Why did I wait to get my PA?

At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon Artist Aziz Studio Perforations Location Washington, DC

I had first seen an article about male genital piercings a dozen years ago. Sometimes, my gut feelings draw me to an idea that my conscious and logical mind won't touch. That was the case with genital piercing. In spite of the pull in the gut, my over active mind kept supplying reasons to resist. I would get an awful infection. It would seem out of character for a person my age. My lover would resist the idea.

Starting with the last reservation, it was he who started telling me how much he was turned on by body modifications. Then, he got his nipples pierced. After they healed, we had a whole new dimension to our sex play.

Still I resisted since it would be out of character. But who defines character? Whose image am I supposed to fulfill? I simply decided the answer to both of those questions was me!

Ah, but the possibilities for infection still loomed. Then it hit me. I am a prudent and careful person. I can take care of the healing process responsibly. I've had wisdom teeth taken out without any adverse effect by simply following the procedures recommended by the oral surgeon. Why wouldn't the same principle apply for a genital piercing? My mouth is an even dirtier place than my dick. Besides, I learned that urine was sterile to my own body.

So, off we went to Perforations in DC where my partner had had his nipples done. The moment I walked into the door of the place, I knew I was in the right place. There was a rainbow flag at the doorway, and the leather flag that was used as a curtain over one of the doorways. Aziz, the artist at Perforations, calmly talked through everything with me.

He gave me advice on my options as to what kind of ring to choose, but made no effort to push me in a particular direction. I appreciated that a lot. I think that one of the core principles of body modification is feeling the opportunity to take control of my own body.

One of my issues about piercing stems from the fact of having been circumcised when I was six years old. I felt violated at that time and even resentful that I had not had a voice in the decision. I am a firm opponent of routine infant circumcision, largely because it robs the person of the autonomy to have control over his own body. Piercing was a way of reasserting control.

Ultimately, I went with an 8 gauge size. Aziz explained that he would begin at 10 gauge and stretch so that he could insert the 8 gauge. He also explained that one of the key advantages of the larger sized ring is that the bleeding would end sooner. I had also read a person indicating that an 8 gauge was more pleasurable in terms of its sexual stimulation.

He sorted through the differences between choosing a ring with a barbell or one that only had one small ball on it. I went with the barbells. That way, I can if I need to later down the road when all the healing process has been accomplished, remove the ring.

True, there was some discomfort. And one sharp moment of pain when the actual piercing was effected. But, the rush afterwards was incredibly relaxing. My lover was in the room with us. He was extremely pleased and did a lot to comfort me throughout the process. Aziz let me relax for a while. Then, he asked if I wanted to take a look at the PA before he bandaged it. He warned me that there would be some blood. I looked and it was amazing to realize that I had indeed done it. I did not even mind the look of the blood. And, by the next morning that had stopped entirely.

Aziz looked at me and in an incredibly warm and fully sincere voice said: "I think it looks beautiful." And he was right.

I have been following the cleaning procedures faithfully. The only adaptation I have had to make is to switch to jockey underwear rather than boxers when I go out. I found that the fly in my boxers would catch the jewelry. I have tried to limit the amount of activity that I do. I resist the temptation to touch myself other than when I am doing the regular cleaning. I have also become very conscious of making sure I always wash my hands with the right kind of soap. I also get dressed as little as possible. Even though it is winter, I've enjoyed playing the nudist. I just cranked the heat in the house up so I could wander around the house with nothing on but a sweatshirt and some socks. I figure getting lots of air to my PA is an effective element of the healing process.

I am looking foward very eagerly to the full healing!!!