Nipple Piercing Pain And Cost - Cosmopolitan

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• Do nipple piercings hurt?
• Do nipple piercings enhance sex?
• How much do nipple piercings cost?
• Everything you need to know about getting your nipple pierced
• Health concerns with nipple piercings

Nipples are having a moment in the limelight.

As well as trends like the naked dress (and what could be a better accessory than a pierced nipple peaking through a top?), Kim Kardashian has celebrated the humble nipple with her latest SKIMS drop including a nipple piercing bra.

As well as being a cute accessory, there are other benefits to nipple piercings: they make your breasts feel amazing and amp up the sensation when touched. They also give you an omnipresent nip erection, which we call agree is hot.

So now we’ve established that there’s a whole bunch of reasons you might want to go under the needle, an expert provides advice on all things nipple piercing-related, from the pain and whether having your nipples pierced hurts to what jewellery you can select.

Do nipple piercings hurt?

The first question everyone asks about piercings, especially intimate piercings is: ‘Do they hurt?’ Obviously everyone is different, and although many people say the piercing is pain-free, others have said it hurts like hell. How sensitive your nipples are will determine how painful you find the piercing. But bear in mind: it’ll be over quickly.

Cosmopolitan UK's very own Senior Features Writer, Kimberley Bond, has a nipple piercing. “The initial pain was quick,” she says. “It would sometimes hurt if I caught it on something for a few weeks after, but it was nothing unbearable.”

“I've since had my right nipple pierced for nearly 10 years and had no further problems. I adore it and love the response it provokes!”

However, as every body is different, other experiences are more varied.

“Mine weren’t painful (I’d say 6 out of 10 but very short-lived), but they took forever to heal completely. After like 1.5 years I ended up removing them both because one was migrating and was constantly crusty even though I took good care of them. They looked really good though and I loved showing them off to my SO,” Reddit user ThatAintBrutal says on a post about nipple piercings.

Another users, AnxiouslyAssured says: “They could be painful when accidentally snagged, or grazed. You begin to realise how often your nipples touch things.”

“Pain is subjective,” says lilyleespoos. “It was the most intense pain for one second. The first couple of days and nights were rough. I’m large chested and don’t know if that had anything to do with it.”

Palimpsestnine says: “Worse than other piercings, but manageable. I really thought it would be much worse but it was really just very briefly unpleasant. The first one was no big deal, with the second one I cursed out loud and the piercer was like, ‘I know, I’m sorry, I’m almost done!’, and that was it.”

“Pain was probably around a 4 or 5 out of 10, but I did pass out. I didn’t eat beforehand and got woozy. Passed out for like a min and got up confused. Mine were pretty much healed up after six months,” says Alycatsvanity.

So, the pain really does depend on your body and pain tolerance.

Do nipple piercings enhance sex?

Good news, there are both visual and sexual benefits that come with having your nipples pierced.

For those whose nipples aren’t particularly sensitive, having them pierced can really improve sensitivity which means it feels incredible when they’re touched. Some people say when their pierced nipples are flicked, licked, or massaged, it really adds to their arousal. In fact, nipple play alone can end in an intense orgasm (yes, nipple orgasms exist), and this is more likely to happen if you have them pierced.

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How much do nipple piercings cost?

The price of getting a nipple piercing varies depending on where you go. Prices will also differ depending on whether you’re getting both nipples pierced or just one. You’ll also likely be able to choose the jewellery you have them done with, so prices will vary if you go for a gold option rather than titanium, for example.

Most shops will offer a slightly cheaper option for getting both done (i.e. cheaper than getting two single nipple piercings). For one nipple piercing, it could cost anything from £40 to £60 on average. Remember, while you can take the jewellery out, piercings permanently alter your body. So, think about them as a life-long investment when you’re deciding where to go and how much to spend.

Everything you need to know about getting your nipple pierced

Expert piercer Clem, who works for piercing shop Metal Morphosis says these are the things you need to consider:

Style: Nipples can be pierced in many different ways, but horizontally is the most popular. They can also be done vertically and diagonally though, and look equally awesome. Plus, if you’re into a more ‘extreme’ look, you can have multiple piercings through the same nipple.

Suitability: Not everyone can get their nipples pierced. Some clients’ anatomy is just not suitable, so you’ll have a consultation before a piercer will go through with the piercing.

Jewellery: Your nipples can be pierced with rings or straight bars or barbells (bars with removable balls at each end).

Risk: There’s always a small risk of infection, but this is highly unlikely as long as you follow the aftercare instructions.

Procedure: Normally, intimate piercings are done by appointment. Your piercer (you should be able to specify if you have a gender preference) will have a consultation with you to find out exactly what you want and what you expect from it. They’ll then advise you on the right jewellery and then either perform the piercing, or make another appointment to do so.

Aftercare: Your piercer will provide you with full aftercare instructions.

Healing: It should take around 12 to 16 weeks for your piercings to heal. Unfortunately, you can have no oral contact with your nipples for at least two weeks (and you also have to avoid swimming and saunas for two weeks, too).

Health concerns with nipple piercings

Medical expert, obstetrician, and gynaecologist Anne Henderson, from Doctify, says there are a few health concerns to consider before getting a nipple piercing.

“[Nipple] and genital piercings are becoming increasingly popular both from an aesthetic viewpoint and also the possibility of an increase in sexual pleasure for both partners,” she explains. “[People with breasts] should not forget, however, that this is an invasive procedure which can carry some health risks and should always be undertaken by an experienced and qualified practitioner, after informed discussion.”

“[You] need to have a good understanding of your genital anatomy to help you decide which sites would benefit the most from being pierced. Any pain or significant discomfort should be immediately reported to either the practitioner or a GP for advice.”

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Paisley GilmourFormer Sex & Relationships Editor

Paisley is the former Sex and Relationships editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She covers everything from sex toys, how to masturbate and sex positions, to all things LGBTQ. She definitely reveals too much about her personal life on the Internet.

Lois ShearingFormer Senior Sex and Relationship Writer

Lois Shearing is Cosmoplitan's Former Senior Sex and Relationship Writer. They have been writing about sex, sexuality, gender, politics, and relationships for almost ten years. Their writing on these topics has appeared in Mashable, The Independent, Metro, The Advocate, and Byline Times, among others. In 2021, they published their first book, Bi the Way with JKP. They are currently working on two other books, set to be published in 2024. In a previous life, they worked as a content marketer and content writer for various tech start-ups. They continue to be interested in the tech sector and its impact on our lives, relationships, and work, with particular regard to the ways AI will shape our relationships in the future. Outside of work, they are deeply passionate about queer community organising, and run the only support resource for bisexual survivors of sexual violence in the UK: the Bi Survivors Network. You can find them on Instagram and X.