Inner Labia and Fourchette piercing and variations thereof are not super common, but we love them anyway! Although we go through genital aftercare advice multiple times before your appointment, we know it can be quite a nerve-wracking time and so it’s always handy to have a written aftercare advice to refer back to. The aftercare leaflets we provide are pretty bare-bones, as each intimate piercing can have very different care requirements! So how does Inner Labia or Fourchette piercing aftercare work?
What To Expect After The Piercing
Bleeding – You may expect bleeding from the Inner labia or Fourchette piercing for 3-5 days afterwards. This is totally normal! The most important thing is to keep calm. It will stop on its own. We recommend purchasing a pack of fragrance free sanitary towels to wear to protect your underwear. Please ensure that you are changing them regularly – At least once every 6 hours!
Urination – We recommend over-hydrating for the first few weeks. This means drinking plenty of water! As urine is slightly acidic, it can be a little bit stingy to go to the bathroom for the first couple of days. Staying super hydrated dilutes your urine and makes urinating much more comfortable. It also helps keep the inside of your piercing nice and clean!
Adrenaline – Having a rush of adrenaline is part and parcel of having any piercing, but this rush can be a little bit more intense with intimate work. We always recommend leaving your schedule free for the day of your piercing, so that you can take your time and take any rest you might need. You may feel a little tired or drained afterwards – Make sure to bring a carby, sugary snack and a sugary drink to sip on after your piercing.
Cleaning
It is super important to keep your new piercing clean, whilst not causing irritation by over-cleaning what is quite a delicate area of your body. Soft tissue intimate piercing aftercare is minimal and neutral.
We recommend cleaning twice daily, in the morning and evening. It can be quite handy to tie this in with when you brush your teeth, so that you get a good routine going.
To clean your piercing, first wash your hands. Spray a small amount of Neilmed Saline Aftercare on the entrance and exit points of the piercing. Wait 30 seconds to allow this to fully soak in.
Once any crusties or buildup on the jewellery have softened, gently wipe them away with a clean piece of folded kitchen roll. Be extra gentle during the first 3-5 days, as cleaning too aggressively may cause you to experience a spot of bleeding.
Once you have cleaned the piercing, dry the area to remove any excess moisture.
Keeping the Piercing Dry
We recommend avoiding soaking and submerging the piercing in still or stagnant water for 4 weeks after getting pierced. This means no swimming, bathing in bathtubs, or other water-based activities.
It is highly recommended you shower as normal – Clean running water is a great way to rinse away any buildup in a very gentle way. VCH aftercare requires little in the way of active cleaning. The only thing to keep in mind is that you want to avoid any harsh or strongly scented shower gels – These can cause irritation. Some people use fragrance-free washes to clean the vulva. You can continue as normal. Just make sure you are rinsing well afterwards to remove any remaining soap suds. We do not recommend douching at any stage!
When you are finished in the shower, it is best practice to dry the piercing site with paper towel. Avoid the area with your bath towel – Snagging the jewellery on a fresh piercing is not fun!
Leave It Alone!
This rule is the cover-all that prevents undue damage to your new piercing.
Clothing, Lifestyle and Bad Habits
- Do not touch, fiddle with, or twist the jewellery.
- Do not pick at, itch or scratch the piercing!
- Wear loose, comfortable underwear and outer clothing. You may want to change your underwear twice a day for the first week to maintain extra cleanliness.
- Do not touch your piercing with dirty hands!
Sex and Masturbation
In order to heal well and last a lifetime, it is vital to avoid mistreating your new piercing in its first few weeks of life. Even if the piercing feels good and comfortable, it is not fully healed yet! Having sex or masturbating can cause serious damage to the piercing.
Do not have sex or masturbate for at least 4 weeks after getting pierced.
After four weeks, you may feel comfortable and ready to have sex. Please, take it slow. Wear a condom or use a dental dam to prevent sharing body fluids, and listen to your body. If it hurts or is uncomfortable in any way – Stop!
And most importantly… COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER(S). What might feel good for you might not feel good for them, and vice versa. Be a considerate partner.
Healing Times
Checkup – 2 Weeks
We recommend booking a checkup 2 weeks after your piercing. At this stage, any swelling you have will have come down and you may need a smaller diameter ring. At this stage, we may also like some feedback on the style of jewellery and we can make any adjustments that you think will make the piercing more comfortable! This includes having larger captive balls, smaller captive balls, etc.
Fully Healed – 8-12 weeks
After 8-12 weeks, you can expect your piercing to be fully healed. This is obviously just an estimate, as many things can impact your unique healing journey.
Ready to Stretch – 6 months
Some people aim to stretch their intimate piercings to a larger size, especially inner labia piercings. We recommend waiting 6 months to allow any scar tissue inside the piercing to heal, soften, and become more elastic. You may even notice that after 6 months, your piercing has naturally stretched and the next size up can simply slot in without any problems at all!
Maturation and Rejection
It’s important to note that the Fourchette piercing especially, can carry a relatively high risk of rejection. This is because the tissue it is pierced through is very thin and very elastic. The area also receives a lot more mechanical stress than any other vulva piercing, especially during penetrative sex. This means that the Fourchette piercing can migrate over time!
It is important to keep an eye on the piercing, and book in for a checkup if you notice any movement. We can assess the piercing, and let you know when it is time to remove.
Keep In Contact
Keeping in touch with your studio is so important! We are open 7 days a week and always have an intimate piercing specialist available on the team. If you have any issues with your piercing, any problems or anything isn’t looking quite how you expected, then you are always welcome to contact us or book in for a checkup.
No matter how far along your healing journey you are, we are always there to support you. That’s what makes Rogue such a great studio!