Piercings

[LuciSinger]

I was wondering if anyone could inform me if getting my nipples pierced would impede any growth or cause problems, my breasts have grown to a AA from completely flat  already

[Samantha6string]

I had mine done before I started hrt and they're going just fine. Three months and I'm already an A cup.

I doubt having them done while on hormones would impeed growth however it may interfere with the formation of milk ducts etc so I would consult your doctor before hand.

[noleen111]

ouch.... a nipple piercing is something i would like to have done.. but i hear its really painful.. a little chicken

[mfox]

I would be way more worried about piercing complications than the piercing itself.  The last thing you want is an infection or allergic reaction while you're developing.  Mine weren't very sensitive before HRT, but they're now incredibly receptive. I would never ever get mine pierced for fear of losing the intense sensations.

[katrinaw]

Agreed mfox, I tried twice with belly piercings, both times infected 

But if done at a reputable place, and the aftercare is followed to the letter, should be OK....

As far as growing boobs, I would hold off if the nipple is still small/er

L Katy

[summer710]

Hi.  Both my nipples were pierced for several years prior to HRT/transition.  I've not noticed any ill-effects.  As far as infections - choice of ring type and material matter (though cleaning the hole/piercing itself is fairly easy and non-traumatic...green-tea anti-bacterial soap and a daily salt bath...your piercer should go over this with you).  Start with a hoop - those are easier to twist around for cleaning than barbells.  I'd recommend sticking with a simple surgical steel or titanium full-hoop; surgical steel or titanium are generally hypo-allergenic, so the skin shouldn't react negatively to the metal (any more than it will for an open wound...which a piercing really is).   The multi-colored anodized can be pretty and tempting, but I've seen poorly constructed hoops where the bonding flaked off, causing allergic reactions to the underlying (cheap) metal alloy...

No nipple play for a couple of months.  No direct exposure of the piercing to tight undershirts or compressive garments (I liked to use band-aids over the piercing, so there wasn't a constant rubbing friction from my undershirt or cycling jerseys).

[LuciSinger]

Do sports bras count for compressive garments?

[LuciSinger]

And as far as infections go I've had 6 piercings I know how to care for them to prevent infection

[DeanJulian]

Doesn't seem like there would be a lot of risk. A lot of people have already said that avoiding infections is important, but seeing as you know how to prevent infections and properly take care of the piercings, you should be fine.

[Jill F]

I was told by a piercer that it's best to let them grow to their full size and still wait until after any breast augmentation, otherwise you risk migration and asymmetry.   Also, if they have a significant growth spurt before they've healed completely, you will have to change the jewelry for a larger size.  You don't want to do that.

[Sydney_NYC]

I had mine pierced about 4 years prior to HRT. My HRT doctor said they would be fine and should not cause any issues, but if they get too uncomfortable then just remove them. After a fews months on HRT, they did start to require more maintenance and would bleed easily if played with. (My wife loves to play with them ) After 13 months on HRT, I needed to put in longer barbells due to size changes. I didn't like the way they were looking as I felt the position of the piercings was too for forward on one side and to far back on the other. It just didn't look right and things were developing weird with them in. I decided to remove them and they are looking much better now and my nipples seem to be growing better now. I will probably have them re-pierced after they have finished growing.

Once reason I initially had them pierced was to increase sensitivity. So far with them our it seems my sensitivity has increased even more than when they were in. HRT may be the reason why. Either way I'm loving it

[summer710]

From personal experience, my piercings haven't shifted with HRT-induced breast growth.  Even when the subareolar disk was developing, it never pushed out or shifted my piercings.  And replacing jewelry/up-sizing isn't really an issue...it's kind of fun actually...just like shopping for anything else (but again, wait till you're fully healed before shopping for pretty or ornate jewelry...a simple hoop is - IMO - the best to start with).

Is a sports bra a compressive garment?  Maybe, but I never had issues using them...maybe I just lucked out?  In any case, one trick I use(d) is I'll stick a regular rectangular band-aid over the piercing if I'm wearing a sports bra/compressive...even though the garments would be tight, the band-aid would make them slide over the piercing.  Don't use one of those small round disks - those aren't big enough to securely fasten over the piercing and will fall off.  The band-aid also helps keep the ring flat and not twist around (and at the end of your activity, you could check the band-aid to see if you bled or leaked anything [which you could still differentiate from sweat]).  The band-aid trick has served me well when I go cycling - typical kit will be sports bra, bibshorts (which have shoulder straps that inconveniently slice across the boobage) and then tight fitting cycling jersey...no issues for me...as long as I slip a band-aid on.  YMMV.