People get this kind of piercing for a number of reasons, including to enhance appearance and sexual pleasure.

But can clit piercings actually improve your sex life, and are they safe?

Here’s what you oughta know if you’re considering getting a clit piercing.

Suzannah Weiss

The term “clit piercing” is a bit of a misnomer.

It also has the potential to stimulate the clitoris during sex.

For this one, the jewelryusually a hoopstretches across the top of the clitoral hood horizontally, says Thompson.

Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA

“Some builds are concave or flat, but the hood must be convex,” she explains.

“It also needs to be relatively symmetrical, and many women are asymmetrical in this region.

Also, some have veins in the way of appropriate placement.”

Illustration of a VCH piercing, aka vertical hood piercing.

Most vulva owners need clitoral stimulation to orgasm, which is why only about a quarter consistentlyorgasm through intercourse.

The triangle piercing is more likely to produce pleasure through grinding motions.

“It’s more of an aesthetic thing,” he says.

Illustration of an HCH piercing, a type of hood piercing.

double-check your piercer is trained specifically in clit piercings.

The healing time for clit piercings varies depending on the throw in.

If these symptoms continue longer than that initial period, reach out to your piercer or trusted medical professional.

Illustration of a triangle piercing.

Thompson recommends waiting two weeks before having sex.

Piercings can close up if the jewelry is removed, so Angel recommends leaving it in.

If you want the piercing to close up, though, you could just take the jewelry out.

Illustration of a clitoral glans piercing, a type of clit piercing.

Otherwise, you shouldn’t remove it, or it’ll close up pretty quickly.

You just spray the mist on and then leave it to air dry or pat it dry.

Thompson suggests using Cetaphil to clean the area around the piercing.

Illustration of a Princess Diana piercing, aka Dukes.

“You don’t want to use astringents like alcohol peroxide,” he says.

“That can produce a yeast infection.”

Thompson usually charges around $250 for a piercing with basic titanium jewelry.

“Consulting an expert is critical.”