Christina Piercing 101
- lynnloheide
- 23 minutes ago
- 7 min read
We are continuing our 101 series with the Christina or Vertical Pubic Mound Piercing today! Christina piercings are fairly popular vulva piercings that sit on the pubic mound, and exit at the ridge of tissue just above the start of the clitoral hood. These anatomy-dependent piercings are visually stunning, being able to sport an array of decorative choices. However, unlike other genital piercings, they are non-functional, not providing any stimulation to the area. However, the aesthetic and look of the piercings alone can be their own form of function- these often help folks feel more comfortable and confident in their anatomy! That said, like any piercing ensuring you are seeing an experienced piercer who will do these correctly is key, as the risks from piercings done incorrectly are high, and with genital piercings, they are higher. This blog will have photos later down, please only read if you are 18+
A Note on Naming
This piercing is most often called a Christina, and that’s how the majority of clients and piercers may refer to it. However, for some clients, this name can feel uncomfortably gendered. Given that it is located vertically through the pubic mound, I will often call these vertical pubic mound piercings. It is a small language change that can make a difference in client comfort. And if you are someone considering getting this, who has found the gendered name a bit off-putting, hopefully this language helps this feel more comfortable!
Anatomy Considerations
Like most piercings, the Christina is quite anatomy-dependent. Some piercers refer to this as “the navel of the vulva” and that’s honestly a fairly apt comparison of the anatomy we look for for these to be viable. With navels, we look for a defined ridge or lip of tissue that we can place the piercing in, and it’s similar to a Christina. We want a defined lip or ridge just before the start of the tissue that becomes the clitoral hood. We also want a pubic mound that has fairly stable tissue, and where we don’t see a great deal of tissue change between standing, laying, and sitting. Ideal anatomy has a well-defined lip or ridge, usually a few mm deep, and stable tissue on the mound in all positions. That said, even without ideal anatomy, many folks are still able to get and heal Christina piercings, as long as there is enough of a ridge and stable enough tissue.
Your piercer will likely have you stand, lay down, and possibly sit during your anatomy consultation and marking, in order to assess your tissue and ensure it’s proper for piercing in this placement. For clients- please ensure your piercer is being thorough in your marking- it makes a big difference in how these heal!
Christinas fall in a grey area between regular piercings and surface piercings. I do think on very very ideal anatomy they are most similar to a navel, but on more grey-area anatomy they are more akin to a surface piercing. Because of this, Christinas can have a higher risk of rejection or migration, which should be discussed at the time of piercing. This is also why it’s so important to assess the anatomy in various postures to ensure we are accounting for the movement and shift of the tissue, and to minimize migration.
Jewelry Considerations
There are two primary styles of jewelry we see with Christina piercings- the curved barbell and the L-bar! I would say these days curved barbells are far and away the most common for a Christina, with a poll in BMLF showing over 90% of piercers prefer curves. Like we discussed, these are the navel of the vulva, and the tissue and anatomy is quite similar. This lends itself to a curved barbell being an ideal shape for this piercing. This is thanks to that defined ridge, and curvature of the tissue at the bottom of the pubic mound. A curve, usually 12 or 10g, allows jewelry to sit perpendicular on entrance and exit, and move with the movement of the ridge- just like a curve in a navel allows. I personally will not do these smaller than a 12g as I find it does not hold up well to bumps and snags. I also suggest a plain bead on the bottom for initial piercing and healing as the easiest thing to keep clean. Once healed, decorative pieces like claw set ends or gem ends can be a fun adornment at the base.
L-bends were first utilized for Christinas in the 90s and early 00s, and were quite popular for a time. However, we learned quite quickly that the bend on an L only worked for some very specific anatomies- for everyone else, it just ended up popping out all the time leading to migration and eventually rejection. As we began to treat these more like navels, we began to see significantly more success. There are still the occasional anatomies that call for an L bar, and if they do, that is the best choice. However, I would say it’s far, far more common to be suited for a curve here.
Function Vs Fashion
Very often when considering getting a genital piercing, the function of the piercing is the main concern for folks. People are looking for something that feels good, creates new and desirable sensations, and works with their lifestyle and needs. However, function can come in many forms.
