There are as many reasons to get piercings as there are people. Some find body jewelry particularly attractive in its own right. Traditional piercings and styles may reconnect or reinforce an individual with his ethnic roots. Others use piercings (as well as tattoos, brandings, and cuttings) to make a statement about themselves and their attitude towards society's conservative rules, or to indicate membership in a particular group. Still others have discovered that nipple and genital piercings can heighten the sexual experience for themselves and their partners.
For many people, body piercings are used to celebrate or mark a special moment in their lives, such as a birthday, the birth or death of someone important to them, or the beginning or end of a stage of life. Piercings may be used to reclaim one's "self" after a relationship ends, or to celebrate the beginning of a relationship. Couples are choosing body jewelry to mark engagements, weddings, and anniversaries, instead of traditional jewelry.
Piercings are used in the rituals of some religions, particularly to mark the passage into adulthood. They may also be used within a SM scene, either to heighten the experience (and leave a memorable token) or to cement a specific relationship, such as between a Mistress and slave.
Whatever the reason, body adornment has a long and colorful history. Modern society is only now rediscovering the beauty and joy of piercings. As a result of this new interest, unique forms of piercing have been added to the traditional ones.
The one drawback to this increased interest is that people desiring piercings cannot always find a trained, experienced piercer. For your safety and health, always ask about your intended piercer's training, methods, and sterile procedures. Never allow anyone to use an ear-piercing gun on you not even to pierce your ears. It is far better to wait for that desired piercing until you can find someone you can trust to use the proper equipment, procedures, and jewelry, than to suffer the effects of a poor piercing.
