Does the vertical clitoral hood (VCH) piercing pique your curiosity? It’s easy to see why. This piercing sits in a sensitive spot and does something most piercings cannot do — improve sensuality! The VCH piercing is more than just a form of body art; it’s an intimate expression of individuality.
But what’s it like having one? What are the benefits and risks? Join us as we break down everything about the VCH piercing in this post!
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What is a VCH?
VCH stands for Vertical Clitoral Hood. The clitoral hood is the skin fold covering and protecting the clitoris (or the “sweet spot” above the vulva).
What is a vertical clitoral hood piercing?
A vertical clitoral hood piercing is a genital piercing that goes vertically through the hood covering the clitoris. It’s one of the most popular female genital piercings.
What a VCH piercing looks like
A VCH piercing looks like this — a pretty piece sitting straight up in the hood. It enters through the clitoral hood and goes out above the clitoris.
Benefits of vertical clitoral hood piercings
People get VCH piercings for the following reasons:
- Sexual benefits
- Aesthetic or dressing up appeal
- Enhanced orgasm
- Increased confidence
- Empowerment purposes
- Self-expression
Let’s get into it.
1. Sexual benefits
VCH piercings bring sexual benefits not only for the wearer but also for their partner. A piece of jewelry near the clit increases stimulation (especially when the piercing touches the clit), making sex more enjoyable. You also derive higher pleasure from solo sexual acts (like masturbation), partner play, and actual sex.
For the partner, stroking their genitals against a hood piercing can create more excitement during sex. Some partners may even get aroused by the sight of a VCH piercing.
2. Aesthetic or dressing up appeal
Imagine gazing at a petite adornment you’ve placed in an intimate part of your body — and loving it!
You enjoy that sweet feeling with a clit hood piercing. It allows you to “own” your body and beautify it as desired. Plus, the piercing placement — vertically through the clitoral hood — is one to die for.
3. Enhanced orgasm
Most people need their clit stimulated to orgasm, so they hardly get it through sex. But with a piercing moving and tapping on your clit during sexual intercourse, you can easily orgasm! Many people who never orgasmed were able to after getting a vertical clitoral hood piercing.
4. Increased confidence
With your body aesthetics and sexuality all-improved, there’s no way you won’t feel more confident with a VCH piercing.
5. Empowerment purposes
Getting a VCH piercing is a personal choice, allowing you to exercise control over your body. This piercing hasn’t made it to the list of “societal expectations.” So when you get one, it brings an empowering sense of autonomy, knowing you set your standards instead of conforming to what people want.
6. Self-expression
Like other body modifications, a clit hood piercing is a form of personal exploration and self-expression. It allows you to find and assert your unique identity and style.
Who can get a VCH piercing?
Most women can get a VCH piercing as long as their clitoral hood is deep enough. A professional piercer can perform a Q-tip test to determine if a person’s clit anatomy is fine for a vertical hood piercing.
Who can not get this piercing?
People with thin clitoral hoods cannot get a VCH piercing. An HCH (horizontal clitoral hood) piercing is an excellent alternative.
Also, people with highly-sensitive clits should not get a VCH piercing. Remember, this piercing stimulates the clit and improves sexual arousal. If you’re naturally hypersensitive, a VCH piercing may take you to extreme, if not embarrassing, sensitivity levels.
How is a VCH piercing done?
A professional piercer will start by confirming that you’re eligible for this piercing in terms of age and anatomy. Once that’s clear, they’ll clean and mark the piercing site. Then, they’ll insert a cannula needle into your clitoral hood.
Once the needle goes through the hood, they’ll fix the piercing jewelry and pull out the cannula. You can expect some pain (more on this soon) and bleeding at this stage. The piercer will round up by cleaning the piercing site and giving you aftercare tips.
By the way, you can get a VCH piercing while on your period as long as your menstruation doesn’t hurt and makes you more sensitive to pain. Wear a tampon or menstrual cup so blood doesn’t touch and irritate your fresh piercing. If that sounds too much to abide by, wait until after your period.
How much does it hurt?
VCH piercings hurt, but not as much as you’d think. Pain is relative and differs from person to person. But most people found that they had exaggerated pain expectations. A VCH piercing is not as painful as other genital piercings and will only hurt briefly.
VCH piercing jewelry
Now you’re probably wondering, what do you wear on a VCH piercing? A few things should guide your jewelry choice.
1. Jewelry type
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Curved barbells, straight barbells, and captive bead rings are acceptable jewelry types for VCH piercings. Curved barbells are the most popular because their shape aligns with the clitoral hood, making them super comfortable.
