 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2019) |
| Clitoral hood piercing | |
|---|---|
 Horizontal clitoral hood piercing with captive bead ring | |
| Nicknames | VCH, HCH |
| Location | Clitoral hood |
| Jewelry | Captive bead ring, barbell, J-bar |
| Healing | 8-12 weeks |
A clitoral hood piercing is a female genital piercing through the clitoral hood surrounding the clitoris. In addition to being an adornment, a clitoral hood piercing can enhance sexual pleasure during masturbation, foreplay and intercourse. In an empirical study at the University of South Alabama, the authors reported a positive relationship between vertical clitoral hood piercings and desire, frequency of intercourse, and sexual arousal.[1] There are two main types of clitoral hood piercing: the vertical clitoral hood (VCH) piercing and the horizontal clitoral hood (HCH) piercing. As the names indicate, the difference is in the direction the piercing is oriented in the skin above the clitoris. Neither of these piercings penetrates the clitoris itself, although in common parlance they are sometimes called "clit" piercings.[2] The deep hood piercing is a variation of the clitoral hood piercing that passes deeper through the clitoral hood.
- ^ Millner, Vaughn S.; Eichold, Bernard H.; Sharpe, Thomasina H.; Lynn, Sherwood C. (2005). "First glimpse of the functional benefits of clitoral hood piercings". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 193 (3): 675–676. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2005.02.130. ISSN 0002-9378. PMID 16150259.
- ^ Gilmour, Paisley (9 January 2019). "Everything you need to know about clit piercings". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 12 June 2023.