What Is Urethral Sounding?
Urethral sounding is a medical procedure and sexual practice where a thin, smooth object is inserted into your urethra. Your urethra is the hollow tube that allows pee to leave your body. Sounding is a type of urological surgery that helps widen tightened areas in your urethra or give better access to your bladder during surgery.
Some people use sounding, also called "cock-stuffing," for sexual satisfaction. This practice involves putting a glass or metal object or fluid into your urethra to enhance sexual pleasure.
Sounding can allow your partner to explore your penis in many ways. But health specialists have reported more urethral infections, complaints, and sexual function problems since the practice became mainstream.
You may have a higher risk of getting more problems with sounding if the object inserted into your urethra has germs (bacteria or viruses). Find out how this practice works, its risks, and get tips to try urethral sounding safely.
How Does Urethral Sounding Work?
A specialist who treats urethra and bladder problems (urologist) uses sterile metal urethral sounding devices during medical procedures. They'll carefully choose the correct size for your urethra before lubricating the sound.
Next, your urologist gently inserts the sound inside your urethra to:
- Widen and make the tube larger
- Check for blockages
- Remove any objects inside your urethra or bladder
Your urologist can also widen your urethra using a procedure called urethra dilation. It can help your urine flow better. It can also help with some medical conditions, such as:
- Urethral strictures
- Bladder neck fibrosis
- Meatal stenosis
- Atrophic urethra after menopause
- Obstructed urethra causing urine retention
- Some catheter problems
- Neurogenic bladder trouble
Sounds as a sexual practice
Beyond medical procedures, urethral sounding is a sexual habit to boost sexual pleasure and arousal.
Here are some key things to remember to keep you safe:
- Know your health risks.
- Keep it clean.
- Use the right tool.
- Lubricate properly.
- Don't lose your sound.
- Give yourself some rest.
Male urethral sounding
You can gently insert a rigid urethral sound halfway into your urethra (the glans of your penis). Or you can use a soft, silicone catheter to carefully go deeper.
Don't start with the smallest size because you're more likely to puncture yourself with the finer sounds. In fact, doctors only use the smaller sounds with special cameras to see up close to guide them and avoid injury. It's safest to use a sounding tool that's made for sexual pleasure. They're often flared on the end so they can't get lost inside your bladder.
Female urethral sounding
You'll insert a smooth, rigid metal or silicone urethral sound into your urethra. These sounding devices are also flared, so they don't get lost inside your bladder. Or you can use a soft, silicone catheter to carefully probe deeper. According to one study, female sounding is less common.
What Are the Risks of Urethral Sounding?
Usually your pee exits your body through your urethra. So, the tube doesn't normally stretch. When you insert objects into your urethra, you have a higher risk for infection, injury, trauma, and other problems.
Infection
If you insert an object that contains germs into your urethra, you can get a urinary tract infection (UTI) or STD. One study surveyed over 2,000 men, and about 10% of them regularly practiced urethral sounding and had higher chances for STDs.
Injury
Injury to your urethra is common with urethral sounding if a wrong tool is used. Some case reports and studies listed the unsafe objects being used, such as:
- Pencils
- Screws
- Wires
- Glue containers
- Clips
- Phallus-shaped fruits and vegetables
- Beans
- Bullets
You can avoid injury, infection, and losing the object inside your urethra and bladder by using the right tool. Certain urethral sounds are made to be less harmful.
These sounds are made:
- Smoother, to avoid tears and injury
- Flared, so they don't get lost inside your urethra or bladder
- Cleaned, to avoid infection
- Lubricated, to lower friction and avoid trauma
Using a sound that's made for urethral sounding lowers your risk of:
- Injury
- Infection
- The sound going too far into your urethra
Trauma
When you put any object into your urethra, it can cause trauma. You may even notice a little spot of blood after sounding.
If you're not careful, sounding can cause trauma such as:
- Bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Urine flow blockage
- Urine leaks
- Incontinence
- Bladder and urinary tract infections
Complications
Objects not made as a sound can easily become lodged in your urethra or bladder. And if your sound isn't clean, infections can happen. Inserting a sound with germs over and over can cause repeated infections. And this can cause more problems.
But getting medical care early can lower your risk for problems such as:
- UTIs
- Tears (perforation)
- Urethral strictures (narrowing of your urethra)
- Fistulae wounds
- Abscesses
- Penile necrosis
- Urethral diverticula
If you're having long-lasting infections, trouble urinating, or sexual problems, your doctor may suggest surgery. They can repair and correct your urethra or place implants to ease any pain or pressure.
How to Try Urethral Sounding Safely
Here are some tips to safely practice urethral sounding:
Use the right tools. There are objects specifically made for sounding. Find sounds that are made for your urethra; they're safer. The sounds will be smoother and shall slide more easily. The sound is flared at the end to keep it from getting lost inside your genitals and ower your risk for injury.
Keep it clean.Any sounds that go into your urethra need to be cleaned first; and after you're done, clean them again. Keeping your sounds free of germs (sterile) helps keep germs out of your urethra. And this can lower your risk for infection and irritation.
Clean your sound with hot soapy water using gloves. After it's cleaned, be sure to wash your genitals, too. And don't drop your sound; instead, lay it out on a dry, clean towel. That way, your sound stays clean.
Try a water-based lube.A water-based lube, especially a medical-grade one that's individually wrapped, can keep things clean. Avoid oilier lubes because they can degrade condoms and have a higher risk for STDs. And skip out on lubes with scents, flavoring, glycerin, or parabens. These can irritate your urethra.
Use gravity.Don't push the sound into your urethra. Let gravity gently work the sound into your hole. Never force a sound into your urethra; this raises your risk for injury. If you feel something sharp or burning, stop. Go slow, and listen to your body.
Try to sound less often. Cutting back on sounding can help you lower the amount of friction inside your urethra. And this can help lower your chances for injury.
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor or get medical care right away if you have:
- A clogged catheter that isn't draining pee
- The inability to pee
- A fever, chills, or pain with peeing (signs of a UTI)
- Swelling
- Pain that gets worse
Takeaways
Urethral sounding is a medical procedure that inserts a rigid object into your urethra. But some people get sexual satisfaction from it, and it is also called "cock-stuffing." You can lower your risk for UTIs, STDs, and other problems by using a clean, lubricated sounding device. Use it less often. If you can't pee, have worsening pain, or signs of a UTI, get medical care right away.
Urethral Sounding FAQs
Does urethral sounding hurt?
Sounding can cause pain or discomfort, but it depends on the person. Taking it slowly and using lubrication and the correct sounding device can help. If you feel discomfort, stop, take it slow, and listen to your body.
Does urethral sounding stretch the urethra?
Yes, it can, but it depends on the size of your sounding device and how often you practice sounding. You can use a smaller sounding rod and practice less often if you want to avoid injury. You can also talk to your urologist about the sound; they can give you advice.
Are there long-term complications to urethral sounding?
Yes, you can get long-term complications (problems) from urethral sounding because the sound can cause injury and trauma inside your urethra. But getting help early can avoid many problems such as:
- UTIs
- Tears (perforation)
- Urethral strictures (narrowing of your urethra)
- Fistulae wounds
- Abscesses
- Penile necrosis
- Urethral diverticula
