List of All Male Intimate and Genital Piercings
Male genital piercings are less common than female ones, and some of them have origins in ancient tribes or civilizations. However, intimate piercings in general have seen a revival since the 1970s, particularly within the BDSM community.
For men, intimate piercings are mainly a symbol of passage or belonging to a social group or fashion trend, although for certain types, sexual pleasure is also a major motivation.
Most male genital piercings pass through the urethra, which helps them heal well thanks to the cleansing effect of urine. However, they still require careful aftercare. It’s generally advised to follow the same care guidelines as for female genital piercings: avoid wearing tight clothing during healing and refrain from sexual activity for about a month.
Prince Albert
The Prince Albert (PA) is the most common male genital piercing. It passes through the glans, entering through or beside the frenulum (under the glans) and exiting through the urethra.
According to legend, this is it named after Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, husband of Queen Victoria. In the 19th century, tight trousers were fashionable, and it’s said that Prince Albert used this piercing to fasten his penis downward along his thigh with a string, making it less visible through tight pants.
There’s also a reverse version called the Reverse Prince Albert, which enters through the top of the glans and exits through the urethra.
- Healing time: 6 weeks to 3 months
- Jewelry types: Circular barbell or ring
- Particular risks: None, thanks to urine, this piercing heals very well and is one of the least likely to get infected, according to professional piercers.
Ampallang
The Ampallang piercing goes horizontally through the glans, perpendicular to the urethra. It exists in both horizontal (most common) and vertical forms.
The horizontal Ampallang dates back centuries and originates from tribes in Borneo. Traditionally, it was meant to enhance the partner’s sexual pleasure, ward off evil spirits, and serve as a rite of initiation.
The vertical version, also known as the Apadravya, comes from India and is even mentioned in the seventh part of the Kama Sutra. This version is technically more challenging to perform.
When both horizontal and vertical piercings are combined, it is called the Magic Cross.
- Healing time: 4 to 9 months
- Jewelry types: Straight barbell
- Particular risks: None, aside from the technical difficulty of the vertical (Apadravya) placement.
Dydoe
The Dydoe passes under the ridge of the glans, from back to front, across the top of the penis. Because it exits behind the glans ridge, it is almost exclusively performed on circumcised men. It’s common to see two Dydoe piercings placed symmetrically.
- Healing time: 3 to 6 months
- Jewelry types: Curved barbell (banana barbell)
- Particular risks: None, except that it can only be performed on circumcised men.
Kuno
The Kuno passes through the base of the foreskin beneath the glans (the skin covering it), usually exiting to the right. It can be considered a variation of the Prince Albert.
- Healing time: 2 weeks to 6 months
- Jewelry types: Small circular barbell or ring, minimum 1.6 mm gauge
- Particular risks: None
Lorum and Hafada
The Lorum and Hafada both pass through the skin of the scrotum.
The Lorum is located directly under the penis, while the Hafada is placed slightly to the side.
The Hafada appeared in the 1970s within the West Coast gay BDSM community in the United States.
- Healing time: 2 weeks to 6 months
- Jewelry types: Any jewelry type can be used due to the elasticity of scrotal skin, but it must be large enough to accommodate skin contraction and expansion.
- Particular risks: None
Pubic
The Pubic is the male equivalent of the female Christina piercing. It is a surface piercing located above the base of the penis.
As with all surface piercings, it carries a higher risk of rejection and healing difficulties. Rejection of the pubic is quite common. It’s important to avoid tight clothing and any friction, especially during healing.
- Healing time: 2 weeks to 4 months
- Jewelry types: Curved barbell or custom surface bar designed to reduce healing complications
- Particular risks: High risk of rejection, like all surface piercings — requires very careful aftercare.
Frenum and Foreskin
The Frenum passes horizontally through the frenulum, under the glans. Historically, it was used by monks as a chastity device, where a small lock would replace the jewelry!
When several frenum are aligned along the underside of the shaft, it’s called a Frenum Ladder or Foreskin. In ancient Rome, this was reportedly used to prevent slaves from engaging in sexual activity with one another. It’s therefore the male equivalent of female labia piercings.
- Healing time: 4 to 8 weeks
- Jewelry types: Straight barbell or small ring
- Particular risks: None