Ask Master David: Testicular Piercing

Master David:

I've been fantasizing about a lot of s&m scenes.. chatting with lots of people online about various scenes. I've been doing real scenes for several years, mostly just bondage, whipping, caths, etc.

My biggest turnon is any kind of nutwork.... especially in the context of an interrogation scene. More and more I'm fantasizing about serious nut abuse... especially the use of needles. How safe is the use of needles in the testicles? A couple of leathermen I know say it's "relatively" safe, and not as painful as it sounds.

I'd really appreciate a professional opinion on this subject, (as well as any suggestions of any other hot (and safe) nut-action type ideas).

Thanks,
Joe

Dear Joe,

I asked David Stein, who researched cock-and-ball torture for one of his Bond+Aid columns in Bound & Gagged a few years back, and he said:

My understanding is that the testicles themselves are (a) extremely tough and (b) have no pain receptors *inside*. So the big issue in piercing them as far as safety is pushing hard enough to get through the tough covering without damaging anything else in the process. If the piercer uses a strong, very sharp needle and knows the anatomy very well -- *and* uses sterile technique -- it should be exactly as your correspondent said, "relatively safe" and not very painful.

Of course, if it doesn't hurt much, I wonder why anyone would bother.

Only you can decide how much risk to accept in the pursuit of pleasure. In this respect, BDSM is much like bungee jumping, skydiving or any other "risky" sport. Some people wouldn't think of jumping from a plane - too risky! Other people love the thrill so much that it's well worth the risk. All I can do as an advisor is help you to understand what risk is involved, and how to minimize it. You must make the decision, and you must accept the potential for unwanted consequences.

Let's look at the risks by looking at the regional anatomy. The alt.sex FAQ contains more information on male (and female) genitalia.

The scrotum (nutsack) holds the testes (balls) outside the body in order to regulate their temperature. The testes themselves are constructed of spongy tissues called seminiferous tubules. It is the seminiferous tubules that actually produce sperm. The soft tissues of the testes themselves would be difficult to damage by piercing.

Directly above the testes lie the epididymes, which are small sacks where sperm is stored after it is produced. The epididymes are much more delicate than the testes themselves, so you want to keep your needle well away from them! They lie flat along the upper surface of the testes, so you must be extremely careful.

The scrotum also holds the vas deferens, which are small, coiled tubes that carry sperm from the epididymes to the body, from whence it is ejaculated. These structures are also delicate and should be carefully avoided.

When piercing the testes, keep them oriented so that the epididymes and vas deferens are held well away from the needle. This must be done with the utmost of care.

Piercing the scrotum, however, is a very different proposition. It is quite easy to pierce it safely. If you pinch the upper scrotum between your fingers, you should be able to locate the vas deferens, which you can roll back and forth between your fingers. Roll the vans deferens out of the way, and pierce through the outside flesh only! Professional piercers use special forceps to clamp off the target area when they pierce the scrotum. This method ensures that the vas deferens doesn't accidentally slip into the target area. You might want to use this method as well.

If you do decide to stick your nuts, remember that the testes are delicate organs that perform vital functions. Not only do they produce sperm, but they also produce testosterone and other hormones your body needs to function normally. Treat them very carefully!

Here are some additional precautions you should take:

• During all BDSM activity, and especially this type of activity, do not impair your judgement by using alcohol or drugs - even recreational drugs such as marijuana or poppers. The riskier the activity, the more important this becomes. If you're piercing your nuts, you shouldn't have even one drink.
• Make sure the area is well lit and clean.
• Sterilize your equipment before and after use, and do not reuse needles without following stringent disinfection procedures. If you ask around your area, you can probably find a professional piercer willing to autoclave your temp needles, as I do.
• Be sure to dispose of needles in a "sharps" container, not in the trash.

As far as other ideas, let me list just a few off the top of my head:

• If you're really into interrogation scenes, you should definitely learn about electrical play. A full explanation with all the necessary safety precautions, etc., is way beyond what I can put here.
• You can use a ball stretcher, available from your local BDSM/Leather store, many of which come with D-rings for attaching weights.
• If you don't have a ball stretcher, you can always attach weights using a parachute. A parachute is a cone, usually of leather, that looks very much like a parachute (hence the name), and holds the balls. Small chains come from the bottom, and connect in a ring, from which weights can be hung. They work very well. Some models come with small pins on the inside, which pierce the outside skin of the nutsack when weight is applied.
• Many stores also carry ball-crushers, which come in many configurations. One common style has a chrome bar that you can tighten down with wingnuts until the balls are compressed. Don't overdo it, you don't want them to be really crushed! It takes a hell of a lot of pressure to cause any real damage to the testes, as they are naturally compressible. You'll probably have your bottom screaming his safeword long before you get into a risky area.
• Another interesting diversion is to apply Icy-Hot or Ben-Gay (brand names for analgesic ointments intended for treating sore muscles). They produce interesting sensations when rubbed into the skin of the scrotum or the nipples. For some people, they are extremely painful, and for others they are merely warm. If your bottom has rather low limits, you might want to try it on a small area at first. Once it's on, there is no way to remove it. Don't try washing it off, as water will only make it hurt more.
• Leather shops carry small paddles and whips made for the nuts.
• Try placing clothespins on the nutsack. One will twinge, ten will hurt, twenty will hurt like hell!
• Hot wax is always fun...
  
• And remember that you can always slap, twist, pull, and otherwise play with them. Just don't go overboard. Luckily, the balls are pretty sensitive, so you won't have to!