Gay nip

I called them our secret engagement rings. As people, we’ve been piercing our nipples for hundreds of years, with documentation of nipple piercing ranging throughout history. I asked my client if this was a fairly common practice at the time.

“If you were the kinky side of queer, sure enough. But we got our nipples pierced.

I love that piercings can play a big role in celebrating our love, and specifically their history of doing so in queer culture.

“Even when we eventually did get married and got real wedding bands, I always said the nipple ring meant more since I wore it over my heart. The results are permanent and restore a flat, masculine chest contour.

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If you’re self-conscious about the appearance of your nipples or chest, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to live with it.

And we used the same rings with the ball glued in so we couldn’t take them out. I was obsessed with the nipple rings though. Puffy nipples can occur even in fit, lean men and are often resistant to diet or exercise.

2. Tenderness or Soreness

Mild soreness is common during puberty or after intense chest workouts.

We had this symbol of our relationship, where no one ever had to know. The ingenuity of the gay community to always find ways to be ourselves and express our love against all odds. Our surgical approach includes:

• Gland excision through a small incision at the base of the areola
• Optional liposuction for fat contouring
• Minimal scarring and rapid recovery

This outpatient procedure takes 1–2 hours, and most men return to work in just a few days.

However, ongoing tenderness or swelling should be evaluated—especially if it’s accompanied by changes in size or shape.

3. Lumps or Firm Tissue

A firm mass under the nipple can be glandular tissue related to gynecomastia, or—rarely—a benign or malignant growth. He worked in law, and I worked as a dentist, and it wasn’t really….there weren’t spaces where you could get away with that sort of thing.

But neither of us could wear collars. Any noticeable lump should be checked by a medical professional.

4. Discharge

Nipple discharge in men is not normal. They were about as big as a woman’s finger ring, and they were gold. Nipple and Genital piercings are still often utilized as part of the collaring ritual, and I’ve helped many a client get matching wedding pieces for their septum piercings or ear piercings.

We could still celebrate our love, but we wouldn’t have to worry about work or people finding out. It was something special. This may also be reflected in women by the wearing of a larger earring/piercing in the left ear or nipple than is worn in the right, or multiple piercings in the left ear or nipple as opposed to a single piercing in the right to signify the top/dominant role.”  -BMEZINE

This time period in America was a very difficult time for many gays, we see the rise of the AIDs crisis, intense national homophobia, and lavender scare, and many people had to remain in the closet for their own safety.

Male nipples don’t serve a reproductive function, but they still contain ducts, nerve endings, and areolar tissue.

Normal nipple characteristics in men include:

• Flat or slightly raised profile
• Symmetrical in size and shape
• Similar skin tone to the surrounding chest
• No discharge, lumps, or persistent tenderness

Minor differences in size or position between the two nipples are also common and usually not a cause for concern.

Common Nipple Concerns in Men

1. Puffy Nipples

A raised, dome-shaped areola that protrudes slightly from the chest may be caused by glandular tissue beneath the nipple.

My practice was here, I couldn’t leave. While many nipple-related changes are harmless, others may signal an underlying condition such as gynecomastia.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about male nipples—what’s considered normal, what changes to watch for, and when it might be time to seek expert evaluation or treatment.

What’s Normal for Guys’ Nipples?

Like all people, men are born with nipples, which develop early in the womb before sex hormones are activated.

This can be a sign of mild gynecomastia and is especially common in teens, athletes, or men with hormone imbalances.

2. Tenderness or Pain

Occasional nipple sensitivity can be normal, especially after intense workouts or friction from clothing.

With roots in BDSM, specifically gay BDSM, this mentality began to spread to other practices, such as piercings.