Clitoris ring: The latest ‘feminist’ style statement with health consequences

Body modification, once relegated to the fringes of society, has evolved into a popular and accepted form of self-expression. Practices like piercings, tattoos, and ear tunnels have transcended their historical and cultural roots to become powerful symbols of identity and personal artistry.

Recently, the boundaries between fashion and body modifications have blurred significantly. Body piercing has expanded beyond traditional earlobe piercings. The piercing culture now encompasses a wide array of options, from tongue, lip, ear, and nose to clitoris.

In some climes, different types of vagina piercings are quite common. There are reasons why these women choose clitoris piercings; they are sexual pleasure and a better appearance.

This ring remains tucked away and conveniently protected from allergies and irritation while the woman goes about her regular business.

While the acceptance of body piercing in fashion is growing, certain forms of body modifications, such as clitoris rings, raise ethical concerns and health risks.

“Piercing the clitoris is a type of female genital mutilation (FGM); it is grouped under the type 4 FGM.  They were not cut; they did it themselves. They believe that when they put the rings in their clitoris, it makes it beautiful,” said MsMojisolaOmotoye, Programme Officer for Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria.

Speaking at the sideline of a 2-day media dialogue organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Benin City, Edo State, MsOmotoye declared that any form of harm that is done to the private part of a girl child, for non-medical reasons, is female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there’s no medical reason for this to be done. It often happens against a girl’s will without her consent, and girls may have to be forcibly restrained.

 MsOmotoye said, ‘Just like they pierce their navel or earlobe, they do it to their clitoris.’

“The ring is typically small and features a clip that attaches to the clitoris.” Some remove it before sex, and for some it is fixed permanently,” she added.

According to her, although there is no data on the possible number of ladies or women who wear clitoris rings in Nigeria, there is the possibility that a lady who wears rings on their nose, lips or navel or has multiple earrings, may also be wearing a clitoris ring.

On her part, a sexual and reproductive health specialist and FGM consultant to UNICEF, MrsAderonkeOlutayo, said vagina piercings are self-mutilating the genitals, and usually the women do it with the intent of greater sex pleasure for the man and for beautification.

“Ironically, when they pierce the clitoris, they end up damaging these nerve endings, making it difficult to experience pleasure and potentially orgasm. They’re not aware that it can affect their libido or that it could have other health implications,” she added.

According to MrsOlutayo, “We have a lot of tattoo shops now coming on now. And of course, we have piercing shops as well. If you look around, you’ll see lots of girls with rings on different parts of their bodies – the nose, ear, navel and lips.

She said clitoris piercing may not be only among city dwellers because of globalization, peer group influence and people wanting to copy what they see in celebrities and role models on TV and social media.

 However, she said wearing a clitoris can increase their risk of sexually transmitted infection and cause pain, and when not properly placed, it could injure the man during sex. It can also get stuck. Some may also end up with keloid scar formation or cysts in their genitals.

 “She might think nothing is wrong with her right now, but by the time she gets married and she’s grown up, she will see the impact of piercing the clitoris because, of course, the libido will reduce, and that can cause a lot of issues, even in marriage,” she added.

The programme manager at Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development, Mr Nelson Akerele, said there was no need to mutilate, reshape or beautify the genitals of any woman or girl-child, and any harm to the genitals for non-medical reasons is a form of female genital mutilation that should be discouraged.