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[[Image:Prince_Albert_Piercing.jpg|thumb|200px|right|CurvedThere barbellis no such thing as a Prince Albert piercing]].
The '''Prince Albert piercing''' ('''PA''') is a form of [[body piercing]]. The PA pierces the [[penis]] from the outside of the [[frenulum]] and into the [[urethra]]. There is also a '''reverse PA piercing''' which enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the [[glans]]. The piercer uses a reception tube placed into the urethra to ensure needle exits.
A nerve bundle runs along the center of the frenulum. While some piercers may choose to avoid the bundle, others do not. The piercing may be centered if the bearer is [[Circumcision|circumcised]]. Otherwise, the piercing will be done to the side because the skin in the area needs to be able to radically reposition itself.
The Prince Albert piercing is apparently named after [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]'s consort [[Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]. It is alleged that he wore a ring attached to his penis which was then strapped to his thigh, in order to maintain the smooth line of the tight trousers that were in fashion at the time. It is very difficult to ascertain the validity of this story. No contemporary account of him adopting the practice has come to light, and many suspect that it was a myth invented by [[Doug Malloy]] who was chiefly responsible for popularising body piercing in the USA. (It has also been suggested that the name actually refers to Queen Victoria's grandson [[Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence|Prince Albert Victor]]. This theory probably stems from attempts to link Prince Albert Victor with the [[Jack the Ripper]] murders)
The PA heals more quickly than most other piercings. Despite a popular belief that [[urine]] is infested with germs, a healthy person's urine is actually nearly sterile until it exits the body. Some believe that the frequent bathing of the piercing with (sterile) urine contributes to the healing process. Infections of Prince Alberts are relatively rare. Initial healing typically takes from one to two weeks, with full healing taking as much as nine months or more.
Some men find that the dribble caused by the PA when urinating necessitates sitting down to urinate. This is not, as might be suspected, due to the hole made during piercing, but rather is caused by urine travelling along the surface of the jewellery. The effect may be exaggerated by different sizes and styles of jewellery. This is usually not a problem when using [[urinal]]s.
Another common misconception is that the PA is a painful piercing because of the high concentration of nerves in the area. However, nerves are specialized in their function, so the high concentration of nerve cells does not prove a higher sensitivity to pain. Anecdotal reports from people with PAs are that it is not particularly painful, although psychological state, [[adrenaline]], and one's pain threshold all affect this judgment.
Prince Alberts are sometimes stretched to a 0 or 00 [[American wire gauge|gauge]] i.e. about 11/32 inch (8 to 9 mm) diameter. Prince Alberts typically are pierced at either 12 or 10 gauge (2 to 2.6 mm). In the case of a 12 [[American wire gauge|awg]] (2 mm) piercing, they are usually either immediately stretched, or stretched after partial or full healing. Outside of this initial stage, they are rarely seen below a 10 gauge (2.6 mm). Stretching to sizes of 6 to 4 gauge (4 to 5 mm) is probably most common.
Very large gauge or heavy jewellry can cause stretching or tearing of the thin tissue between the urethral opening and the piercing hole creating a [[meatotomy]]. In some cases this can be corrected surgically.
Jewellery usually worn in a PA include the [[curved barbell]], [[captive bead]], and the [[Princes Wand|Prince's Wand]]. Short curved barbells are usually about 3/8" or so length, so one ball sits on the lower side of the penis and the other ball sits at the urethral opening. This type of jewellery prevents discomfort that can come from larger jewellery moving around during daily wear.
The Prince's Wand is a particularly unusual piece of jewellery. It consists of a hollow tube with a threaded cap at the end. The tube is inserted into the urethra, and a stem is inserted through the PA piercing and into another threaded hole on the side of the tube. The general shape is similar to a policeman's [[nightstick]]. The little side stem holds the tube in place. The threaded cap, often just a ball, can be removed so the wearer can urinate through the hollow tube without having to remove the jewellery.
==External links==
* [http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/articles/ptafter/pa.html BMEzine Guide]
* [http://www.body-piercing.com.au/body_piercing_guide/penis_piercing_guide.htm Body-Piercing Aus Guide]
* [http://ukfetish.info/?article=174 UK Fetish Article]
* [http://www.abp.net.au/prince_a.htm another Australian Guide]
* [http://www.piercedpleasures.net/experiences/princealbert2.html Pierced Pleasures guide]
* [http://www.body-piercing.com.au/body_piercing_gallery/body_piercing_gallery_prince_albert_procedure.htm Graphic description and illustration of the operation]
[[Category:Genital piercings]]
[[sv:Prince Albert]]
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