Our Prince Albert piercing jewellery range has a wide selection of surgical steel and titanium PA jewellery so you can find something to suit your needs. Find out more about Prince Albert piercings and the ideal jewellery for you.

Prince Albert piercing is one of the most popular genital piercings for men. The PA piercing enters through the underside of the glans and exits through the urethra. There is also the reverse Prince Albert, which enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the glans. Both are usually pierced with at least a 2mm gauge.

BCRs, curved barbells and circular barbells are all suitable to be used as Prince Albert piercing jewellery if the correct size is selected. However, the first Prince Albert piercing jewellery that will be fitted is a ball closure ring. It is best if the BCR is made from titanium as it is hypoallergenic and biocompatible. Once your PA piercing is fully healed you can switch it for surgical steel if you wish.

Prince Albert piercing jewellery is a heavier gauge to avoid the cheese cutter effect* where the piercing hole becomes stretched by thin jewellery either during long periods of wear or sudden torsion. The heavier gauge also helps to prevent the piercing from bleeding too much during healing by exerting pressure on the hole.

*(The cheese cutter effect is used to describe a piercing hole that becomes stretched downwards due to the weight or position of a piercing. It is most commonly seen in lobe piercings after a lifetime of wearing heavy earrings with a thin gauge. The hole sometimes looks more like a line or slit than a circular hole, hence the name. It creates the same effect as a cheese cutter wire being cut through cheese.)

Why is it called a Prince Albert?

The Prince Albert piercing origin is popularly rumoured to come from the story that 19th century men, including Prince Albert, wore a "dressing ring” on their penises to secure it to their leg, avoiding a visible bulge in tight trousers.

Prince Albert Piercing Benefits & Side Effects

There is no evidence to suggest that a Prince Albert piercing inhibits sexual activity; in fact, many claim it does the opposite. Prince Albert piercing benefits include stimulation of the urethra during sexual activities which many find pleasurable and can be the main reason for a person wanting to get a PA piercing. The piercing ring itself can be used to increase your partner’s pleasure too.

PA rings rarely interfere with safe condom use either as Prince Albert piercing jewellery is normally very smooth. However, it is important to consider your lifestyle before getting your PA as there are some Prince Albert piercing side effects while you are healing. During the healing process, you will need to refrain from sexual activity in order to allow the wound to heal. Using a condom during the healing time is essential, even with a regular partner, as it helps to keep the wound clean of any bacteria.

Having a PA piercing increases your risk of tissue damage during healing and during sex. You will also be more susceptible to infection and STIs, particularly during healing but these risks shouldn’t deter you since there are easy ways to ensure you stay safe. Prince Albert piercings are still the most popular form of penis piercing and many people successfully enjoy PAs throughout their whole lifetime with no problems.

It is very important to choose the right size Prince Albert ring for your body because the wrong size can pinch or rub uncomfortably; luckily we stock a wide range at Blue Banana. You may need to try several Prince Albert ring sizes before settling on one that is comfortable for everyday wear. Your preference for jewellery size may also change as your piercing heals. While the gauge of the piercing is recommended to be around 10, much higher than most piercings, it is important that you feel comfortable so be prepared to try out several jewellery options before finding your perfect piercing ring.

How long does it take a Prince Albert to heal?

Most penis piercings will heal in 4 to 6 weeks but due to the location of the Prince Albert piercing it can take up to 6 months to fully heal. You will need to clean your piercing twice a day for the first 6 weeks and refrain from sexual activity for at least the first 2 weeks. You may find that your PA piercing bleeds for the first few days but if you experience any excessive bleeding or other signs of problems then make sure to consult your doctor. Your piercer will be able to explain the expected amount of bleeding and swelling for your new piercing.

Our Prince Albert piercing cost is around £90 - £95. For any intimate piercings, we require another member of staff who is usually the same sex as you to be in the piercing studio with the piercer. This is part of our safety terms. Our piercers are only able to discuss and perform genital piercings if you are over the age of 21.

Surprisingly Prince Albert piercing pain is reported to be fairly mild. Some have even compared it to lobe piercing. Compared to other types of penis piercings, the PA is generally rated quite low on the pain scale. You may experience some stinging when the piercing is performed followed by a throbbing sensation while the piercing initially heals but with the correct jewellery size for your anatomy, there should be minimal to no pain. You can also stretch your PA once it has healed to wear a larger gauge ring. This should be done slowly but again is reported as only causing mild discomfort.

Prince Albert piercing has been top of the list of male genital piercings for decades and remains more popular than you might think but make sure you are committed to completing the aftercare routine if you are planning to get a PA. This will help your piercing to stay clean and heal neatly. Consult your piercer if you think you need to change the size of your piercing jewellery and ask any questions you have to our expert piercing team.