The hafada piercing may have originated in Arabia and spread from there to the Middle East and North Africa.

In Europe, hafada piercing was adopted by some members of the French Legion, who were active in the areas of Syria and Lebanon.

For this reason, many piercers will not place more than two or three ‘rungs’ of a ladder at a time, scheduling another set a month or two later.

In some cases, hafada piercings might induce discomfort while walking or running, or when riding a motorcycle or on horseback, especially during the healing process.

Men who have had a recent vasectomy should wait for incisions to heal prior to obtaining a scrotal piercing.

Scrotal piercings are done primarily for aesthetic reasons and as an artistic expression of personal style.

[11] Some people who obtain a genital piercing may seek a sense of uniqueness or intend to make a statement of non-conformity.

[12] Recent research suggests, however, that genital piercings are becoming mainstream, at least within some age groups, so are unlikely to succeed in providing a sense of uniqueness, signs of individuality or of subcultural identity, or as visual declarations of non-conformity.

[13] One piercer observed that, as of 2018, it was becoming more mainstream and acceptable for men to have one or multiple genital piercings, whereas in the late 1970s and early 1980s it was still very taboo.

Conversely, individuals who do not practice naturism may simply wish to get a body piercing that is private or a secret shared only with their intimate partner.

It is a body piercing that won't become an object of discussion or derision in the workplace or at the dinner table.