Christina Piercing Calling Your Name? Here's What You Should Know

You can pierce a penis, you can pierce a taint, and some folks can even pierce away migraine. Well, you can also pierce the fleshy mound where your outer vaginal lips (labia majora) meet.

Yep, a Christina piercing sits on the cleft of Venus (iconic name, right?), where the labia majora join just above the clitoral hood. Because the piercing is vertical — like a down-low belly button piercing — it extends from the cleft up through the pubic mound (aka, mons pubis).

The benefits of a Christina piercing are almost purely aesthetic — if this look is your style, you’ll feel like a badass.

Unlike a clit piercing, a Christina piercing won’t directly boost sexual sensation. But feeling hot about your bod comes with serious benefits.

One 2019 study found that positive genital self-image was linked with overall positive body image. Researchers also found that feeling good about your genitals lowered insecurities about sexual encounters.

Bottom line: If getting pierced boosts your self-confidence, that can indirectly improve your sexual experiences. And if your partner loves your piercing, they might get nice and horny, too, leading to extra attention where it counts (clit is king).

Heads up: Having a vagina doesn’t automatically make you a good candidate for a Christina piercing.

Vulvas vary in size, symmetry, color — all the things. And a Christina piercing requires a nice handful (pun intended) of fleshy tissue on your mons pubis, the rounded spot over the pubic bone.

Curious if you’ve got the goods? Reach down toward the spot above your clit where your outer labia meet. Is it fleshy enough to pinch? If not, a Christina piercing isn’t in the cards for you.

You’ll need an L-bar or Christina bar. This jewelry has an L-shaped bend on one side and a straight post on the other.

Material options

Here are some safe, high quality materials suggested by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP):

• Implant-grade titanium: This option is ideal for people with nickel sensitivity. Find ASTM F-136 or ISO 5832-3 compliant titanium.
• Surgical steel: Look for steel that’s ASTM F-138 or ISO 5832-1 compliant.
• Solid 14-karat gold or higher: This is a common and safe choice for new piercings. Look for solid gold no higher than 18k (APP says that’ll be too soft). Avoid gold-plated jewelry, which can chip and flake.

Follow APP’s strict rules for picking a piercer. Make sure yours has the following:

• autoclave equipment for sterilizing
• a license/permit to operate (But remember that a license alone doesn’t guarantee proper training!)
• knowledge and experience with Christina piercings
• a list of detailed aftercare instructions

Like other piercings, the cost varies depending on where you go. But this isn’t an area where you want to find a bargain. Your priorities should include picking a pro piercer and high quality jewelry.

In general, expect to spend up to $100 for the piercing + cost of jewelry. And don’t forget to tip your piercer!

Some parts of the journey will remind you of any other piercing procedure. After showing up for your appointment, you can expect to sign paperwork, show some ID, and get asked about existing medical conditions.

From there, your piercer might need to evaluate whether your anatomy allows for a Christina piercing.

Got the go-ahead? You’ll move through these steps:

• Sanitization: Your piercer will scrub or wipe down the piercing area. Heads up: You *might* need to get a few pubes trimmed too.
• X marks the spot: Your piercer will mark the spots for the piercing so that you can confirm the placement.
• Pierce it real good: Now comes the hard part. A pro will pierce you by pinching the tissue, inserting a guiding needle, and placing the jewelry.
• Cleanup: Bleeding (there *will* be blood) should be stopped and cleaned up before you leave. Don’t forget to snag aftercare instructions on your way out!

As is the case with all piercings, the pain level is very individual. You can expect discomfort, but Christina piercings shouldn’t induce “Threat Level Midnight” cringe.

Want the most painless experience possible? Go to your appointment feeling good overall. Yes to hydration, no to feeling hungry AF, hungover, or stressed as sh*t.

Yep. There are risks any time you puncture holes in your body.

• Infection: This includes infections at the piercing site and blood-borne infections (hep B, hep C, and HIV) from unclean needles.
• Metal allergies: Folks with nickel allergies or sensitivities should opt for implant-certified titanium. Anyone allergic to metal could experience an allergic reaction that includes blisters, redness, and itching.
• Piercing rejection: Some bodies reject piercings by literally trying to push them out, possibly making the hole larger.
• Wear and tear: Watch for snags! Be extra careful around buttons and zippers, friends.
• Improper healing: Without near-perfect aftercare, things can go very wrong in the healing process. This area of your body sees a lot of sweat and movement, so it needs extra love, TLC, and cleaning.
• Embedded Christina piercing: In rare cases, jewelry gets stuck thanks to swelling tissue.

Healing time for Christina piercings can take 2-4 months. No joke!

A piercing’s healing time also varies according to the individual. For some people, full healing could take many months.

Be diligent about caring for your Christina piercing, especially during the healing process.

A few tips:

• Never touch the area with unwashed hands.
• Shower daily.
• Clean the piercing site with a sterile saline solution a few times daily.
• If you notice crusting, use gauze or a clean cloth soaked in saline solution to gently clean it.
• Pat dry after each cleaning — no rubbing or drip-drying!
• Consider wearing a panty liner or pad to keep a fresh piercing from snagging.
• Leave jewelry in place until the piercing is *fully* healed.
• Wait until the piercing has healed before having sex or playing with the area.
• Avoid immersing the piercing before it’s healed. That includes swimming pools, hot tubs, and baths!

Post-piercing pain and swelling will happen. But keep your eyes open for these signs of infection:

• extreme swelling at the site
• intense throbbing pain or burning
• steadily worsening pain
• smelly or colorful (green! yellow!) discharge

If you notice any of these symptoms, talk with a doctor ASAP.

Some genital piercing jewelry can only be swapped out by a pro. But if your Christina piercing has fully healed, you can change the jewelry yourself.

That said, it’s natural to be squeamish about changing jewelry for the first time. Most piercers will help you change it if you give ’em a call.

Why is a Christina piercing called a Christina piercing?

Legend has it that the first person who got this piercing was named Christina. (Is that you, Xtina Aguilera?)

How does a Christina piercing work?

A Christina piercing is a vertical piercing inserted on the cleft of Venus, which is the slightly fleshy spot where the labia majora meet above the clitoral hood.

What is a hood and Christina piercing?

Christina piercings are located above the clitoral hood, while a hood piercing goes through the clitorial hood around the clitoris itself.

How long does a Christina piercing stay swollen?

Swelling typically lasts for a few weeks. However, extreme swelling can indicate a problem.

How long does a healed piercing last?

Like other piercings, a Christina piercing should last as long as you keep the jewelry in place.

If you want to wave goodbye to your Christina piercing, remove the jewelry and keep the opening clean until it heals shut.

• Christina piercings are a type of genital piercing placed where the outer vaginal lips meet.
• Some people find Christina piercings seriously sexy, boosting confidence and possibly making sex hotter.
• It’s important to consider the risks and side effects of Christina piercings. These include infection and piercing rejection.
• Avoid serious complications by carefully choosing a pro piercer and high quality jewelry.
• Expect to avoid sex for some time to allow a Christina piercing to heal properly.