Once thought to be something only the truly outrageous person would do, there are many positive benefits, some of which have been known for ages, to the piercing of nipples for women. Before you click away, read a bit more please. As with any body piercing or tattoos, one needs to be of legal age and take time to seriously consider what they are doing before proceeding. This article is not to encourage anyone to get a piercing, but to explain how it fits in with history, and the reasons it was done. As with any such procedure it must be taken care of properly in order to prevent infection. Should an infection occur a doctor should be consulted.

Back in the time of the Roman's one of the main reasons a woman would have her nipples pierced was to correct a condition known as inverted nipple. Just like those who have an 'inny' belly button, the women who had this had nipples that sunk in instead of sticking out as most do. If the woman were pregnant, or planning to be, a doctor would pierce the inverted nipple and gently pull it out before putting the ring in it. This was found to help reverse the inversion and make it possible for the mother to nurse her child. If, after about 3-4 months, the nipple inverted when the ring was removed, then small weights,never heavy enough to rip or tear the skin, would be added to help. Another option was to use a metal spiral nipple stretcher connected to the ring that could be turned to stretch or pull the nipple out little by little.

Before the advent of cosmetic surgery, if a woman felt her nipples were too small, then piercing could be done as the scar tissue that would form after the rings were removed, and the hole closed, would enlarge the nipple. Depending on the size, and the preference of the woman or her husband, this could be done multiple times until the desired size was reached, though if it was done too often before she had children it could reduce the flow of milk.

For those women who had more milk than their young could use, then a piercing was a way to stop or block the flow of milk until it was time to feed the child. Once removed the milk could come out of the milk ducts that had not been closed by the piercing, and sometimes through the holes at the sides of the nipples where the ring or bar had been.

If a woman were barren (not able to have children) or simply wanted none, then having her nipples pierced was a way of saying so without having to speak a word. Many women of ill repute from that time also had it done, either by themselves or their owners, to show their status.

This article is not intended to encourage anyone to get such a piercing done, only to provide facts on the history or origins of nipple piercing. Items of body jewelry, such as in the photograph, can be used to reverse the inny condition while protecting the nipple itself. As it tends to make the nipple erect at all times care must be take to protect the nipple. ends, In addition it makes the piercing more obvious and may require different clothing be worn to do so. The nipple piercing is one of the few that is not easily or readily seen by others, and is often done as a form of silent rebellion against the status quo. If one is in a relationship then the other person should be consulted before this is done as it will mean at least 6-8 weeks of no touching, and sometimes more. Always used a licensed artist and not some guy in the back ally.