Dear Di,
I have a rather gruesome question for you. I heard from a friend that she knows a girl who was going down on an uncircumcised penis and she pulled the foreskin so far back that it ripped right off. Is this actually possible, and if it is, what are some tips to avoid it? And maybe some tips on how to give great head to an uncircumcised dick.
—Torn about the Facts
Dear TATF,
Penises, like vaginas, are very sensitive organs and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are really long, some are short, some are really girthy, and others are skinny. Another factor that distinguishes dicks is whether or not they’ve been circumcised.
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the penis’ foreskin. It’s generally performed when a child is a newborn for aesthetic or religious reasons, though sometimes when the procedure is performed later in life, it’s done for health reasons.
When you’re going down on someone who has foreskin, you do have to be careful because the frenulum—the skin that attaches the foreskin to the penis—can be torn if the foreskin is pulled too tightly. That being said, I think someone misled your friend because it’s highly unlikely that she knows someone who ripped the skin off completely.
All cautions aside, it is completely fine to play with the frenulum and the foreskin—they were made for this. You should still be careful, but don’t let that take away from the experience. You can pull it back if you’re jerking off your partner or even when you’re putting on a condom, although you need to make sure the condom still fits and rolls all the way down the shaft.
Different people enjoy different things, so there is no single way to give great head or play a mean skin flute when your partner is uncircumcised. You can pull the skin back with your mouth or hand as you suck on it. Some people really enjoy having the head of their penis licked, while others prefer having their foreskin cover their head while they get blown. To do the best job, try new things and ask which moves your partner enjoys most.
As I say quite frequently, communication is key, dear TATF. Forget what your parents told you because, in this case, talking with your mouth full is completely acceptable.
Love,
Di
Dear Di,
I was hooking up with this girl from one of my classes the other day, and we both decided we wanted to do the no pants dance. I sexily removed her panties but was startled to see a ring “down there.” I swallowed my shock and didn’t mention it and had a great time regardless, but I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I’ve never entertained the idea of piercing my vagina. Why do it? Are there any benefits or risks to having it done?
—Her Vagina had a Piercing Stare
Dear HVHAPS,
Genital piercings, like any piercings, are a personal choice made to alter the appearance of a vagina or penis. Both genitals can be pierced in a variety of different places.
Generally, the vagina can be pierced in four places: the hood, the inner or outer labia, or where the outer labia meet. The latter is referred to as a Christina or Venus piercing and is likely a surface piercing, making it more susceptible to quick rejection. The others are usually pierced the same way as earlobes.
The penis can be pierced too. The frenulum, perineum, and scrotum are just a few places that can get poked.
Risk will always be involved in body modification no matter the site of the piercing. During the healing process, infections can occur and so can the tearing of skin and formation of scar tissue. Some people also have bad allergic reactions to certain types of jewelery that can cause short- or long-term problems.
There are risks associated only with genital piercings as well. Piercings down there can rip more than the skin. Condoms are so thin that the piercing’s metal makes them more susceptible to tearing, which therefore makes each partner more susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted infections. Certain types of genital piercings can also cause damage to a sex partner. A penis with a large ring near the head isn’t exactly ideal to penetrate the delicate and easily torn skin of a sphincter or vagina.
The benefits of genital piercings are mainly aesthetic. Fans of genital piercings like them because of the way they look. Although some argue that their vaginal piercings (especially those around the clit) give them a more pleasurable sexperience, it’s not that common for sex to feel better after you get a genital piercing.
All in all, genital piercings are a personal choice, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Talk to your doctor before you try anything and make sure you understand the proper aftercare and potential risks by discussing them with the piercer before the procedure is performed.
Love,
Di
