Sounding Rods: Hear Us Out!

Sounding Rods. You may already know exactly what these are and how to use them or you might be finding out for the first time. Either way, our Sounding Rods Guide will walk you through tips for this increasingly popular male sex toy…

What Are Sounding Rods?

Initially designed as a medical instrument, sounding rods have nothing to do with noise; the ‘sound’ part actually relates to the way that sailors use sound waves to measure the depth of the water below them.

Usually made from stainless steel or high-grade silicone, sounding rods are thin rods or tubes with a handle that are inserted down the male urethra and into the bladder; gently stretching the passage for intense sensations and often with the express purpose of preventing ejaculation.

Urethral sounding is an incredibly powerful experience and is often practised within BDSM or Dominant/submissive relationships and can be amazingly pleasurable!

Sound like fun?

For the best results and an introduction to sounding, follow some of our tips and tricks…

Step 1

To use sounding rods you must be flaccid rather than erect when you start to allow easy passage of the rod into the urethra. If you’re hard, your urethra will constrict and make the initial insertion uncomfortable. Make sure that your penis is clean and dry and your sounding rods are sterile before you attempt to insert anything into your urethra. You can use Sex Toy Cleaner to ensure you’re working with a clean slate. Plus, many rods can be sterilised (because they are metal) in clean boiling water. Make sure to wash your hands before and after!

Step 2

Apply plenty of lube to the head of the penis, paying particular attention to the opening of the urethra. You can use a lubricant syringe to direct additional lube directly into the urethral opening if you wish. Then apply a generous portion of lubricant to the smallest size sounding rod you have available.

Step 3

Hold your penis in an upright position and gently place the tip of the sounding rod into your urethral opening.  It should start to slowly slide in thanks to gravity. DO NOT PUSH. Just the weight of the rod and the tiny amount of pressure from you holding it upright will make it slip down the urethra. If you come up against any resistance then stop, relax and wait for the rod to continue downwards. Apply more lube whenever you feel you need it. Don’t be afraid to use loads of lubricant; our range of lube is perfect for the job. Sounding rods will feel unusual at first but they SHOULD NOT HURT.

Step 4

Once you’re comfortable with the positioning of the rod, some men find it intensely pleasurable to move the rod in and out of the urethra slowly. As with any sex toy, if at any time you feel any discomfort you should stop immediately. You may also find light strokes up and down your penis to be pleasurable, but again, if anything hurts or it feels uncomfortable to get an erection you should stop, relax and slowly remove the rod. Once you’re finished playing, relax and gently pull the sounding rod out from your penis. Because sounding rods are often used to prevent ejaculation you will need to carefully remove the rod if you feel the need to cum. Don’t rush; this is when accidents can happen and people cause themselves injuries.

Step 5

Now, repeat! Once you’ve tried one size sounding rod, you can try the next size up. Men who use urethral sounds on a regular basis often report more intense orgasms even after the stretching process.

Sounding Safely!

Sounding rods are brilliant for solo play or with a partner; just make sure that if someone else is in control of the rod you communicate throughout. The urethra is an extremely sensitive and delicate area of your anatomy. You can injure yourself if sounding rods are inserted too quickly or with force. Please play carefully!

Used properly, slowly and with practice, urethral sounding can become an intense and incredibly pleasurable part of your sex life. Take a look at our other penis plugs for more products in this range.