Is labia piercing a good idea?

If you are considering piercing your labia and you currently do not have a piercing, it is recommended to wait until after delivery. The body can go through many changes during pregnancy with the skin stretching and possible weight gain. It may be possible that the piercing will not heal correctly because of stretching. Another concern is that stretching during labor and delivery could cause tearing, even if there were not a piercing. In addition, during pregnancy, you have increased blood flowing through your body and any piercing may lead to increased bleeding.

If you have a genital piercing that has already healed properly there should be no complications. It is recommended that the metal is replaced with plastic the last few months and remains until after labor and delivery. You should consider removing the genital ring during pregnancy and labor and delivery to prevent any possible complications. When considering replacing with a plastic retainer, consult your physician or midwife with any concerns.

What safety precautions should I take?

As with any procedure that would cause the skin to be broken, infection is the greatest concern. If the piercing is not properly cared for as directed, an infection could set in and if left untreated could be passed onto the baby.

Safety precautions that should be used by the piercing technician are standard for all types of piercing. An autoclave should be used by the parlor to sterilize reusable equipment. The area should be clean, gloves worn at all times, and the supplies should be sealed until ready to use. Contact information for the technician should be available for questions or concerns.

Dirty equipment used for piercing can spread diseases from person to person. HIV and hepatitis are among the most dangerous. If you have had a piercing recently and you feel that the parlor was not following safety guidelines, contact your physician for testing. If you have been infected and it goes undetected, there are chances that the disease could be pass to the unborn child.

It is important that you consult your doctor or midwife with any concerns you may have. If you have or are planning to get a genital piercing, proper care to prevent infection is crucial.