Can nipple piercings enhance sexual pleasure?

It’s not as clear-cut as you might think.

Like most rebellious teens, I seriously considered getting my nipple pierced as soon as I turned 18. But what put me off (and helped me decide to get a nose ring instead) was the contrasting stories I’d hear from my older sister’s cool friends, after they had it done.

For every girl who talked about how painful it was, there was another who swore it made her sexual encounters a lot more… sexy, for lack of a better word. “You just feel hotter, it’s kind of powerful,” I remember her saying, nips standing to attention behind her Glassons tankini.

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Besides looking hotter, I’d also been told by several people that it enhances sexual pleasure, along with claims it could make them orgasm via the nipples (complete news to me). But again, I’d learn of some other infected horror story from a friend’s cousin who had ‘ruined’ her previously perky nips. All this hearsay taught me the results following a nipple piercing varied, greatly.

According to Maria Ruggiero, an established beauty therapist and owner of Essential Beauty West Lakes in Adelaide, there’s no knowing for sure how your nipple will change after getting a piercing. “Nipple piercings can cause the nipple to be constantly erect for some people, even once jewellery is removed,” she says.

Jewellery in your nipples can also affect your sex life, obviously, but again it’s not as clear-cut as you might think. Talking to Maria, she says nipple sensitivity differs from person to person but something she notices consistently is the confidence boost it gives her clients. “Customers love wearing thin bras and T-shirts to show off their piercings,” she says. “And the jewellery these days is more luxurious which adds to their confidence.”. A lot has happened in the nipple piercing world since I dipped my toe in 15 years ago, Maria tells me.

What are the most common reasons people come to you for nipple piercings?

The most common reason people want to get nipple piercings is because they just love the look of the jewellery in their nipples. It’s just another excuse to buy more jewellery. They love the look of an erect nipple and the [look of] jewellery with a tight T-shirt or activewear as well. Most people these days prefer a double nipple piercing instead of just one. However, there’s a group of people who have small or inverted nipples who get nipple piercings to help enhance their nipple size.

When I was a teenager, nipple rings were cool. What’s the latest nipple jewellery trend now?

Most customers get barbells put in these days. Captured bead rings were popular in the ’90s – people would lace ribbons through the rings for something fun. These days barbells have taken over. We need to put longer barbells in at the start to allow for any swelling that may occur. Once healing is complete, customers have a beautiful range of sparkling rings or barbells with gems and different designs they can match up with fun lingerie.

Another growing trend amongst our customers at the moment is having double nipple piercings on one nipple. It creates a cute skull and crossbones look with the barbell.

Can nipple piercings enhance sexual pleasure? 

This is very personalised – some customers report no difference in the sensation or sexual pleasure for them personally. Most customers report that their partner gets more stimulation out of the nipple piercings as it’s a new, fun look and partners enjoy the feel of the jewellery around the nipples.

What happens to the nerve endings in the nipple after it’s pierced? Are there any changes that could potentially enhance sensitivity?

As the piercing involves a needle going through the skin to make room for jewellery to sit under the nipple, there is momentary damage but the skin repairs very well. Proper aftercare is the key to prevent nerve damage.

In what ways can nipple piercings impact our sex lives?

We always advise no oral sex or rough handling around the nipple area for the first few weeks and sometimes even up to one month [after piercing]. The only impact we hear about is the positive aspects of their new look. Again, proper aftercare is key to being able to get back into your normal sexual activity, including the nipples. We send regular aftercare updates over a period of eight weeks to comfort customers and advise how they can heal the skin quickly, so they can share all the benefits of their new look with their partners.

Our aftercare emails are gentle reminders on what looks normal and what may need attention. It’s important to let the skin ‘stick’ to the jewellery, which creates a natural barrier against infection. This will impact couples for a while as they need to leave the area alone while the skin repairs itself around the jewellery. Metal type has no effect on the skin unless customers have certain allergies, but titanium cobalt chrome is the best choice for people with sensitive skin.

How do nipple piercings affect nipple sensitivity as we age or go through life changes like pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Ssensitivity or lack of sensitivity after a nipple piercing is very individual. The nipple area can become more sensitive in females whenever the breast swells due to the time of the month or pregnancy. Both men and women can experience sensitivity around the nipple when the area is being manually stimulated or if they get cold. When the nipple expands, there may be slight friction around the jewellery which can create an enhanced sensation. But not everyone gets the same reaction.

Nipple jewellery must be removed during breastfeeding. Usually, customers have no problem taking nickel jewellery in and out for breastfeeding. However, some customers have experienced the piercing closing over. It all depends on how long you have had the piercing. For piercings to fully establish themselves, the piercing needs to be over two years old so it doesn’t close when you take the jewellery out for a long period of time.

For more about nipple piercing styles, try this.