female piercing photos

I received a message from a woman who was concerned about her "VCH piercing"

I got a vch 2 wks ago and when I initially got the piercing, it was very snug and didn't move much, I couldn't even see it when I stood straight up. I clean it 3 times a day with sea salt in water but now it slides either all the way down or all the way up. It doesn't seem to be much tissue there any more and the curved bar I have sticks out prominently, so much I rolled over on it in my sleep last night and pulled it. Could it have been done wrong? I'm really worried it won't turn out right, please give me some insight.

I requested a photo, then got this message:

Infortunately, when I got home and went to use the bathroom, I pulled my pants down and my barbell fell out. My piercing had ripped out. This picture is 2 weeks after I got it.

Do you think the same thing would happen if I have it redone? What did I do wong?

My reply,

Unfortunately, you weren't given a VCH piercing (assuming that's what you requested). Yours was more like a Christina, which is placed above the hood at the lower portion of the pubic mound. It was far above your hood instead of through it. I marked your photo to show you where the bottom part of the jewelry should have been resting. Your piercer was off by MILES!

I received a photo from a woman who found my website after getting her Vertical Clitoral Hood (VCH) piercing done. She thought something didn't seem right with it. This is my response:

It might be in the right spot. I'd need to see it from underneath to be sure. See attachment that shows a shallow VCH piercing with the optimal placement marked.

Also, your bar is far longer than it needs to be. This can cause discomfort and also excess trauma, which can delay healing and cause complications such as scarring.

Further, the bar looks like it may be thiner than the safe minimum size (14 gauge), and the balls are very small, which could result in embedding. I would suggest you get a shorter bar in, and one that has larger balls than what you're wearing now.

Even if the jewelry is thinner than it should be, I would advise you to wait until the piercing has fully healed and settled (at least 3 months) before getting a thicker piece of jewelry put in. It would not need to be repierced to do that. This tissue is quite malleable and stretchy and can go up in size quite easily. A piercer can do it with a device called an insertion taper. It might feel somewhat tight or pinchy, but if you stretch it slowly enough, it will not cause damage or need to reheal.

Are you following the aftercare as suggested here?

I reveived a message recently:

Dear Elayne,
I got my VCH done last June by Kellan at infinite in Philly and I've been very pleased with it. He was a great and professional piercer, he calmed me down and talked me through it. I got a curved barbell but I've decided I want try out some different jewelry. Do you have any ideas for styles to increase stimulation?

Also, next month I have to have a test and my doctor said I have to take the jewelry out. How long can I leave it out for? I can't get back to Infinite any time soon. Thank you so much! A.

My reply:

I received this message from a concerned piercee:

I got my piercing done two days ago and the skin that is on top of the bar hurts really bad to be touched.  Also where the top ball sits when I move it so I can clean it hurts. Also when  i got itI done it was the worse pain I have ever felt in my life!I please help!

Here's an exchange I had with a woman who suspected right away that there was something wrong with her Horizontal Clitoral Hood (HCH) piercing:

I just had a HCH piercing done this afternoon, but 'm freaking out and need some help.... It's swollen a bit and all the time I check it, is still bleeding! Didn`t have any pain after getting it done, just felt a little unconfortable when I walked up to the supermarket few hours later. But is all about this bleeding that seems no to stop! Am so worried and thinking of taking it of... Please would love if you could give me an advice! Thanks ever so much!

I am so sorry to keep bugging you, but I'm very disappointed. After being curious as to why I wasn't receiving much clitoral stimulation from my piercing, I did a little more exploring of the area. I do think that this guy placed the bottom of the piercing a bit too far from the apex of my clitoral hood. I know I sound like a scrooge, but I didn't spend my hard earned money on a piercing that's only going to look pretty and not function as it should.

You can imagine how pissed off I am right now. I have attached a picture exposing the underside of my hood. Please give me your opinion. If you concur, I have a couple of questions for you.

Do you think I should abandon the piercing, or would simply changing the jewelry to a j-curve solve the issue? If I abandon the piercing, how long should I wait before getting re-pierced properly? Finally, can you recommend any piercers in California? (Preferably in the southern California or inland empire areas.) Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you so much. Xoxo <3 A.

Hi A.,

I had some lengthy correspondence with a piercee who went to a reputable professional for her Vertical Clitoral Hood (VCH) piercing, but felt it was much more painful than most other women seem to find the procedure and aftermath. I believe it was a reflection of individual sensitivity after learning it was done by a skilled piercer.

Thank you for your blog and insight. When I decided on a VCH piercing I researched your blog and found infinate piercings in Philly to be reputable and only about 2 hours away from me. I had her done at the end of October. They were excellent, professional, clean...wonderful experience.


I guess my question to you is now that I feel I've healed, when I look at correct vch piercings mine looks different. It seems to stick out more than others.

Now I do realize anotomy is different so I try not to let it bother me, however it appears correct from the view I sent, according to your dots I see you mark on others photos. The side view shows it doesn't seem flush with the skin like others are. (She likes to lean to one side...ha) Could it possibly be pierced wrong? Perhaps I need a larger gauge. I was pierced at 12 and just ordered a 10 to stretch so perhaps that may help? Thanks for your time.