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The Triangle Of Submission: What You Need To Know About Triangle Piercings

The ultimate female genital piercing?

By Alexa LovelyPublished 7 years ago 10 min read
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So I decided to finally get over it and go get what is my last genital piercing. I wanted to write about it because maybe I can offer some insight to others like myself that found little information or experiences to read about. I am going to talk about a lot of things regarding a triangle piercing because I think that what info out there is largely graphic and scary stories that could easily give someone a skewed view of the piercing. Let’s start from the beginning.

What Is A Triangle Piercing?

A triangle piercing is done by piercing the tissue behind the clitoral shaft. You have to have very specific anatomy for this piercing to work for you. If you can pull your clitoral tissue away from your body and pinch under the shaft then you might be a good candidate for a triangle. Elayne Angel will do consultations online if you take some photos and pay $10. Generally speaking if you just do the pinch test yourself you probably will know if it is worth going to a piercer over.

The triangle piercing was invented and performed at The Gauntlet in San Francisco back in 1991. Elayne Angel and Lou Duff pioneered this piercing. It is rumored to be the most stimulating of the female genital piercings out there.

The Pain Factor

When I was still going back and forth about the triangle I shelled out $10 for a month long subscription to BME which by the way is generally a good resource for anything related to body modification. In the case of triangle piercings they listed 187 stories. Unfortunately a lot of these were just people talking about pain and the first day or so of their piercing or how it was botched. I hated to hear so many stories like this but it did not deter me from getting this done myself.

For me the pain lasted for a few seconds. According to a lot of BME experiences, a lot of ladies claimed that they jumped at the time of piercing and that the pain factor was greater when the jewelry was pushed through than at the actual time of piercing. This was not the case at all for me. I didn’t even feel the jewelry go in. The triangle was not as bad as having two Princess Dianas at once.

My Experience

I set up an appointment a week ahead of time just to make sure the person I needed to do this was there. You want to know who is doing this one.

My appointment took longer because their were some girls there getting their ears pierced and the shop wanted to get them handled before a piercer doing a complicated triangle.

The other factor at play was that I was asked if it was okay if the other piercers watched. There was no pressure to do this. I fully believe I would have been treated well even if I didn’t agree to let two other male piercers watch the procedure.

You should be prepared to be asked this and understand the reason behind it. Triangles are rare piercings so piercers like to set in on them so they can learn. It is hard for a piercer to get any experience with triangles because everyone is told to never go o someone for one that has never did one. I let others watch this being done to me because I figured it might help others in the future that want to get this piercing done. Piercers ask to set in on these things much the same way a doctor should observe a procedure before doing it themselves. These piercers want to get better at what they do and make sure they do things the right way. If you can bring yourself to let other piercers watch, then you should.

I laid down on the padded table in an office that was set up like a doctor’s office. This is a good feeling because the attention to cleanliness and sterility is important. I had been marked and allowed to see where the piercing would go but once on the table the needle receiving tube was put into place. This was where my piercer had to pull at my bits to get everything in place.

I was told whenever I was ready and told to breathe in and out. It was over in just a couple seconds of pain. I did not feel the jewelry go in because my piercer used a taper that was attached to the needle so there was no second step of pushing jewelry through that was painful like so many people describe. It makes me wonder who these piercers are that are using such a painful method for the second step, putting in the jewelry. My piercer used a 12 gauge straight barbell with BB ends which are basically shaped like a rounded flatter disc.

Most of the triangles you see are done with an open curved barbell. In fact this is what Elayne Angel who has done a lot of triangles, recommends. The reason why we went with a straight barbell is to reduce the likelihood that the jewelry would pinch a lot when combined with my other piercings as well as my anatomy. For healing my piercer thought this was best.

The gauge of the jewelry can range from 14 gauge to 10 gauge initially. The smaller the jewelry the bigger the risk of migration and other complications. On the other hand a bigger hole can mean more pain. I let my piercer decide what was best initially although he did offer to go one size larger. I figured middle ground was best anyway. Here is a link to my website if you want to see the final result.

After

I came prepared with a pad and underwear and put them on after. I bled very little. The lightest of panty liners would have been more than enough. In fact just having on underwear would have ensured that nothing when through pants or anything like that. This was far different than the days of flow that I had read about.

After that first hour I had no need for any type of pad. I had sex very carefully within 24 hours since I had some minimal swelling. That being said you have to be careful about when you have sex. This type of piercing is very individualized so what is good for one is not necessarily good for another person.

