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Only three per cent of people with intimate body piercing problems seek healthcare advice

February 24, 2005

Up to two-thirds of people with intimate body piercings experience health problems - ranging from site sensitivity to urinary flow changes - but only three per cent seek professional healthcare advice.

That's one of the key findings of a study of 146 men and women aged from 18 to 71 published in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

US researchers found that 43 per cent of the respondents had nipple piercings, 25 per cent had genital piercings and 32 per cent had both.

66 per cent of respondents with nipple piercings reported health problems and 52 per cent experienced problems with their genital piercings.

The most common problems experienced by people with nipple piercings were site sensitivity (37 percent), skin irritation (21 per cent) and site infections (21 per cent). The top problems with male genital piercings were urinary flow changes (39 per cent) and site sensitivity (31 per cent).

More than half (54 per cent) discussed problems with their piercer, with only three per cent seeking professional medical advice.

However, most participants still liked their piercings - ranging from 73 per cent to 90 per cent depending on the type of piercing - and 87 per cent said that their partner had been positive about their piercing.

The research team, who have carried out six previous studies on people with body piercings and tattoos, were keen to explore anecdotal evidence that intimate piercings were linked to multiple health problems and a troubled lifestyle.

"It's clear from our study that when people experience problems with intimate body piercing they are reluctant to consult healthcare professionals and we need to encourage people to come forward" says co-author Professor Carol Caliendo from Carlow University, Pittsburgh, who carried out the research with colleagues from Texas.

"Understanding what sort of people get piercings and why they do it is an important part of that process, as it helps healthcare professionals to understand piercing problems and offer appropriate advice.

"We are particularly concerned about the urinary flow changes reported by men after genital piercings. It's clearly an issue that needs to be highlighted with men who have had, or are considering, piercings and the people who carry them out."

Other key findings included:

"¢57 per cent of the respondents were male and the average age of all respondents was 31.

"¢The average age at which respondents acquired a piercing was 27 years for nipple piercings and 28 for genital piercings. Most respondents had thought long and carefully about the decision to obtain a piercing. The most common reasons for obtaining piercings were the desire for sexual enhancement, self-expression and uniqueness.

"¢64 per cent felt that their piercing had not changed them personally, but 21 per cent were concerned that their piercings could prevent them from achieving a goal or promotion. Eight per cent actually reported experiencing those problems.

"¢On average, people with piercings lost their virginity at 15.7 years, slightly younger than the 16.5 national US average.

"¢A much higher percentage of the respondents were homosexual or bisexual than the national US average - 28 per cent for women in the study (compared with 1.5 per cent ) and 29 per cent of males (compared with 3.6 per cent).

"¢None of the respondents reported having HIV, hepatitis B or C and only three per cent reported acquiring a Sexually Transmitted Disease since getting intimately pierced.

"The quality of responses was excellent" adds Professor Caliendo. "95 per cent of people who responded to the questionnaire provided their contact details and requested a copy of the results. And many wrote detailed comments throughout the questionnaire, indicating a high level of interest in the issue."

People from 29 US states took part in the survey after responding to national newspaper advertisements asking for volunteers to take part in the research project.

Blackwell Publishing Ltd