Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 15, 2026

Clitoris piercing

A clitoris piercing is a genital piercing placed directly through the head (glans) of the clitoris itself. It is a relatively uncommon piercing by choice because of the potential for nerve damage and the anatomical unsuitability of most persons for the piercing.

Last revised
Jul 15, 2026
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Wikipedia ↗
Clitoris piercing
LocationClitoral glans
JewelryCaptive bead ring, barbell

A clitoris piercing is a genital piercing placed directly through the head (glans) of the clitoris itself. It is a relatively uncommon piercing by choice because of the potential for nerve damage and the anatomical unsuitability of most persons for the piercing.12

Most piercing studios will refuse to do a clitoral piercing.3 It is often confused with the more common clitoral hood piercing, which pierces only the hood covering the clitoral glans.1

Depending on the anatomy of the individual, a clitoris piercing can be oriented either vertically or horizontally.1

History and culture

This piercing is of contemporary origin and is uncommon. In 1989, piercer Jim Ward, interviewed by Andrea Juno in Modern Primitives, stated "I've been in the business for over 10 years and I haven't done more than half a dozen clit piercings."4

Piercer Elayne Angel stated that of the "very small number of women who genuinely desire a clitoris piercing (rather than the more common clitoral hood piercing), 90 to 95 percent are not suitably built to accommodate jewelry through the clitoral head."2

References

References

  1. Pitts-Talyor, Victoria (2008). Cultural Encyclopedia of the Body. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 233–234. ISBN 978-0313341458. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  2. Angel, Elayne (2009). The Piercing Bible: The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing (1st ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: Celestial Arts. ISBN 978-1-58091-193-1.
  3. "Everything you need to know about clit piercings". Cosmopolitan. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  4. Vale, V.; Juno, Andrea, eds. (1989). Modern primitives: An Investigation of Contemporary Adornment and Ritual (10. [Dr.] ed.). San Francisco, Calif.: Re/Search Publications. p. 162. ISBN 0-940642-14-X.
Further reading

Further reading