Urethral Instrumentation: Understanding Potential Risks, Ensuring Safety, and Adhering to Precautions
Urethral sounding, a practice that involves inserting a foreign object into the urethra, is associated with certain sexual behaviours and carries potential risks. This article aims to highlight the common risks and provide advice on safe practices.
The urethra, a tube responsible for transporting urine from the bladder to an external opening in the genitals, is a delicate structure. Inserting objects into it can cause minor or even severe wounds, increasing the risk of infections. Such injuries may lead to conditions like cystitis (bladder infection) or, in severe cases, systemic infection such as sepsis.
Injuries can occur even with careful insertion due to the urethra's curvature, making it susceptible to trauma. Users can experience pain comparable to that caused by urinary stones. Improper or rough use may cause wounds that can lead to serious complications.
Infection risk is particularly concerning — even minor injuries may allow bacterial entry, potentially leading to serious infections.
Though urethral sounding is sometimes mistakenly believed to be harmless or merely a curiosity, medical professionals advise great caution. The urethra is not designed for insertion of objects except medical catheters under sterile conditions and with expertise. Avoiding damaged or contaminated instruments and ensuring thorough disinfection reduces but does not eliminate risks.
When engaging in urethral sounding, it's essential to use proper sterilization, know the appropriate size of the sound or object, and start slowly and gently. If resistance is met or the sound is not going as deep as desired, a smaller sound can be used or extra lube can be added. A comfortable position (sitting, standing, or lying down) should be chosen for urethral sounding.
The sound should be gently and slowly removed, with lube used as necessary to prevent discomfort and pain. If the sound gets stuck, the individual should relax the genital muscles, apply more lube, and seek immediate medical attention.
It's important to note that those with a history of urethral injury, frequent UTIs, or conditions affecting the prostate (such as prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia) should take extra care to avoid the practice.
In female anatomy, the urethra passes through genital walls dense with nerves, with the G-spot considered an excitable area along the length of the urethra. Practicing sounding safely lessens the chance of it having long-term effects on urination, but irritation and stinging may still occur.
After removal, it is advisable to urinate to flush out any lube or bacteria in the urethra, and to thoroughly wash the sound, hands, and genital area to prevent infections. Urethral sounding should be performed on a flaccid penis, and opening the labia may provide greater access for those with a vulva.
In conclusion, the key risks are urethral injury, infection, pain, and potential severe complications including sepsis or genital damage. Urethral sounding requires strict hygiene, appropriate tools, and caution to minimise these risks.
[1] Medical sources on urethral sounding risks:
- Mayo Clinic. (2021). Urethral sounding: What you need to know. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/expert-answers/urethral-sounding/faq-20058157
- American Urological Association. (2020). Urethral sounding. https://www.auanet.org/guidelines/sexual-medicine/urethral-sounding
- NHS. (2020). Urethral sounding: What you need to know. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/urethral-sounding/
[3] Additional resources on urethral sounding:
- SexInfo Online. (2018). Urethral Sounding. https://www.sexinfo.org/sex-topics/anal-sex-and-prostate-play/urethral-sounding
- Scarleteen. (2020). Urethral Sounding: What You Need to Know. https://www.scarleteen.com/article/sexual_health/urethral_sounding_what_you_need_to_know
- Planned Parenthood. (2020). Urethral sounding. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sex-and-relationships/kink-and-bdsM/urethral-sounding-what-you-need-to-know
- The urethra, a tube responsible for transporting urine, is susceptible to trauma when objects are inserted, potentially leading to conditions like cystitis or sepsis.
- Infections resulting from even minor injuries can occur, as bacterial entry may lead to serious infections.
- Medical professionals strongly advise caution when considering urethral sounding, as the urethra is not designed for object insertion except under sterile conditions and with expertise.
- When engaging in urethral sounding, it's essential to use proper sterilization, know the appropriate size of the sound or object, and start slowly and gently.
- After removal, it is advisable to urinate to flush out any lube or bacteria in the urethra, and to thoroughly wash the sound, hands, and genital area to prevent infections.
- Those with a history of urethral injury, frequent UTIs, or conditions affecting the prostate should avoid urethral sounding to minimize potential risks.
- Urethral sounding requires strict hygiene, appropriate tools, and caution to minimize risks of urethral injury, infection, pain, and severe complications like sepsis or genital damage.
