The Prince Albert piercing (or PA) is an intimate piercing that is inserted into the urethra and out through the glans corona; basically where the urine comes out, to a piercing hole on the underside of the glans. A ball closure or segment ring is usually worn through the resulting hole, which is placed through the natural opening of the urethra.
The Prince Albert is an uncomplicated piercing that is worn primarily for aesthetic reasons as well as to increase sexual arousal. By stimulating the urethra and the frenulum (the skin tissue band on the underside of the glans), the wearer experiences an additional stimulus that can be pleasurable. The partner can also be additionally aroused by the piercing due to increased friction and pressure. However, this can also be perceived as painful so be careful initially!
The female version of this piercing is called the Princess Albertina piercing (more information about this piercing can be found here.
What is the origin of a Prince Albert piercing?
Urban legend has it that the Prince Albert piercing can be traced back to the husband of the British Queen Victoria. Prince Albert (1819 – 1861) allegedly had this piercing in order to be able to fix his penis to his trouser button. This enabled him to wear the tight military trousers that were fashionable at the time, without any visible bulge. In addition, the permanent retraction of the foreskin is said to have prevented the formation of foreskin sebum (smegma).
However, the truth of this story is highly controversial.
How do you get a Prince Albert piercing?
In the case of a circumcised penis, the piercing is placed exactly at the point of the removed foreskin frenulum. In the case of an uncircumcised penis, the piercing point is chosen next to the foreskin frenulum. The piercing can be done in two different ways.
In the first variant, the cannula (a hollow needle covered with a plastic tube) is inserted into the natural opening of the urethra. To avoid injury, the needle is pulled back into the cannula in the process. Once the cannula is correctly placed, the needles are pushed out and the piercing is done.
In the second variant, a receiving tube (protective tube) is first inserted into the urethra. By applying pressure outwards, the position inside the urethra is visible and can be punctured at the right place with a piercing needle. This prevents injury to the urethra.
The Prince Albert piercing is normally done with a needle thickness of 2.4 mm. There are tools available, such as this Prince Albert Piercing Kit, that make the piercing process even easier. Please note that piercings should always be carried out by professional piercers to reduce the risks.
A ball closure (or segment ring) is then usually inserted through the newly created opening. After healing, other jewellery can be worn, such as Curved Barbells (Bananabells) or Circular Barbells. If it needs to be even more extraordinary, a specially made Prince’s Wand (penis plug) piece of jewellery can also be considered.
Does a Prince Albert piercing hurt?
Since the Prince Albert is a fairly uncomplicated and quick piercing to make, the pain is, contrary to first assumption, quite bearable. The puncture point can even be anaesthetised if necessary. In rare cases, blood vessels run directly next to the foreskin frenulum and can cause complications. A piercing is still possible, but the pain is much stronger and heavy bleeding can occur.
How long does a Prince Albert piercing take to heal?
A Prince Albert piercing usually heals within 4 – 8 weeks with appropriate care. The healing process can be additionally supported with camomile baths. Due to repeated contact with disinfecting urine, healing is usually uncomplicated.
After healing, the Prince Albert is usually stretched, as a thicker piercing ring is more comfortable to wear. A thickness of about 4 mm (instead of the intial 2.4 mm) or more is recommended to prevent the ring from growing out.
Summary
The Prince Albert piercing is an uncomplicated intimate piercing that heals relatively quickly and can provide additional sexual stimulation for the wearer and their intimate partners. After it has fully healed, it should be stretched slightly so that it is more comfortable to wear.
If you’re interested in tattoos as well as piercings, you’ll love our article on “Most Painful Places To Get A Tattoo“.
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