Most people who have their nipples or genitals pierced develop complications such as infections or irritation, but only a handful seek professional help as a result, new study findings suggest.

U.S. investigators found that up to two-thirds of people with intimate piercings developed problems, but only 3 percent visited a doctor or nurse.

Instead, most people with problems related to a piercing said they sought help from the person who pierced them.

Study author Dr. Carol Caliendo of Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, noted that while many body piercers may have a lot of experience, in her opinion it is better to visit a doctor or nurse for help with intimate piercing problems.

“I want people to seek healthcare from healthcare providers who are licensed, and who are knowledgeable,” she told AMN Health in an interview.

She added that many people may hesitate to make an appointment with a healthcare professional for a piercing problem, because they don’t want to be told to take it out.

Many doctors and nurses don’t understand why people want to keep their piercings, Caliendo commented, noting that the purpose of this study is to help healthcare professionals learn more about this behavior, and why it’s important to so many people.

As part of the study, in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, Caliendo and her colleagues asked 146 men and women with intimate piercings to complete a questionnaire, asking them about their background, the reason they decided to get a piercing, and what complications arose from it.

The researchers found that 43 percent had nipple piercings, 25 percent had genital piercings, and approximately one-third had both types.

On average, participants were 27 when they decided to pierce their nipples, and 28 when they pierced their genitals - in both cases, between 1 and 2 years after they had decided to get the piercings. The great majority said they were happy with their decision. “Our study showed that people didn’t do this impulsively,” Caliendo said.

Most people said they got pierced in order to “express themselves,” and were uninfluenced by celebrities, friends or family.

However, 66 percent of people with nipple piercings developed health problems after the procedure, as did 52 percent of people with genital piercings.

The most common nipple problems included site sensitivity, irritation and infection. After genital piercings, nearly 40 percent of men said they developed changes in urinary flow.

For people considering piercings, Caliendo recommended looking at several places, making sure a new needle is used every time, and checking that the facility is clean, which reduces the risk of infection.

SOURCE: Journal of Advanced Nursing, March 2005.