Though this piercing isn't readily visible, it's both bold and empowering. Are you curious about a Prince Albert?
Also known as PA for short, this guide will cover information about this popular male genital piercing. Everything from the history of the Prince Albert piercing to the dreaded PA piercing pain. We'll also answer common questions like, does a Prince Albert piercing hurt? What is the healing time for a PA piercing? and much more.
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A Prince Albert is a popular intimate piercing on the penis. A professional piercer performs the piercing through the urethra or underside of the penis near where the head meets the shaft. The jewelry passes through the urethra and then exits through the urethral opening, where the urine exits.
Although it seems like a tough piercing, it actually goes through less skin than an earlobe piercing. It is both a relatively easy piercing to get and care for.
Another PA variation is the reverse Prince Albert piercing. In a reverse PA piercing, the jewelry still goes through the urethra, but it comes out on the top of the glans instead of exiting on the underside.
Similar to the reverse PA is the deep shaft reverse Prince Albert. The piercing is made further down the shaft. The jewelry still goes through the entrance of the urethra and comes out the top, but the exit hole is much farther away from the head. This PA variation is sometimes performed due to mild hypospadias or if the person wants to wear large jewelry.
What are the risks associated with a Prince Albert piercing?
Correct anatomy is crucial for this piercing. Incorrect placement can cause scarring, pain, nerve damage, painful erections or lack of erections and urinary tract infections (UTI's). Even with compatible anatomy, infections, migration and rejections are still a risk.
Other risks to consider with genital piercings are:
What's the origin of the Prince Albert piercing and why is it called a Prince Albert piercing?
This is one of the most popular penile piercings, but the Prince Albert piercing history isn't what you might think. There are many myths surrounding the Prince Albert piercing origin.
Many believe that the name comes from Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's prince consort in the 1800s, who had this piercing. Another theory is that he had Peyronie's disease and he used the piercing to straighten out his penis.
There's also a rumor that Prince Albert had this piercing to pull back the foreskin to keep his genitals smelling fresh for the queen.
Another popular myth is that men during this time period used a dressing ring called Prince Albert to secure their penis to their leg to help minimize the visibilty of their package under their tight clothes.
The speculation surrounding the PA is fascinating, but the reality is that the origins are unknown. All of these myths are fabricated stories by Doug Malloy, a pioneer and supporter of modern body piercings. He wrote a pamphlet called "Body and Genital Piercing in Brief" that circulated in the 1970s and '80s. The pamphlet piqued curiosity and helped popularize modern piercings with his fictional stories.
What's the Prince Albert piercing process? This is a genital piercing, so you want to make sure you do your research and find a reputable and professional piercer who you are comfortable with. If it makes you feel more comfortable, bring a family member or friend to the appointment for support.
A piercer will look at your anatomy for the best placement for this piercing. They'll check the frenum (webbed skin) or blood vessels in the area where the piercing usually goes. The final placement will depend on your anatomy.
If you plan on stretching your piercing, let the piercer know this in advance as this can affect placement.
Once the piercer determines placement, they will clean, prep, and mark the area. You don't need to be erect for this piercing. In fact, an erect penis makes the piercing more difficult and can result in additional bleeding.
Getting an erection while the prepping is underway is normal. The piercer will give you time to relax. However, if a piercer encourages an erection, that is inappropriate.
Once everything is ready. They'll insert the needle followed by the jewelry. The piercer will decide on the initial gauge and jewelry used.
Piercers typically perform the piercing at 10g-8g, but they may use a larger gauge to help prevent migration. For the initial piercing jewelry a captive bead ring, circular barbell, curved barbell or a customized jewelry piece may be used. It all depends on what will work best with each person's anatomy.
Since this is a sensitive piercing, choose high-quality jewelry like implant-grade titanium. This will help with the healing process.
Now that you know what to expect, here are a few things to help you prepare for the appointment:
Since the piercing goes through an incredibly thin area of tissue, the pain associated with the Prince Albert piercing is surprisingly described as not that bad. However, it does go through many nerve endings and goes through the urethra, so there will be some discomfort. Just remember that the procedure is quick. Once the piercing is done, you might feel some pain and discomfort afterwards.
While it may not hurt as much as other piercings, people say getting ready for it can be stressful and nerve-wracking. To help put you at ease, make sure you go to a reputable, professional piercer and don't be afraid to ask questions.
