Why do women, and some men, pierce their nipples?

Because it gives them more sexual pleasure? Because they like the way it looks? Because of any other reason under the sun? It’s hard to know, without knowing each individual who does this, as there are many different reasons.

Why do some people dye their hair? Dress a certain way? Hold certain beliefs? Who knows, without knowing them.

They think it looks good? Kinda the only reason someone would make any kind of appearance-change. I would never want it, however. As someone with a slight nipple fetish, a pierced nipple is just about the worst thing I can imagine :(

There’s a horror story amongst my friends about a guy we know who tried to pierce his own nipple and he tore some nerve or something and shat his pants instantly (as the story goes).

Not my idea of good-looking, but then again, I’m not really into piercings at all.

well, accually, one of my bestfriends has his nipp’s done . and so does my ex boyfriend . my ex boyfrind used to play with them . he had a nice body, and liked them cause it would bring attention to his pectorials . (: so maybe your friend wanted to bring attention to there chest area (: ??

They have not yet snagged their nipple adornments on anything and felt the pain.

It is personal adornment and has been present in many cultures going back centuries.
[NSFW]

For myself it adds a covert and unexpected bit of jeweled beauty which can be accented with delicate chains and jeweled shields to surprise your lover much like opening your coat to reveal lingerie but with beautiful Arabian twist.

For some it is about pain as a sexual stimulant. I was told at the tattoo parlor that one lady comes in to be pierced sheerly for the pain that turns her on. She seems to be a legend for the way she morphs into a horny wildcat.

My enjoyment is twofold. Sexually it accents where I want the eye to rest and the hand to touch. The cool of the stainless steel adds to sexual energy because of its bold presence. But in daylight, hidden under plain clothes, invisible to all, as I walk through everyday life inside I bear the mark of a girl with secrets. A lady who is not as she appears and is where rivers run deep.

That is why I have ventured down this path

My opinion,, a desperate need to feel unique, strong and in control mixed with some psychological self harm/hating issues

@DrasticDreamer , narcissism;pride;egotism & inferiority complexes answers all of your questions.

One word…VANITY

I tell ya, I haven’t had my nipples pierced, but what I have had pierced, sure as hell gave me the biggest rush of my life, so maybe that is part of it.

Having nothing pierced, I can’t say (but @Dog‘s answer got my attention).

I knew a guy who had his nose, nipples and schlong pierced with little gold hoops – all connected with a long chain!!

all I could think of was, “what if he trips and caches that on something?”

@Dog I don’t have anything pierced, but that almost made me run to the nearest parlor for the full treatment. Wow!

Wow… @Roby, @Odysseus are you sure that you are not referring to those with multiple VISUAL body piercings and why THEY might do it?

I find it amazing that on this question when asked *why a person might have private piercings you have both made judgements on the mental health of the individual.*

Since I admitted openly my actual reasons above I will also address your judgements upon me.

@Roby you say I am vain.
Here is the Dictionary definition of vanity:

van·i·ty  (vn-t)
n. pl. van·i·ties
1. The quality or condition of being vain.
2. Excessive pride in one’s appearance or accomplishments; conceit.
3. Lack of usefulness, worth, or effect; worthlessness.
a. Something that is vain, futile, or worthless.
b. Something about which one is vain or conceited.

I am in no way vain. I down dress and blend into crowds. I loathe clothes shopping. I rarely bother with make up. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty or being seen in my studio coat.

Since my piercings are unknown to anyone in my family (no they do not Fluther) and are only shown to my husband alone just like any gal would wear lingerie I think we can eliminate both pride in ones appearance and conceit.

This leaves us with:
“3. Lack of usefulness, worth, or effect; worthlessness.
a. Something that is vain, futile, or worthless”

Wow- because I chose a private personal adornment you deem me worthless?
I really have nothing to say about that because I try NOT to ignorantly judge others.

@Odysseus said:
“My opinion,, a desperate need to feel unique, strong and in control mixed with some psychological self harm/hating issues. narcissism;pride;egotism & inferiority complexes answers all of your questions.”

Hmmm well if I was to use it to feel unique I guess I would have to go around topless so that others could note how unique I am. If I were to do that showing my breasts alone would do the trick.

Make me feel strong?
Interesting but my hidden piercings really never have made me feel strong. They are just metal, not steroids. Nor have my hidden piercings given me a feeling of control. (again are you two sure you are not referring to people to multiple body pierce on face, spine etc?) or maybe the type of person that @cprevite describes?

I have self harm issues? Well ear piercing is not considered self harm. This is pretty much the same and requires sanitary procedures and the same after care. In my case the pain was mild and quick just like my ears. If I was seeking to hurt myself there are a lot more effective ways to do it.

As far as having an inferiority complex, thanks again but I have no such issues. I am perfectly content with who I am and am very happy.

I realize that sometimes nipple piercing can be done for some of the reasons above- as shown by those who take pictures and put them on web sites. But I just wanted to point out that, as DD said, it is for different reasons for different people and a blanket judgemen of mental defect is unfair and incorrect.

