Sounding is one of those rare fetishes that doesn't sound (sorry) all that dirty but is, in fact, a pretty advanced form of sexual play. With high risk of infection, injury, and potential trauma, it's certainly up there.
Also called "cock-stuffing," "urethral sounding," or sometimes "catheter fetish," sounding falls under the larger umbrella of "medical play." It involves inserting a sound, usually made of stainless steel or silicone, into the urethral opening and down toward the bladder.
In a medical context, the purpose of a sound is to gently probe, unblock, or expand a passage inside the human body, most commonly a urethra. In a sexual context, sounding can provide heightened sensation and pleasure and can be used for control or humiliation in a BDSM situation. In a BDSM context, it plays into having a medical fetish which refers to a number of sexual fetishes in which participants derive sexual pleasure from medical scenarios, including objects, practices, environments, and situations of a medical or clinical nature. In sexual roleplay, a hospital or medical scene involves the sex partners assuming the roles of doctors, nurses, surgeons, and patients to act out specific or general medical fetishes.
It's more common for people with penises to practice sounding, though people with vaginas also engage. The implements for vaginas and penises differ because vaginas have much shorter, differently shaped urethras.
Sounds can be anything that's slender and that you want to put in your urethra—forums on sounding have mentioned everything from thermometers to knitting needles to army beads to silicone-based toys. Though the classic (if one can call it that) surgical-grade steel sound is the one that's most recommended because stainless steel is easier to sterilize and, you know, won't cut you, break, or leak mercury into your body the way a glass thermometer might.
Why stick something in your urethra?
People engage in sounding for the same reason they engage in anything: Because they enjoy it. And they want it because it feels good. Stimulating the prostate (or p-spot) through the act of sounding is often listed as one of sounding's main benefits. Indeed, the route of the urethra crosses right through the prostate gland on its way to or from the bladder. This region even has a name—the prostatic urethra. The taboo of penetration is also a kinky perk for some, as well as heightened orgasm during sexual activities (masturbation, slowly moving the sound in and out, hand jobs, blow jobs, etc.), the overall intensity of the experience, and the accompanying sense of vulnerability.
In a BDSM context, sounding can be a form of power play. Curved sounds, which we now know are called Van Burens, after President Martin Van Buren. They were named after William H. Van Buren, an American surgeon who brought a great deal of respectability to the field of urology in the 1800s, despite writing books called Lectures on Diseases of the Rectum. (He also was the first to determine the average length of a male urethra—22.3 cm, or around eight inches, if you must know.) Because they are curved, if a Van Buren is inserted all the way in, a dominant can ostensibly control if/when a submissive gets an erection. If they do get an erection, it can be painful, which might very well be the point.
Any dangers to sounding?
The urethra, like many of our internal parts, is made up of delicate tissue, and injuring it by way of tearing or cutting can lead to a UTI (urinary tract infection). That's why it's essential to use sterile, smooth, shatter-proof sounds. Navigating the curve in the urethra near the bladder is also risky because there's a chance you might puncture it. And that's just as horrid as it, well, sounds. Additionally, some pain or discomfort may be felt when dilating a urethra, as it stretches the canal beyond what most people are used to. If sounders continue to experience pain, irritation, or bleeding, however, they should, of course, visit a doctor. And also tell the truth about what happened.
The Ouch! Urethral sounding dilator set comprises four phthalate-free high-grade smooth medical silicone dilators, which can be used incrementally for urethral play. They can be used to create immense stimulation and to gradually open up new realms of pleasure. These simple-looking dilators can produce incredible sensations and help build up strong erections and powerful orgasms. They are ideal for BDSM play and especially for creating medical play experiences. Each of the dilators has an insertable length of 14.06 inches while the diameter goes from 1.4 inches to 2.95 inches for a gradual comfortable increase. Each plug has a square end for easy extraction.
This long and smooth urethral sound is perfectly suited for the special stimulation of the penis. With some practice, its 8 mm can be inserted easily into the urethra and then create a never-felt-before stimulation. Its extra-long 7.7" length can provide an especially deep stimulation. Perfect to use if you like sounding and electro-stim!
What kind of lube to use?
Use a single-use lubricant or one that comes in a metal tube. The metal tube keeps the lubricant safe and sterile. Water-based lubricant is also the perfect lube for the job because it soaks into the skin; a silicone or hybrid would last too long, and you can't properly wash the area. Do not use a lubricant that contains nonoxynol-9 or any flavorings, as they can irritate the urethra.
How do you clean sounding toys?
You want first to clean them like a regular sex toy with warm water and anti-bacterial soap. After you have done the regular cleaning, you are going to want to sterilize them. Now, I know that not everyone owns an autoclave, so boiling water will do just fine; just be mindful if the toy has a motor because if it has any sort of electronics in it, it cannot be sterilized. Also, be sure not to use anything abrasive on the toys, no matter if it is silicone or metal, because you can create micro-scratches and holes in the material of you toy which can harbor bacteria.
