Frenum

Throughout history people have pierced the penis in different areas and for different reasons. Religious reasons, and various beliefs, rites of passage and of course for sexual reasons. During the 70’s and early 80’s this piercing became popular in the B & D and S & M scene where it was often used to attach chastity devices to and/or rings through that went around the penis behind the glans. As it was thought to be less painful than the well known Prince Albert piercing. This piercing was initially done in the very thin frenulum at the base of the glans of the penis which healed quickly and was quite pain free. However, being very thin and as the scene was more inclined to rough play this would stretch and even tear out. Therefore, by the 1990’s we started to do this slightly deeper into the shaft which made it a tougher piercing but also made it hurt more and slightly slower to heal.

This piercing is not as much for the wearer and while it may generate some stimulation if placed correctly or a ring correctly fitted around the penis. With a well placed barbell the balls can sit just under the glans and rub on it during intercourse. Some women enjoy this piercing however it is not uncommon for the this piercing to twist and catch especially if a barbell or curved barbell is worn and partners can complain about it.

By The mid 1990’s the Prince Albert had become popular and the frenum was a less common piercing due to it being more uncomfortable during intercourse when it twisted. Unless the client had decided to get a frenum ladder (sometimes referred to as Jacobs Ladder) where it starts with a frenum and then is pierced at intervals the same way along the shaft, these can go all the way down to the base of the shaft where it became known as the Lorem (a play on Lower Frenum) Although once the piercings moved away from the frenulum they are essentially just shaft piercings.

In the early 2000’s this piercing started to become more popular and with the industry growing rapidly and piercers starting up in franchise studios with very basic training and no real standards the Prince Albert is a little more complicated to get right yet the frenum was seen by the novice piercer as easy to do and so the myth of the frenum hurting less resurfaced and men were convinced that the Frenum was a better option . Doing an injustice to the piercee as frenums take longer to heal and have the added complication of twisting and annoying both the wearer and their partner.

2019 still a popular piercing among men who are misinformed and afraid that the Prince Albert will hurt more and take longer to heal.