Cite this Response
Alice! Health Promotion. "What kind of lube should I use when I cock-stuff?." Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University, 13 Jan. 2025, https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/what-kind-lube-should-i-use-when-i-cock-stuff. Accessed 04, Mar. 2025.
Alice! Health Promotion. (2025, January 13). What kind of lube should I use when I cock-stuff?. Go Ask Alice!, https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/what-kind-lube-should-i-use-when-i-cock-stuff.
Dear Alice,
I have started "cock-stuffing" in the past year or so. I use a glass thermometer and insert it into my urethra. I know that this is wildly dangerous — as the glass could break — but I thought it safer as it is manufactured very smoothly.
I know other men who use a variety of implements — pens, markers, tubes, etc., but I have only done it a few times — and it seems that the glass — while not safe as it could break — is safer as it must surely be smoother.
I use my own saliva as a lube — as I am not sure if a personal lubricant — i.e., Wet, KY jelly, or the like, is safe. Not that putting a piece of glass into your urethra is all that safe to start with.
My question — in the end — is personal lube okay to use? Is this a common fetish — I don't do it often — and it doesn't seem to affect me adversely afterwards.
Thank you for any light you can shed on this.
Dear Reader,
Unless you’re trying out a new way to take your temperature, it seems like you’re taking part in urethral sounding (often called sounding or cock-stuffing). Although urethral sounding and use of saliva as lubricant is generally not considered to be safe, there are strategies you can take to make the experience smoother and cleaner. You may be able to reduce your risk of harm by using objects specifically designed for sounding; using non-irritating, personal lubricants; and reducing how often you engage in sounding overall. Read on to learn more about sounding and your health!
What is urethral sounding?
Urethral sounding is when somebody inserts an object into their urethra, typically for sexual pleasure. Research suggests it’s a relatively uncommon sexual practice, however, the statistical information, including the number of people who engage in it is limited.
Is sounding dangerous?
If it sounds like urethral sounding might have health risks, you’re right! Sounding may cause several health concerns, such as urinary tract infections (UTI), narrowing of the urethra, and losing the object inside the urethra. If these concerns go untreated, you may also experience more severe complications, including:
- incontinence or urine leaking
- bladder infections
- kidney infections
- chronic kidney disease
- necrosis of the penis
List adapted from WebMD
These conditions can be very serious and require medical attention. Therefore, it’s advised to meet with a health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms, especially if you insert an object into the urethra and can’t retrieve it.
Should you use saliva when sounding?
Although you might always have it around, saliva is not an effective lubricant—especially if you’re using it for sounding. Effective lubricants are slippery and slightly thick in texture, but saliva is thin and dries up quickly. Using saliva as a lubricant may irritate genitals more than using no lubricant at all and could transmit some sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What kind of lube should you use?
There are three general types of lubricant based on their ingredients: water, silicone, or oil. Water- and silicone-based lubricants are generally recommended as safe and effective for sexual acts, with some silicone-based lubricants being even better for sensitive skin like the urethra. Oil-based lubricants can also work well, but it’s important to note that they can degrade condoms and reduce their effectiveness against STI transmission and pregnancy. Figuring out which lubricant is best for you can be difficult, and a lot of it depends on your personal preferences.
If you’re hoping to minimize irritation, some ingredients you may wish to avoid in lubricants include:
How else can you reduce harm when sounding?
To prevent injury when sounding, you can use an effective and non-irritating lubricant to reduce friction between the object you’re inserting and the lining of your urethra. Reducing friction is important because it decreases the risk of injury or pain caused by two things sliding against each other.
In addition to using a water, silicone, or oil-based lubricant, you might consider:
- Using objects intended for sounding. Seeking out products that are specifically designed to be inserted into the urethra may be less dangerous than using the objects you currently have around your home. For instance, a product specifically made for sounding might be smoother to reduce friction or have a flared base to prevent it from going too far into the urethra. These can help reduce your risk of injury.
- Keeping everything clean. It’s recommended to thoroughly wash any objects you’re using or planning to use for sounding. This can help lower the risk of irritation or infections.
- Engaging in sounding less frequently. By reducing the frequency of sounding, you can decrease the possibility of injury. You might find it helpful to only partake in sounding when you feel that you actively want to, rather than every time you’re sexually aroused.
At the end of the day, sounding may never be 100 percent safe. While it might feel awkward to discuss, it may be useful to speak with a health care provider about sounding and how you’re specifically engaging in it. A urologist, a physician who specializes in the urinary tract, may be especially helpful to speak with. If you’re experiencing any pain or other symptoms in your urethra due to sounding, it’s recommended that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Stay safe!