A Complete Guide to Apadravya Piercings
An apadravya piercing passes vertically through the glans of the penis from top to bottom, almost always passing through the urethra. It is effectively a Prince Albert and reverse Prince Albert in a single straight barbell. This guide covers the PA conversion shortcut, pain levels, urination changes, the 4 to 6 month healing timeline and aftercare.A Complete Guide to Apadravya Piercings
An apadravya piercing passes vertically through the glans of the penis from top to bottom, typically passing through the urethra at the centre of the glans. A straight barbell sits through the channel with one ball visible on the top of the glans and one ball at the urethral exit on the underside. The apadravya is essentially a Prince Albert and a reverse Prince Albert combined into a single continuous piercing. The name comes from the Kama Sutra, where "apadravya" referred to devices used to enhance pleasure during intercourse.
Because it passes through the urethra, the apadravya affects urination during and after healing. The split urine stream from the additional exit point means most apadravya wearers sit to urinate or manually direct the jewellery to manage the stream. This is a permanent change to consider before committing. The urethral involvement also means the piercing benefits from the natural flushing of urine during healing, which can support the healing process in the same way it does for a Prince Albert.
The apadravya is considered an advanced genital piercing requiring an experienced piercer with documented expertise in trans-glans work. In the UK, genital piercings on anyone under 18 are illegal. The procedure must be performed with the penis in a flaccid state to ensure correct geometric alignment: the barbell must sit centred and correctly angled to accommodate both the flaccid and erect anatomy comfortably.
What to Know Before Getting an Apadravya
Does an Apadravya Piercing Hurt?
Most people rate apadravya pain at 8 out of 10, making it one of the most painful genital piercings. The glans has a high concentration of nerve endings and the needle must pass through the full depth of the penile head. Bleeding during the procedure is expected and normal due to the highly vascular spongy tissue of the glans. Your piercer will pad the area immediately after the piercing to manage the bleeding. Pad underwear with a liner for the first 3 to 5 days to protect clothing.
Healing takes 4 to 6 months on average, faster than the ampallang because the urethral placement means the piercing is flushed with urine at every visit to the bathroom. Drinking plenty of water dilutes urine and reduces stinging during the early healing phase. The barbell must be long enough to accommodate the maximum erect measurement: a barbell that is too short for the erect anatomy creates pressure during arousal that significantly slows healing.
| Stage | Timeframe | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory | Days 1–14 | Significant tenderness; bleeding settles within a week; pad underwear; sit to urinate; no sexual activity |
| Healing | Months 1–3 | Sensitivity reduces; urination still stings early on; clean twice daily; no sexual activity |
| Maturing | Months 3–5 | Increasingly comfortable; confirm barbell length is still appropriate for anatomy; continue saline |
| Full healing | Months 4–6 | Confirmed healed; jewellery can be assessed for styling options; continue urine stream management |
What Jewellery Is Used in an Apadravya Piercing?
A straight barbell is the only appropriate jewellery for an apadravya piercing. The bar passes vertically through the glans with a ball end on the top and a ball end at the urethral exit on the underside. The length of the barbell is determined by the erect measurement of the glans rather than the flaccid measurement: the barbell must accommodate the maximum tissue depth during erection without creating pressure. Never use a barbell that is too short. A minimum starting gauge of 10G or 12G is recommended: thinner jewellery in a full glans piercing creates excessive tissue stress.
| Style | Best For | Size Guide | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight barbell (initial) | Fresh and healing | 10G or 12G; length to erect depth measurement | Only appropriate jewellery; sized to erect anatomy to prevent compression during arousal |
| Straight barbell (healed) | Long-term wear | 10G or 12G; length can be reassessed healed | Many wearers keep same barbell long-term; PA portion can be stretched independently |
For all genital piercing types including Prince Albert, ampallang and magic cross piercings, visit the Genital Piercing Types Explained guide. For every piercing type in one resource, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub.
Book your apadravya piercing at OSCO London
Apadravya piercings at OSCO London are just £10. Experienced piercers, private consultation, erect measurement taken for barbell sizing, implant-grade titanium as standard.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London. Visit the OSCO London homepage to book an apadravya piercing consultation and have glans anatomy and erect measurements assessed by an experienced professional.
How to Care for an Apadravya Piercing
Submerge the glans in a clean glass of sterile saline for 3 to 5 minutes twice daily. This allows the solution to reach both the top entry point and the urethral channel simultaneously. Alternatively spray saline generously at both ball ends. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Urinating after each cleaning session helps flush saline residue from the urethral channel naturally. Drink 2 litres of water daily throughout healing to keep urine diluted and reduce stinging.
Pad underwear with a clean liner for the first 3 to 5 days to manage residual bleeding. Sit to urinate from day one: attempting to stand with an apadravya during early healing creates more mess and discomfort than the simple adjustment of sitting. This adjustment becomes second nature quickly. Avoid all sexual activity during the full healing period.
When sexual activity resumes after confirmed healing, use barrier protection and be gradual in reintroduction. The erection during the initial healing weeks is an unavoidable mechanical challenge: the barbell is sized to accommodate erect anatomy but residual tenderness during the healing phase means arousal will cause discomfort. This diminishes steadily as healing progresses. Monitor the jewellery alignment throughout the healing period and report any tilting or asymmetric placement to your piercer promptly.
For a complete guide to every genital and body piercing type, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub at OSCO London, covering all placements from apadravya and ampallang piercings through to ear cartilage and facial piercings.