The final price of this penis piercing varies based on the piercing studio location and the initial jewelry used. The piercing service can run anywhere from $40 to $150, not including the jewelry.
Since this is a delicate piercing, choose high-quality jewelry like implant grade titanium to reduce the risk of any complications during healing. As with any piercing, don't forget to budget for aftercare like saline solution and sanitary pads.
For such a sensitive area, the PA piercing healing time is fairly quick. The high blood flow in the area helps heal it faster and it can take anywhere from eight to 14 weeks to fully heal.
After getting the piercing, be prepared for it to bleed for up to a week, especially in the mornings. And if you get an erection, it may cause more bleeding. If this happens, just take a quick shower to clean the area.
You may also see blood while you urinate for the first few days. Don't worry, all this is normal. Even after the first week, you may still see some spotting, but the bleeding should subside soon after.
The easiest way to prevent staining is to use pads or sanitary napkins. While you can wrap the piercing in gauze, it's hard to keep it in place and you should avoid moving the jewelry. A pad will stay put, do its job and absorb the blood.
After about two weeks, you may need to downsize the jewelry. Make sure to set up a follow-up appointment with your piercer before you leave the piercing studio. They'll check that your piercing is healing correctly, and they'll switch out the jewelry.
Does a Prince Albert piercing affect peeing? Yes, it can affect the urine stream. The jewelry sits in the middle of the urethra and it can split the flow causing a mess.
While your piercing heals, you can sit down to urinate. Or if you prefer to stand, just be aware of the mess and clean up after yourself.
Does a Prince Albert leak? It can. The piercing is a hole, so you can experience leakage from the piercing. Also, the piercing can stretch on its own, causing the hole to get bigger, which can result in leakage.
Once your piercing heals, there are some ways to help with leakage. Simply plug the hole with your finger while you urinate. Place a finger at the front of the jewelry on the underside of your penis.
If you're wearing a ring, place your fingertip inside it. This will guide the jewelry toward the lower edge of your urinary opening, helping it stay clear of the urine flow.
Another option is to try angling your penis so the ring points upward. This can help any urine leaking from the piercing hole to rejoin the main stream.
Others prefer to let gravity do the work by leaning forward against the wall so all the fluids merge and enter the toilet.
No matter how you choose to pee, this piercing will change how you urinate. Even if you remove the piercing, the hole may not fully close and you can still have leakage. Many opt to plug the hole with their fingers once they've retired the piercing. Another option is to consult a doctor about closing up the piercing.
Though the healing time for a Prince Albert Piercing is fairly fast, it's important to keep up with aftercare as to not delay healing. Make sure to follow your piercer's aftercare instructions.
Generally, you'll want to clean your piercing twice a day with saline spray or saline solution. For this type of piercing, a saline solution is preferred. This allows you to soak the piercing for a couple of minutes, which really lets the solution get into the piercing.
First wash your hands. In a clean glass, add your saline solution and let your piercing soak.
Gently remove any crusties. If you get an erection during the night, the crusties can pull into the piercing, causing discomfort and pain.
Afterwards, gently pat the area dry with a clean paper towel. Urinating after cleaning your piercing can also help flush any build up in the piercing.
If crusties are an issue during the night, keep a clean glass of water by your bed to help you remove them.
If you decide to use a saline spray, simply spray the piercing and let the solution sit for a few minutes. Afterwords, delicately remove any crusties that have formed, then use a clean paper towel to pat dry around the piercing.
Other PA aftercare tips:
Don't touch the piercing or anywhere near the piercing with dirty hands to avoid an infection. Wash your hands before using the restroom or use a clean tissue or paper towel if you need to hold your penis. If you decide to sit, make sure the piercing doesn't touch the toilet bowl or toilet water.
During healing, avoid bodies of water like pools, lakes and the beach. These are environments conducive to bacteria that can cause an infection.
Keep your underwear, clothes and bedding clean to reduce exposure to bacteria. Consider using cotton undewear as it's more absorbent and helps better circulate the air. Be wary of any holes or loose threads that can snag the piercing.
Stay overly-hydrated! Drinking lots of water will help dilute your urine to reduce the acidity in it and help remove any build-up in the urethra. Urine is also sterile and as long as you're healthy, it will not harm your piercing and can even help minimize crusties.
