What is urethral sounding?
Urethral sounding is the insertion of an object into the urethra. Sounds are high polished stainless-steel rods with rounded tips and handles which come in various sizes that are close to one another - differing in diameter by a half a millimetre or less in most cases. Their lengths vary from 8 inches to 11 inches depending on their usage and design.
Medically, their purpose is to gently and gradually enlarge the urethra thereby removing any blockages, dilatation of strictures or for obtaining access to the bladder in urological surgery.
In medical play, urethral sounding is a form of sexual stimulation and exploration for both women and men, sometimes also called “cock-stuffing”.
Anatomy of the urethra
The urethra is a part of the body found on both the male and female genitals. In men, the urethra is around eight inches long, and runs along the length of the penis, through the prostate, and up to the bladder. It carries both urine and semen. In women, the urethra is much shorter, usually being around two inches long. The female urethra connects directly to the bladder, and only carries urine. Both sexes have a urethral sphincter, which allows them to control when urine can exit the body, and men have a second one to restrict urine during ejaculation.
Hygiene and safety
Sound play is not rocket science, it is a deeply satisfying and intense experience if done correctly. However, it is also a sexual activity that brings certain risks.
Sterilisation: Always sterilise your tools in medical play sessions. If you do not want to invest in an autoclave there are other products such as Perasafe which is excellent for sterilisation. As soon as the item is exposed to air it is no longer sterile so sterilise it just before you use it to minimise risk.
Hands and gloves: Scrub your hands with antibacterial soap, don’t forget to scrub your nails. On top of that use individual packed sterile gloves for extra protection. It is important to know that non-sterile gloves (non individual packed latex or nitrile gloves) are typically used for non insertion procedures and examinations. Sterile gloves are used to carry out insertion procedures such as sounds and catheterisation.
Clean the area: Clean the penis thoroughly with a medical grade antiseptic/disinfectant such as Octenisept, especially the external opening of the urethra (meatus).
Sterile lubricant: Make sure you use lots of lube to help the insertion nice and smooth. Use water based sterile lube sachets. Do not use oil based lube as it is hard to expel afterwards and encourages the build up of microbes and results in infection. Do not use saliva as lube.
Choose the right size: Depends on the sub’s experience. I always start with the appropriate size and work my way up to avoid overstretching the tissue.
Go slow, don’t force: Insertion is one of the most sensitive part of urethral play and it should be done with care. Insert carefully, gently guide the sound into the urethra, don’t force, take your time, be mindful of how your body feels. Stop anytime if there is pain, resistance or “block”. Do not wank the sound in and do not wank when the sound is inside the urethra. I have seen too many people do this, they obviously overlooked the risk of urinary tract infections, tissue damage and false passages.
You shouldn’t try sounding if:
Any abnormal discharge coming out from the urethra
Outbreak of STDs
Recent UTI
A history of UTIs
Difficulty passing urine
Problems with sounding/catheterisation
Prostate gland enlargement
History of surgical treatment for prostate or bladder cancer
A prostate condition like: prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer.