With a Christina, the piercing does not provide function in the way we see other genital piercings do. It doesn’t directly contact or stimulate any areas that are typically a part of sexual function, and if anything, most clients report that it’s either neutral or gets in the way occasionally (mostly during initial healing). However, it's a very aesthetically pleasing piercing. It is a huge confidence boost for a lot of clients as they find it helps them feel more comfortable in their skin and enjoy their bodies more. This itself is a form of function. I’ve had clients say they feel more confident naked, and more comfortable with partners interacting with their anatomy more directly, and the piercing helps them feel connected to this part of their body. While it may not have the direct function of a VCH or a Triangle, I still consider this a very successful function for many.
Considerations Day Of
I always get lots of questions about coming in to actually get this piercing so let’s review some. Do you need to shave? Nope! If you don’t normally shave or wax, you can come in as you naturally are. However, if you do typically shave or wax I would suggest getting that done before piercing, shaving can happen the day of or before, and waxing should happen about a week before. We are going to suggest waiting for about 1-2 months before waxing or shaving again so the piercing has time to heal initially. With the top of a Christina it can make hair removal on the mound more complex, and you’ll want to avoid going too close while it's still healing. I suggest using an eyebrow razor or tweezers to gently and delicately remove hair around the top while this is initially healing. Once it’s fully healed, the top gem can be unscrewed for hair removal and then screwed back on, as long as you feel comfortable doing this yourself.
If you are on your cycle it’s totally fine for you to still come in and get pierced! I suggest bringing fresh products with you so you aren’t wearing any used products against your new piercing. Tampons and Diva Cups are a bit easier to manage than pads with these piercings. If a piercer tells you it’s not ok to be pierced on your cycle, that’s a huge red flag and I would not return to that piercer. If your piercer makes you feel uncomfortable or shameful about it as well, I would also leave. There is nothing shameful about being on your cycle, it’s very normal.
Considerations for Healing
The biggest ask always is when you can resume having sex. It really comes down to two things- comfort and hygiene. If everything feels comfortable, great! If the piercing is sore or tender, or certain movements, touches, or toys hurt, burn, sting or pinch, I would stop, and wait a week or two before trying that again. Christina piercings can be prone to migration and rejection, so I do caution clients to be careful with any positions and actions that are constantly hitting against the jewelry. Often, most face-to-face penetrative activities can fall under this category. Being cautious with this behavior, listening to your piercing, and stopping if anything becomes sore or irritated is important. For many clients, they feel comfortable resuming things with this piercing after 3-10 weeks. Hygiene is the other big factor. You and your partners should be cleaning up well before and after, and you should clean your piercings. I also suggest protection for the first month- we aren’t worried about STD’s but we are worried about other people's unique bacteria and bodily fluids- yes, even your primary partner, even someone you’ve been with for years. I also suggest water-based lubrication, not silicone-based based while this heals!
Clothing-wise wise avoid lacy underwear that may catch or snag- fishnets fall into this category as well. Stick with underwear that feels comfortable and doesn’t rub on the piercing.
General Advice for any Genital Piercing
When considering getting any kind of genital piercing, there are a few good considerations to have in mind. Are you looking for something functional? What kind of function are you desiring? What stimulation do you prefer? What kind of sex do you have? How do you masturbate? Would you prefer something that’s just decorative? Do you want to stretch your piercing in the future? Ideally, what would this piercing do for you? Take your time to think over these things, or discuss them with a partner. It’s also important to remember that every vulva and penis is very unique in shape and size, and not everyone has the right anatomy for every piercing. There are some that most anatomy can get, and some that few can. Take a look at the photos on my site, and feel free to come in for a consultation to assess your anatomy and let you know what piercings you can get. I always encourage clients to come in for a consult if they’d like- good piercers are happy to discuss anatomy, function, and lifestyle with you, and your partner, and work with you to find the best piercing for your needs.
Christina piercings are fun, and unique piercings which can give a big self-confidence boost. They function differently than many other genital piercings, and they can have a higher risk of migration or rejection which is important to consider when getting pierced. If you are interested in getting this piercing please do some good research on your piercer and ensure you are seeing someone who will assess your anatomy correctly, place your piercing correctly, and help you through the healing process.
To view more examples check out my genital piercing portfolio. For further reading