2. Jewelry size
You also need a jewelry size that fits in the piercing. Your anatomy determines the best size, but generally, 14 to 12-gauge pieces that are ⅜” to 1⁄2” wide make a good fit. Regarding length, 6mm to 12mm barbell posts could work, depending on your anatomy and preferences.
3. Jewelry purpose
Different VCH jewelry is best for various purposes. For example, captive bead rings are best for stimulation, while curved barbells work well for pleasure and comfort.
The best VCH jewelry for pleasure is a curved barbell.
The best VCH jewelry for stimulation is a captive bead ring.
VCH jewelry materials
Apart from the size and type, another thing that really matters is the material of your VCH piercing. You must be picky here because the wrong material could ruin your piercing.
Here are some of the safest materials for a hood piercing.
- Titanium
- Surgical stainless steel
- Gold
- Niobium
Let’s get into it.
1. Titanium
Titanium is hypoallergenic, biocompatible, lightweight, and comfortable. It’s even used for medical implants. So, it’s one of the best materials for sexual piercings like the VCH.
2. Surgical stainless steel
Surgical steel is also hypoallergenic and generally safe for VCH piercings. Most people prefer it because it’s less pricey compared to titanium. So, surgical steel will be a good choice if you’re on a budget.
3. Gold
No, not just any gold. You need at least 14K gold (so 14K, 18K, 20K and 24K are okay). Anything less than 14K gold (12K or 10K) contains too many impurities that can irritate your piercing. Gold-plated jewelry is a no-no because it’ll irritate the piercing once the plating wears off.
4. Niobium
Like titanium and steel, niobium is hypoallergenic. However, it is weightier and more malleable than titanium. You can choose niobium barbells or bead rings for a VCH piercing.
Ensure that you buy your VCH jewelry from a trusted company and manufacturer. You don’t want to compromise the quality of your jewelry in such a sensitive spot.
How much does the piercing usually cost?
VCH piercings usually cost between $40 and $100. The exact price will depend on your location and piercer’s experience. It’s best to visit an experienced and specialized piercer (genital piercings specialist), even if it costs you more.
Clit piercing healing time
Healing time differs from person to person, but clit hood piercings usually take four to eight weeks to heal. The piercing area may stay sore and red for the first one or two weeks.
The healing time depends on.
- Aftercare practices: A well-cared-for piercing will heal faster than a neglected one. If you want your VCH piercing to heal quickly, you must take aftercare seriously.
- Piercing jewelry: A VCH piercing will heal quicker in safe metals like titanium. Allergenic metals like nickel will complicate healing.
- Body factors: Natural factors like your clitoral hood anatomy, the amount of body tissue in the piercing area, and your body’s healing rate also affect a VCH piercing’s healing time.
Aftercare & cleaning for VCH piercings
As mentioned, aftercare practices affect how long a VCH piercing takes to heal. Here are some helpful do’s and don’ts, including advice from the Association of Professional Piercers (APP):
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching a healing VCH piercing.
- It’s safe to have sex after the piercing but do so gently.
- Always rinse the piercing with saline solution after sex.
- Maintain good hygiene; bathe daily and remove sweaty underwear immediately.
- Use protection (like a condom) during sexual activities with your partner or sex toys.
- Use water-based lubricants only.
- Do not try to remove the jewelry while it’s healing.
- Don’t wear tight underwear or clothing (jeans, for example) on a fresh VCH piercing
- Avoid entering bodies of water until the piercing heals. That means you can’t swim after a VCH piercing.Clean your piercing regularly.
Are you unsure how to clean your VCH piercing? It can be a bit tricky since it’s an unusual piercing. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) advises cleaning the clit piercing twice a day by following these steps:
- Soak the piercing site in saline solution for a few minutes to soften crusts.
- Then, use a cotton gauze to clean both ends of the piercing.
- Gently use warm water to rinse the piercing.
- Use a disposable paper towel to pat dry the piercing.
The problems with VCH piercings
As with every other piercing, a VCH piercing has risks.
It’s best to know these before getting one.
1. Infection
Infection occurs when bacteria enter a piercing, making it hard to heal. VCH piercings are likely to get infected when you touch them with dirty hands or the piercer uses unclean equipment.
If you use a specialized professional and practice good aftercare, it’s unlikely that your piercing will get infected.
2. Rejection
It’s also possible that your skin pushes out the piercing jewelry (known as rejection). The only option here is to remove the jewelry and let go of your VCH piercing. A rejected VCH piercing may leave an unattractive scar.
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You can reduce the chances of rejection by keeping your (and your partner’s) hands away from the piercing. However, some piercings experience rejection after years of staying stable and healthy.
3. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
There’s a chance of contracting STDs when you use an unprofessional piercer. Their equipment may not be sterile and transmit STDs like hepatitis B and HIV. But as long as you visit a professional piercer, you’re safe.
4. Loss of sensation
A VCH piercing can cause you to lose sensation if it’s poorly placed (not placed on the hood). This can be very sad, especially if you get a VCH piercing primarily to improve sensuality. So make sure you visit a piercer who knows what they’re doing. With a professional, there’s a low chance of losing sensation from a hood piercing.
5. Allergic reaction
If your piercing jewelry contains nickel, you may get an allergic reaction. The piercing site may itch or become red. That’s why we advise using safe jewelry metals like titanium, stainless steel, and niobium.
6. Nerve damage
Relax; piercing the clitoral hood does not cause nerve damage. However, if a quack piercer punctures the clitoris instead of the hood, severe nerve damage can occur.
Signs of an Infected VCH piercing
A vertical hood piercing is likely infected if:
- it bleeds continuously even after weeks;
- the piercing site hurts, swells, and looks red;
- it produces smelly pus (different from the normal colorless discharge that may form a crust while healing);
- you feel hot and sick, and your body aches.
If you experience these symptoms, revisit your piercer or a doctor immediately. Don’t attempt to remove the piercing yourself.
How do you know when VCH is healed?
Generally, you should wait four to eight weeks. Then, look out for these signs to be sure that the piercing has fully healed:
- Lack of discharge: A healed VCH piercing will no longer produce discharge, whether smelly or odorless.
- Smooth edges: The piercing should no longer feel like a fresh wound. Instead, the hole edges should be smooth and crust-free.
- Loose piercing jewelry: The jewelry should feel free, loose, and easy to remove.
- Absence of pain: A healed VCH piercing will not hurt or stay red and swollen. If your VCH piercing still hurts after weeks, it could be infected.
If you’re unsure whether your VCH piercing has fully healed, visit your piercer to check and confirm. It’s better to be sure than to make a mistake and ruin your piercing. Once your piercing has healed, you can change it to fancier jewelry.
How to change VCH piercing jewelry
The best thing is to visit your piercer to change your VCH piercing, at least for the first time.
But if you choose to do it yourself (perhaps you’re far from your piercer), here are steps to guide you:
- Clean the piercing as usual and dry it with a paper towel. Clean the new jewelry, too.
- Sit in the “butterfly position,” with your feet together and knees bent outward. If you feel comfortable doing it while standing, that’s fine too.
- Gently shake the existing jewelry.
- If it feels tight, then apply a lubricant before the next step. If not, skip this point.
- Wear rubber gloves to give you a firmer grip on the jewelry.
- Hold the barbell firmly and use your other hand to loosen the ball.
- Gently pull out the barbell and set it aside.
- Slot the new VCH jewelry and screw on the balls to secure it.
- Make sure you don’t overtighten.
My VCH piercing experience
I was pretty nervous (excited, too) before my VCH piercing. The pain was the scariest thing for me, but it turned out I had little to worry about. It hurt but was just a sharp, quick puncturing pain. I had a female piercer (by coincidence, but I was glad), and she was very kind and friendly.
I got titanium curved barbells as my starter jewelry, and they stayed in for nine weeks (I had to be sure they were really healed) before changing them. I had a couple of previous piercings, so aftercare wasn’t much of a big deal. My hood stayed tender for the first week but gradually got better afterward.
Unlike most VCH-havers, I didn’t get my piercing for the sexual benefits; I was simply fascinated by the idea. But the difference in sexual stimulation after getting my piercing was clear, and I loved it as a bonus benefit. It’s been over a year now, and I still have — and love — my hood piercing.
Is there anything I’d do differently if given another chance? Yes, wear something super comfy to the studio. The tight pants I wore weren’t the best idea, and I found that out on the drive back home. Palazzo pants or skirts would have been much easier and more comfortable. Aside from that, it’s been a smooth VCH piercing experience for me!
The star of genital piercings
The VCH piercing is a queen among female genital piercings — the most popular, easiest, and least risky.
What’s there not to love?
If you’re considering getting this piercing, you have all the information you need to get started. Choose a professional piercer, buy safe-quality jewelry, and practice proper aftercare, and you’ll have a smooth VCH piercing experience like many others!
Need a quality piercing manufacturer?
Are you a wholesaler, retailer, or brand developer for piercing jewelry? Then you need to find a quality jewelry manufacturer!
Here at Body Jewelry Supermarkets, we do not simply manufacture jewelry. We create customized and private-label body jewelry designs and support piercing brands with effective merchandising strategies.
We work with both small and large-scale orders.
If you have a body jewelry design in mind, contact us right away!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a couple more things to know about vertical hood piercings.
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