However, if you feel some stinging from the urine, increase your water intake to lower the acidity, eat your veggies and fruits and reduce animal food consumption to help produce urine lower in acid. If the acidic urine feels uncomfortable, pour clean water over the piercing while you pee. This will help soothe the area.
Avoid any physical activity that can irritate the piercing and delay healing. That includes sexual activity but more on that below.
SHOP AFTERCARE
Part of the appeal of a PA is that it can help increase sexual pleasure in the bedroom during masturbation or with a partner. Before you try sexual activity, ensure that your piercing has fully healed.
Since the piercing is in the urethra, many nerves surround it. This can increase stimulation for the wearer.
When playing with a partner, the jewelry in a PA piercing can add different textures and sensations during oral, vaginal or anal sex.
The idea of new experiences for both the wearer and their partner is exciting. However, it is not the same for everyone. While it may feel pleasurable for the piercee, their partner may experience discomfort or pain. It's important to take it slow and talk to your partner about how they feel.
If you're not sure whether your partner will enjoy a PA. You can test it out beforehand by getting a cheap dildo pierced with a PA and trying it out. This test can help you determine if this piercing is right for you and your partner before making it permanent.
Once you're ready to resume any sexual activities, including masturbation, ensure you feel comfortable. You'll want to make sure everything is clean, that includes your body, jewelry and your partner.
Using a condom, especially in the first few weeks after getting pierced, helps keep germs and bacteria away. It also protects the piercing from your partner's bodily fluids, and helps minimize jewelry movement.
After you finish, clean your piercing with saline spray to remove any bodily fluids.
Your piercer selects the initial jewelry based on your anatomy. Common starter jewelry can be captive bead rings, circular barbells or curved barbells. After a couple of weeks, you may need to downsize your jewelry. Go to your piercer so they can measure you properly and switch out the jewelry for you.
While you may be ready to switch out the jewelry on your own, wait a few months to allow the Prince Albert piercing fistula (the flesh tunnel of a healed piercing) to heal and thicken to ensure a smooth jewelry change.
SHOP PRINCE ALBERT JEWELRY
This piercing is anatomy dependent and it isn't for everyone. A professional piercer will assess your anatomy and determine if it's right for you.
While it's a piercing that heals relatively quickly, aftercare is still important. If you're not committed to keeping up with the aftercare, this piercing may not be suitable for you.
The effects of this piercing may be long-lasting or permanent. Even after retiring the PA, the piercing hole may not fully close. This can result in continued leakage that may require surgery to completely close. If you're not ready to handle continued leakage, reconsider getting this piercing.
A PA is big commitment. As mentioned earlier in the blog, there are several risks associated with genital piercings. If you're uncomfortable with any of the risks, a PA might not be the best choice. Make sure you're ready before making it permanent.
Can you still get a PA if you're uncircumcised?
Yes, you can still get a Prince Albert if you're intact or uncircumcised. However, there are some things to consider. The foreskin needs to retract far enough to allow for the area to be pierced.
The piercer also needs to make sure that the jewelry won't prevent the foreskin from going back into place. The jewelry shouldn't pin back the foreskin as that can cause severe damage.
It's important for the wearer to keep the area clean, especially the area under the foreskin. Doing so helps avoid infections while it heals.
Can you stretch a Prince Albert piercing?
Yes, you can. This piercing is very popular for large gauge or jumbo jewelry. Part of the allure of larger jewelry is that it has the potential to cause more sexual stimulation. Even if you're not planning to stretch, this piercing can stretch naturally on its own due to the weight of the jewelry and gravity.
If you are planning to stretch, make sure to wait until the piercing is fully healed, at least three months after getting pierced, to make sure your body or the fistula is stable enough to handle a larger gauge.
Stretching should be done slowly and carefully to avoid injury. It’s best to increase one size at a time and wait a couple of months in-between stretches.
To prepare for the next stretch, use a lubricant like jojoba oil or emu oil, to massage the area daily to help promote elasticity.
Stretching can be safe and comfortable if done patiently, so take your time for the best results.
We hope this has been helpful. If you have any questions about this piercing, consult a professional piercer. As always, please remember to follow us on all our socials platforms @bodyartforms!