If you have sex as quick as I did after you want to make sure to avoid putting any major pressure on the area of the triangle itself. You will probably be a little sore anyway. Abstinence is not necessary during the healing period of a genital piercing but you need to be sure to listen to your body about what is enough and stay clean. Spray off your bits with canned saline wound wash or a saline spray made specifically for piercings. Showering regularly is important so long as you are careful about using soap on your genitals. Too much washing or harsh soaps can cause trouble.

Why I Think My Experience Was Different Than So Many Others

APP Certified Piercer

While some certifications don’t mean so much I do think that going to an Association Of Piercing Professionals piercer for a rare or complicated piercing is highly advisable. They have to meet a certain standard level and if they fail to then they are not able to carry the APP logo at their shop or be listed.

Experience

Piercing is an art and that takes time to develop. No one starts off an expert. My personal rule is that if it a complicated or rare piercing then you need to find someone with years of experience. The person that did my triangle has been piercing for 14 years and did some before he did mine.

A Piercer With A Plan

Your piercer should address your concerns and have a plan. I went to this person because the first time I talked to him on the phone he had a plan about how to do the piercing to accommodate my others.

Ethics

A piercer should say no if someone comes in with questionable or unsuitable anatomy for a piercing. Unfortunately money talks and no one wants to tell some girl coming in that they cannot get what they want. A good piercer will do this anyway. It is unethical to do something that is risky and not suitable to someone’s anatomy even if it means losing that $100.

Borderline Anatomy Is A Real Thing

This relates back to piercer ethics and experience levels. A triangle piercing is easier if you can pull the clitoral shaft further away from the body. I think a lot of ladies that report their experiences with this piercing have borderline anatomy which leaves more potential for a piercer to mess it up. If a piercer hits a nerve they shouldn’t then what should be a quick little bit of pain can turn into agony.

I had plenty of room which made it easier to get through and get a good placement so after the piercing I experienced a little swelling and tenderness but nothing like the days of pain and bleeding some people report having.

Method & Patience

When I went in for this piercing I was straight forward about my big concern regarding jumping involuntarily and the needle not going where it should. My fears were allayed because my piercer had already planned for this. Using a needle receiving tube and stretching out the tissue to be pierced made it much easier to get proper placement and made it to where even if I involuntarily jumped, the needle could only go one way.

It took awhile to get the placement marked and things set up. If your piercer seems rushed then you need to consider walking out the door. This is not a piercing where you want to feel like you are being rushed through to make room for another client.

People Are More Likely To Share Bad Experiences Than Good Ones

It is just a fact that overall people are more likely to share the negative in reviews than the positive. You just have to keep this in mind when doing research and not let them get to you too much.

The Sex Factor

The triangle is done usually because it offers the most potential for stimulation. Even if a lady gets a triangle she may not want to discuss the sexual aspects of it at all. This means a lot of the stuff you want to know about when doing research before a triangle, is just not available.

This piercing definitely makes orgasms more intense even though I have had to avoid rubbing on that area in general somewhat due to a little understandable pain if it is pinched the wrong way. The stimulation from behind is different and it makes orgasms stronger and last longer.

I cannot give an opinion on exactly how much just a triangle would make because I have a vertical clitoral hood piercing and a Diana on either side of that so that is contributing to my experience. If you have room for a triangle and don’t already have a vertical clitoral hood piercing then you should consider getting both done so you have stimulation from front and back.

Elayne Angel has commented on her site that she has had women that have not orgasmed ever before that do after having a triangle done so imagine what it can do if you don't have any trouble in that department.

Alternatives If You Can't Get A Triangle

Vertical Clitoral Hood

This is the most common female genital piercing because it doesn't hurt much, heals quickly, and directly stimulates the clitoris. This is what people are usually talking about when they say clit piercing even though it does not go through the clitoris itself. Starter jewelry is normally 16-12 gauge.

Princess Diana

This is basically just a hood piercing that goes on either side of your hood. These are normally done in pairs. Elayne Angel invented this piercing for a lady that traveled a long way to get a triangle and then was not suited for it. These hurt a little more than the VCH because you are getting two and the pain kind of adds up. If you have a big enough hood you can get a VCH and two Dianas.

Horizontal Hood

A lot of times this one is done more for appearance than stimulation. Still though a properly placed ring may offer you some benefit. A lot of women get a Horizontal and a Vertical.

Image credit: Illustration by Jennifer Klepacki in "The Piercing Bible—The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing" by Elayne Angel

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About the Creator

Alexa Lovely

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