Urethral Sounding Guide: Beginner Tips & Safety

Urethral sounding is something that people have been doing for at least 5,000 years, but these days, it’s possible to do it at home at least somewhat safely now that it’s being recognized as a sexual practice.

Sex toy manufacturers are producing purpose-built sounding tools and sexologists are advising on best practices. Keep reading to learn more about these!

What Is Urethral Sounding and How Does It Work?

The urethra is a narrow, fibromuscular tube that carries urine out of the bladder and out of the body. For people with penises, it also goes through the prostate gland and carries semen. Urethral sounding is a sexual practice (medical fetish) that involves inserting a specially designed toy into the urethra, where there are plenty of nerve endings in both the urethra itself and in the surrounding tissue.

It may not surprise you that this is a somewhat risky activity. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t explore it if you think (or know!) that you will enjoy it, but it does mean that you should follow best practices, which we will detail in this article.

Why Do People Like to Do This?

We wrote above that the urethral area is rich with nerve endings. The lower urinary tract is home to three sets of nerves: pelvic parasympathetic nerves, lumbar sympathetic nerves, and pudendal (somatic) nerves. The urethra is situated in the genital region, so the surrounding area is also extremely responsive.

Stimulating the urethra therefore results in very strong sensations. Many folks find those sensations to be unpleasant; if you’ve had a medical procedure that required a catheter, that’s what we’re talking about. But because every body is different and people react differently to stimuli, some people find this intensely pleasurable — and that’s why (some) people like to do this. For people with prostates, urethral sounding also stimulates the prostate, which adds to the intensity.

Is Urethral Sounding Safe?

Urethral sounding can be done safely, but this does not mean that all urethral penetration is safe. When you’re dealing with an area that is especially sensitive (which is why it can feel so good), you have to be especially careful. Urology Specialists explain that risks include:

• Urinary tract infection and prostatitis
• Bleeding from the urethra
• Difficulty urinating or complete blockage
• False passage, which is a hole tunneling out of the urethra
• Urosepsis or tissue death

These are obviously serious complications and good reason to focus on safety if and when you choose to explore urethral sounding. First and foremost, this means using sounds that are designed for this purpose. These are usually medical-grade stainless steel or another body-friendly material; since these are meant to be used internally, they should be hypoallergenic and non-porous so they can be thoroughly cleaned. They should not have any seams or sharp edges, and they should have a wide or flared base to ensure that they don’t slip past the sphincter, which means a trip to the emergency room.

And speaking of the emergency room, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a database of items that emergency departments across the country have removed from penises. These include: comb, apple core, Allen wrench, spork, phone charging cable, car key, nail, crayon, knife handle, chopstick, four plastic forks, and sewing needle. Don’t do this.

Do make sure that your sounds are clean and in good condition to reduce the risk of infection. We explained above that you should be using sounds made from body-friendly, non-porous materials such as stainless steel (medical-grade silicone and borosilicate glass also meet these criteria but are less popular for this kind of device). Wash your sound with mild fragrance-free soap and plenty of warm water, pat it with a lint-free towel, and let it air-dry completely. Also wash your hands and your body.

Next, ensure that you are comfortable. Starting with a warm shower or bath will relax you both mentally and physically. Put on your favorite music or adult content. Practice some deep breathing or just take some time to center yourself, because you’re going to want to be really in tune with your body. Pain means an immediate stop, so make sure that you are receptive to whatever signals your body is sending out.

When It’s Too Risky

We wrote above that urethral sounding can usually be done safely, and this is true for many people, but if you fall into any of the following categories, the risk increases sharply and we would strongly discourage it. You can always check with your health care provider if you have concerns.

• Pregnancy: One of the biggest risks of urethral sounding is infection, and pregnant people don’t want infection anywhere near the uterus. Please wait until you have recovered from the birth to explore this.
• Urinary Tract Infection: If you’re already dealing with a UTI, this is likely to make it worse. It’s also likely to make it a lot less fun, so waiting until it’s cleared up is really the best idea.
• Urethral Trauma: If you have a history of urethral trauma, you should not engage in sounding without medical clearance.
• Enlarged Prostate: The urethra runs through the prostate, and if yours is enlarged, you should avoid irritating it.
• Bleeding Disorder: The urethra and surrounding area is very sensitive, with thin tissue and a lot of blood vessels. Even minor tears can bleed quite a bit, so if you have a bleeding disorder, it’s best not to risk it.

