Prince Albert (genital Piercing) - Healing and Potential Side Effects

Healing and Potential Side Effects

The PA healing time can take from 4 weeks to 6 months. A fresh PA piercing may cause bleeding, swelling and inflammation. In rare cases, it can lead to local infections. Some men find that the dribble caused by the PA when urinating necessitates sitting down to urinate. With practice, some men are able to control the stream while standing.

Some PA wearers report it enhances sexual pleasure for both partners. Some people penetrated by males with this piercing report discomfort. PA rings can cause additional discomfort to female partners in cases when the penis comes in contact with the cervix. Sexual partners of those with piercings may present with complications such as chipped teeth, choking, foreign bodies getting stuck between the partner's teeth, and mucosal injury to receptive partners.

As with many piercings, there is a small risk of the jewelry becoming caught on clothing and being pulled or torn out, but this is usually only a concern with small gauge rings (smaller than approx. 8 ga). Very large gauge or heavy jewelry can cause thinning of the tissue between the urethral opening and the healed fistula resulting in an accidental meatotomy. Conversely, extremely thin jewelry can cause the same tearing in what is commonly referred to as the "cheese cutter effect", either during sudden torsion or over a long period of wearing, especially if the thin jewelry bears any weight. In some cases this can be corrected surgically.