@anartist Ha ha ha! Yes that would be bad. I have never had it happen but I very rarely wear decorations that have that potential. I did tear my ear one playing volleyball but I still have earrings despite that experience.

Adding to the history:

Nipple piercing may have been a sign of masculinity for the soldiers of Rome.[38] Nipple piercing has also been connected to rites of passage for both British and American sailors who had traveled beyond a significant latitude and longitude.[18] Western women of the 14th century sometimes sported pierced as well as rouged nipples left visible by the low-cut dresses fashionable in the day.[16][18] It is widely reported that in the 1890s, nipple rings called “bosom rings” resurfaced as a fashion statement among women of the West, who would wear them on one or both sides, but if such a trend existed, it was short-lived.[18][39]

Source

@Dog For what it’s worth, your comments finally put it into perspective for me and made me rethink the issue completely. I always thought why, now I’m thinking why not. :)

When my son was 20 or so, he had his nipples pierced. During the process, a tattoo artist came over, and said “Ah, I remember when I had that done, and how good it felt when I finally took them out”.
My son dealt with the pain, oozing, and bleeding for 2 years, and when he finally had enough, he took them out. He said it did feel really good when he took them out.

”I guess I would have to go around topless so that others could note how unique I am.”

@Dog: I know you wrote some other amazingly insightful stuff above to rebuke the earlier ignorant comments, but I’m kinda hung up on this statement. ;^)

@cprevite He he he ;)

I have no piercings but I’ve heard that, for those people who like having their nipples played with during sex, it makes the sensation more intense and pleasurable. Me, I have no inclination to stick bits of metal in my body. I’d rather carry ink on my skin.

@Dog – (regarding your first post).... DAMN, woman! That was sexy on so many levels.

@Roby & @Odysseus – What? Seriously, what? How is having a nipple pierced vain? Like @Dog said, it’s not like women can go around displaying it and there are only so many occasions where it’s appropriate for men to not be wearing a shirt. So, really, what it boils down to is an uninformed and unnecessarily judgmental view on something, where the root cause is likely personal discomfort, irrational fear, or different tastes. Millions of women wear makeup every day, which I personally find a bit vain, but men don’t seem to have a problem with that, seeing that makeup is inextricably and historically tied into sexuality, beauty standards, and attracting men. So.. I guess it’s fine if it’s something you like and expect, but it’s worth insulting people over if you don’t?

As for the original question, it’s nearly impossible to answer. People do it for a lot of reasons. I’ve had several piercings, myself. First was extra holes in my earlobes, then my eyebrow, then tongue, then ear cartilage, then nose. I now only have one hole in each ear and I still have my tongue pierced (mainly for nostalgia and because I’ve had it for about 15 years). It’s like getting tattoos, it can be kind of addictive.

Some people like the pain, others like the endorphin rush from the pain, others get a sexual kick from it, some like the way it looks or feels, some like the jewelry, others like it because they’re taking control of their bodies and their appearance.. really, the list is about as varied as there are kinds of people.

Pierced nipples are pretty hot IMO

Why did I pierce my nipple? I was bored one day with a safety pin and said fuck it. Ended up liking the way it looked and kept it.
fun story, I have really small nipplies. I tried piercing the other one a couple weeks later. I pierced to close to the surface. It ripped in half. Not painful at all and it just healed back together but for a couple days I had 2 half nipples :P

Wow… ummm… The thing that keeps circling through my head while reading this thread is “Holy shit, @Dog has her nipples pierced?” Hehe.

I thought about piercing mine but I didn’t know if I wanted to deal with that sort of discomfort. I also asked my hubby if he wanted me to have them done and he said “not really”, so I left them alone.

Both my ears are pierced multiple times, including the top cartilage, and so is my tongue. I used to have my nose and eyebrow pierced, but I took them out last year because my daughter’s school is filled with soccer moms who wear wool and tweed cardigans and slacks and designer shoes and pearls and diamonds and tennis skirts and Prada/Gucci handbags, and $300 hairdos…......... so I felt a little out of place and didn’t want my daughter to lose friends because they thought I was “weird”.

@willworkforchocolate, that is very kind and thoughtful of you to do that for your daughter, but sad that you had to do it. It does make me smile, and, think you must be a great parent.

@stevenb Awww thanks, your comment made me smile.

I am a Caucasian male who has been heavily tattooed in a Japanese style tattooed bodysuit since my 20’s. I have also had both nipples pierced as well as a PA piercing. My nipples and PA are all 4 gauge (heavy) segment rings, the type with no beads. (They just look like solid rings). To answer the questions here, after the nipples have fully healed, usually over 6 months, yes in my case it greatly heightened the sensitivity to new levels. The key is to get them pierced deep enough as to have the room for thicker jewelry. The thinner the gauge, the more irritation there may be. After I graduated to larger gauges from 8 to 6 then to 4 there has been a significant increase in sensitivity. I’ll likely stop at 4 gauge, but I actually know a guy that wears 00 gauge rings in his nipples and prefers a super heavy gauge.