. It is placed through the frenulum/frenum which is below the head of the penis. Unlike a frenum piercing, the dolphin piercing is usually placed vertically through the penis. It is inserted into the urethra and out again through two piercing holes. The dolphin piercing is usually pierced with a barbell. Some say that a true Dolphin piercing is made with one piercing hole near the frenum that can be used to connect jewellery to an existing healed Prince Albert piercing.

What is the Jacob’s ladder piercing?

A Jacob’s Ladder piercing is another name used for multiple frenum or frenulum piercings. If you have three or more horizontal piercings on the underside of the penis, the barbell jewellery gives the effect of a ladder.

The type of piercing you choose will determine what kind of male genital piercing jewellery you need. Always check with your piercer if you aren’t sure about the gauge of your piercing jewellery so you can be certain that you are choosing a piece of jewellery that will sit comfortably in your genital piercing.

Want to find out more about piercing at Blue Banana? We have plenty of Piercing Guides available on all kinds of piercings.

Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a male genital piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Make sure to check the genital piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the male genital piercing age restriction is 21 (ID may be required). Genital piercings are not available with parental consent.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the genital piercing location.

The procedure will vary depending on your choice of genital piercing but they are generally performed with a needle which is inserted through the piercing site, followed by the piercing jewellery of your choice. Some male genital piercings require the use of forceps to ensure the piercing is placed correctly.

It's essential to visit a piercer who's experienced in performing this type of piercing as an exemplary knowledge of the construction of the male anatomy is required in order to perform the piercing safely and accurately. In the case of piercings that pass directly through penile tissue (such as the apadravya, ampallang or Prince Albert), an experienced piercer will know how to place the piercing so it avoids perforating blood vessels or the urethra.

Piercing Pain

Ampallang Piercing Pain: Some recipients of this piercing report nothing more than a short, sharp stinging pain, whereas others find it to be exceedingly painful.
Apadravya Piercing Pain: The apadravya piercing is labelled by many as one of the most painful piercings of all time, due to it passing through the most sensitive part of the penis.
Dydoe Piercing Pain: Many recipients have compared the pain of a dydoe piercing to that of 'aggressive rug burn' or a 'painful graze', though others have claimed it to be extremely painful.
Foreskin Piercing Pain: Billed as the least painful of all the genital piercings, the sensation of a foreskin piercing is often compared to that of an ear lobe piercing.
Frenum Piercing Pain: This piercing is billed as being relatively painless by most recipients.
Hafada & Lorum Piercing Pain: Said to be relatively painless by most, the hafada and lorum piercings may require the use of forceps, which can be more uncomfortable than the piercing itself.
Pubic Piercing Pain: This piercing has been compared to an eyebrow or nape piercing in terms of pain.
Prince Albert Piercing Pain: Despite its delicate location, this piercing is said to be comparable to an ear lobe piercing in terms of discomfort.

Piercing Jewellery for male genital piercings:

Ampallang Piercing Jewellery: Straight barbell
Apadravya Piercing Jewellery: Straight barbell
Dydoe Piercing Jewellery: Curved Barbell
Foreskin Piercing Jewellery: BCR, circular barbell or curved barbell
Frenum Piercing Jewellery: Straight barbell
Hafada Piercing Jewellery: BCR, circular barbell or curved barbell
Lorum Piercings Jewellery: BCR, circular barbell or curved barbell
Pubic Piercing Jewellery: BCR, circular barbell or curved barbell
Prince Albert Piercing Jewellery: BCR, circular barbell or curved barbell

Aftercare Advice

Some male genital piercings, namely the ampallang, apadravya and Prince Albert, may bleed freely for the first few days following the piercing. This is completely normal, as your piercer will explain. Other genital piercings, such as the pubic piercing, may bruise immediately following the procedure. In addition, if you sleep on the piercing, knock it accidentally or are a little heavy-handed whilst cleaning you may experience some redness and swelling which is normal and not a cause for alarm. Some people also experience some itchiness, which can be alleviated somewhat by applying a cool pack or some ice wrapped in cloth or kitchen paper to the area. Whatever you do, don't scratch or fiddle with the jewellery!

However, if you experience a high volume of blood loss, abnormal bruising, excessive discharge or exceptional levels of swelling and discomfort, you should immediately seek medical attention.

As with all piercings, a strict aftercare regime is essential to maintaining a healthy piercing. Dependent upon the type of genital piercing you have, the advised aftercare procedure can vary. Regardless of the type of piercing, the following advice should be adhered to:

Refrain from sexual activity until the piercing has fully healed.
Change your underwear daily and keep an eye on any bleeding, discharge or irritation you may experience.
Always wash your hands with antibacterial soap and hot water prior to touching your piercing. Ensure that you dry your hands with non-fibrous paper towels so that no fibres are left on your skin.
Next, using a solution of rock salt and pre-boiled, slightly cooled water (1 part salt to 4 parts water), clean your piercing. This can be done by either fully submerging the piercing in a shot glass or a small bowl, or by applying the solution liberally to the piercing and the surrounding areas with a cotton bud or pad.
Gently remove any fluid or crust using the solution and cotton buds or pads. If there is any stubborn build-up then you may need to repeat the cleansing process until you've removed it all.
Gently pat the area dry with a non-fibrous paper towel.
Finally, check that your jewellery is secure. Ensure threaded balls or screw-on balls are on correctly. Then wash your hands again.

This should be performed twice a day throughout the advised healing time of your piercing. It's essential to keep a close eye on the development of any lumps, bumps or migration and to speak to your piercer if you are concerned about any of these issues.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.