What Does Urethral Sounding Feel Like?

Because every body is different, it’s going to feel different for everyone. However, our sex educators and testers agree that you can expect to start out with a bit of a burn or sting as you insert the sound, and then a sense of fullness and stretching.

If you have a prostate, you will likely experience additional stimulation as the sound will pass through the prostate (since the urethra passes through the prostate). This is a different kind of stimulation than you would experience from anal penetration, and some folks find it even more intense.

Most sounds have a rounded bulbous tip, so removing the sound creates a bit of suction. You will likely feel a kind of a tug as you pull it out, so it’s a very good idea to do this slowly and smoothly. If you start to feel discomfort, take a brief break and then try to be even slower and easier.

Five Steps to Urethral Sounding

We’ll start out by reminding you that this is a high-risk sexual activity. Any action that you take upon the information presented on this website is strictly at your own risk, as explained in our Terms of Service.

1. Open Communication

Urethral sounding can be a solo or partnered activity. If you choose to engage with a partner, remember that as with any sexual activity, informed and enthusiastic consent has to be the baseline. You and your partner should discuss expectations and boundaries around this (or any) act.

It’s also a good idea to set up a safe word, and if that word comes out, all activity stops immediately while you reassess and regroup.

2. The Right Tools

You will need:

• Urethral sound (more on this both above and below)
• Sterile water-based lube
• Gloves

If this list sounds like it belongs in a doctor’s office, you are not far off! And if you find this idea exciting, you are not alone and you should check out other medical fetish toys.

Wash your sound with mild soap and plenty of warm water, even if it is right out of the package. Anything that will be used internally needs to be extra clean, and this includes your own hands. We recommend gloves.

3. Atmosphere

Set yourself up where you can be comfortable and relaxed. This includes easy access to lube and towels. Your favorite music and a cold drink are good additions here, as well as anything else that you think you may want. Practice some deep breathing and center yourself.

4. Insertion and Exploration

Glove up, and apply lube to your hands, your body, and your sounding tool. If you have a vulva, gently separate your labia. If you have a penis, try to achieve a semi-erection (both fully soft and fully erect can make insertion more challenging).

Hold the sound right at the edge of your urethra and move it around gently so that your body can get used to the feel of it. Then insert the tip and check to see how it feels to you. If you’re still doing good, insert the rest of the sound slowly and smoothly. Let your body adjust, then start moving it slowly and gently until you find a rhythm that works for you.

Remember that pain is a signal that something is wrong (even if you’re a person who enjoys a bit of pain in other circumstances). Stop immediately to assess the situation, and remember that you can always try again another day if your body feels overwhelmed right now.

5. Removal and Aftercare

When you are ready, and that is entirely up to you — you can keep going until you orgasm, move on to play another way, or decide that your curiosity is satisfied and you’re done — remove the sound as slowly and gently as you inserted it. Try to urinate to flush out any bacteria.

Wash your hands, your body, and your sounding tool. You can expect some mild soreness and stretching, but if you see blood or you’re feeling anything that you would not describe as “mild,” it’s probably a good idea to check in with your health care provider. They have seen and heard it all, and they will not be surprised or offended.

What Toys Should I Use?

You should use a sounding tool that is made for this purpose. This is not a place where you want to improvise. We recommend body-safe materials such as stainless steel, silicone, or even borosilicate glass.

You will also want to have plenty of good-quality water-based lube. Stick with the classics; your urethra does not need scented, flavored, warming, or numbing ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Precautions Can You Take?

To sum it up: use sounding toys made for urethral sounding, use plenty of water-based lube, wash everything, go slow.

What If You Can’t Get the Sound Out?

First, relax (we know that this is easier said than done under the circumstances!) and take some deep breaths. Your body will not cooperate if it is tense.

Add more lube and try to wiggle the sound out. You can also try changing positions. If this doesn’t work, it’s time to seek medical attention. We promise that you won’t be the first person with this issue that the ER doctor has seen; you probably won’t even be the first of the week! It’s their job to deal with emergencies, and you have one, so that’s where you need to be.

Maggie

Maggie Hart has written about sexual well-being and sexuality in society for quite a few years now. She is active in communities that celebrate sex for older adults.

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