Vagina piercings are more common than you might guess. Research estimates somewhere between 0.8% and 2% of women have one.

That doesn't sound like a lot, but gather 1,000 people with vaginas in a room, and eight to 20 of them will have taken needle-to-netherbits.

If you're thinking about getting a vagina piercing, you likely have questions, such as where does the jewelry go, exactly? How much does it hurt? And how will it affect sex and pleasure?

First off, know that anatomically speaking, "vagina piercing" is a misnomer—the vagina is the internal canal, and no piercer is going to get all up inside you to plant jewels.

"Genital piercing" is the most commonly used industry term, and for people with vaginas, "vulva piercing" would be the most accurate description.

The vulva is the external part of the genitalia, including the external clitoris, inner and outer labia, the vaginal opening, and the mons pubis—these are the areas where you can get a "vagina piercing."

The piercers predict that the majority of folks who get vaginal piercings get them for increased pleasure, and to be clear, increased pleasure very much is a possibility of a vaginal piercing.

"The clitoris has 8,000 to 10,000 nerve ends, so if the piercing rubs up against the clit, it can be incredibly pleasurable," explains Marla Renee Stewart, a pleasure-based sex educator and sexologist with Velvet Lips Sex Down South. And because most vulva owners climax through clitoral stimulation (not vaginal penetration), "a vaginal piercing can make orgasming easier or even happen at all," she says. 

Davia Frost, a sex educator with a VCH piercing, says it has made masturbation and oral sex especially pleasurable. "I'm more easily able to have a squirting orgasm," she adds. 

But even more, decorative piercings can result in boosted pleasure vis-à-vis boosted confidence.

Stewart explains, "Getting a genital piercing can make someone feel more in charge of their sexuality and more confident in their body, and that can result in someone feeling more comfortable being naked, asking for what they want in bed, and experimenting."

Makes sense, considering research shows a person's genital self-image is tied to their sexual functioning: Feeling more confident about how you look down there makes you more likely to have an easy time getting turned on and having orgasms.

But be prepared for some unintended consequences: Frost says, "For the first two years I had it, every time I walked, I felt like I was going to have an orgasm."

While incredibly uncommon, it's worth calling out that it's possible for the piercing to get ripped out during sex.

OB-GYN Felice Gersh, M.D., says, "This would cause intense trauma to tissue. And could cause bleeding, scarring, and the tear can expose tissue which can then become infected," she says.

The jewelry "catching" a condom or barrier is also possible though unlikely. Angel says rings won't catch, and the decorative balls at the end of a barbell are smooth and unlikely to snag a condom. Frost says, "I've had the piercing for 10 years and never once has it torn the condom."

You can reduce the health risks of getting a vagina piercing by only going to a professional piercer who specializes in genital piercings.

The right piercer will have an in-depth understanding of anatomy and will know how to perform the procedure without damaging any nerves, says Angel. "Because what piercing you get is often driven by your anatomy, they'll be able to have an in-depth conversation with you about what piercing makes sense for your vulva," she says.

If you're not convinced your piercer knows what they're doing or understands your anatomy, leave.

You want to make sure that the place that is administering the piercings is clean and that the needles and jewelry are sterile, Bickman says. "This reduces the risk of infection with a blood-borne pathogen like HIV or hepatitis."

The amount of pain you'll feel depends on your own pain tolerance and which piercing you get.

As a general rule, clitoral piercings and Princess Alberta piercings are more painful than labia piercings. But "everyone's anatomy and pain tolerance is different, so it varies person to person," Radermacher says.

Frost, who got her piercing done with her friend, says, "I have a high pain tolerance, and for me it just felt like a pinch. But my friend passed out on the table." 

While a Princess Diana, Princess Alberta, VCH, HCH, inner labia, and fourchette piercing may only take six weeks to heal, a triangle piercing and outer labia piercing can take three to six months, according to Angel. And a Christina piercing can usually take closer to six to nine months to heal. 

"All the piercings require the same type of care as they heal," says Angel. 

Pro tip: If you like the way the piercing looks, keep it in. "Earlobe piercings might stay open without jewelry, but genital piercings have a tendency to close quickly—even after many years," says Angel. 

Any genital piercings can bleed for the first few days, according to Angel. The triangle piercing is more apt to bleed than others. But some of them won't bleed at all.

You're going to want to wait at least two weeks, Bickman says. But Angel says if you don't feel ready, just wait: "People know when they're ready, and that's when they can—so long as they keep the activity gentle and stop if it starts to hurt."

However, barrier use after getting a vaginal piercing is nonnegotiable. Even if you and your partner are monogamous or fluid-bonded, you want to avoid contact with your partner's body fluids while it heals, says Angel. 

And that includes their spit: "Saliva has a lot of bacteria in it, so you need to avoid getting it going near the piercing while it heals," she says. So for oral sex you're going to want to use a dental dam—which, FYI, feel less awkward if you apply a little lube to both sides. 

According to Radermacher and Kalvser, depending on where you're located, vaginal piercing costs start somewhere around $60.

Look for a piercing studio that specializes in genital piercings or has a piercer who specializes in genital piercings on staff. (Angel has a referral list on her website Piercing Bible, and Radermacher and Kalvser recommend using SafePiercings.org to find a reputable piercer.)

Nowadays many piercers use social media to show off their work. "Seeing healed photos is huge," says Radermacher.

Don't hesitate to look peak at any photo galleries they might have on the website to see if you like their final results and read what other people are saying.

The first half of the appointment is pretty routine: You'll fill out paperwork, present your ID, and tell them what you're there for. "For vaginal piercings, a consultation is common so the piercer can determine which type of piercing is best-suited for your vulva shape," says Angel. "In my opinion, if you're interested in anything other than outer labia piercing and the piercer doesn't seem concerned with checking your anatomy, they're probably not a good choice." A consult sounds more awkward than it is. "The right piercer will put you at ease."

Next, the piercer will help you select jewelry. Then you'll head to the private room and remove your lower clothes. "The piercer will wash their hands, set up their equipment, put on gloves and then prep the area with iodine or other surgical scrub before marking the placement," she says.

Depending on which piercing you're getting, the piercer use clamps, a freehand technique, or a receiving tube. Then you're pierced. "The piercing should be very brief, then the jewelry should follow into the channel quickly and smoothly," says Angel. At this point, the piercer will likely apply a cooling, soothing saline pad, which minimizes stinging.

Often piercers will pierce it with a longer post or wider diameter, to allow for swelling. "We'll have you come back in a few weeks or months later for a checkup appointment and to downsize the jewelry," Radermacher and Kalvser add.

Getting a vagina piercing can be a fun way to express yourself and even improve your sex life.

Just be sure you understand the potential risks associated with piercing your vagina and extensively research the process beforehand.