Urethral sounding for beginners: sounds, penis plugs and cock pins explained

If you are new to urethral sounding, start with a smooth, slim sound of 4 to 5 mm, either a single steel rod or a soft silicone set with graduated sizes, and use plenty of sterile lube. Steel slides in under its own weight, silicone bends with your body, and both work for a first try. Keep penis plugs, cock pins, textured, vibrating and e-stim sounds for when the basics feel easy. Every model in this guide is in our urethral sounds section.

What urethral sounding is

Sounding means slowly sliding a smooth rod, called a sound, into the urethra through the opening at the tip of the penis. People enjoy it for the feeling of fullness and pressure from the inside, for the stretch, and for the mental side: it is intimate, a little taboo and asks for complete focus. Some play alone, others hand control to a partner as part of a power exchange. It is advanced play, so take your time, read this guide to the end and only continue if you are comfortable with the hygiene it needs.

Sounds, penis plugs and cock pins: the difference

• Sounds are long rods that you slide in and out, or simply let rest. They come straight, slightly curved, ribbed or beaded.
• Penis plugs are short pieces with a head or ring that stays outside the tip. The Ouch Metal Penis Plug has 5 cm insertable length at 10 mm, so it sits in the first part of the urethra and stays put.
• Cock pins are worn plugs as well, often soft. The Ouch Silicone Cock Pin is flexible silicone with 12.5 cm insertable and weighs 19 g, made to stay in during masturbation or partner play.

Sizes in mm and how to start thin

Sounds are measured by their diameter in millimetres. Some sets use the French gauge (Fr), where 3 Fr equals 1 mm. A comfortable first size for most people is 4 to 5 mm. Very thin sounds are not automatically easier: a needle-thin tip can catch more easily than a slightly wider, rounded one. Move up by 1 mm at a time and only when the current size slides in without any effort, usually over several sessions rather than in one evening.

The best sounds for beginners by situation

• Best first steel sound: the Steel by Shots Single Dilator 4 mm is the narrowest in its range and highly polished. The 5 mm version is the logical next step.
• Best soft starter set: the Ouch Urethral Sounding Dilator Set has four silicone dilators from 3.5 to 7.5 mm with square ends that are easy to hold.
• Best long silicone set: the Ouch Spiral Screw Set for Beginners has four twisted silicone probes from 3 to 6 mm with flat heads for removal.
• Best two-piece taster: the Ouch Urethral Beginners Plug Set pairs a twisted silicone piece with a nail-shaped one that widens towards the end.
• Best first texture: the Ouch Metal Beginners Urethral Plug is a 4 mm stainless steel sound with ridges along its length.
• Best for finding your size in one session: the Steel by Shots Stepped Urethral Stick has seven gauges along 16.2 cm and a hollow centre.
• Best full set for regular play: the Steel Hegar Sound Set holds eight double-ended steel sounds from 3-4 to 17-18 Fr, roughly 1 to 6 mm, in a leather case.
• Best for later: the XR Brands Cadence is a bendable silicone sound with a vibrating motor, and the ElectraStim Silicone Noir is a 5 mm flexible e-stim sound with centimetre markings and 15 cm insertable.

Urethral sounds compared

Steel or silicone

Stainless steel is smooth, rigid and non-porous. Its weight does most of the work: hold the penis upright and the sound slides down on its own, which is why many people find steel the most predictable start. It can be boiled and works with any lube. Silicone is soft and follows the curve of the urethra, which many beginners find gentler. It is lighter, so it needs a little more guidance, and it should only be used with water-based lube. Electronic sounds such as the Cadence and the Silicone Noir must never be boiled.

Sterile lube and hygiene

Hygiene matters more here than with any other toy. Wash your hands and genitals, clean and disinfect the sound before every use, and work on a clean towel. Use a sterile, water-based lubricant such as Durex K-Y Jelly on the sound and at the opening, and add more whenever it starts to drag. Never use spit, oils or lube from a pot you dip into with your fingers. More lubes are under lubricants.

How to insert a sound without force

• Start when the penis is soft or half hard; that is when insertion is easiest.
• Hold the penis upright and slightly stretched with one hand.
• Place the rounded tip at the opening and let the sound slide in under its own weight, guiding it loosely between two fingers.
• Breathe calmly. If you feel resistance, stop, wait and let it pass. A gentle twist sometimes helps; pushing never does.
• Go only as deep as feels good. Many beginners stop where the urethra starts to bend, near the base of the penis.
• Remove the sound just as slowly, with fresh lube if needed, and pee shortly afterwards.

When to stop

Stop at once if you feel sharp pain, burning or a stinging that does not fade, or if you see blood. If burning, bleeding or discomfort continues after the session, see a doctor. Do not sound when you have any irritation or infection, and leave a few days between sessions at the start. A partner who handles the sound must stop the moment you ask.

Cleaning and storage

Wash every sound straight after use with warm water and mild soap, then disinfect it with a toy cleaner such as the ManCage Eco Toy Cleaner. Steel can also be boiled for a few minutes. Rinse the channel of hollow sounds like the Stepped Urethral Stick thoroughly. Dry each piece completely and store it in a closed, clean pouch or case, away from other toys. Replace silicone sounds once the surface shows scratches or tears. More care products are under toy cleaners.

Sounding with chastity and cock rings

Some cages have a built-in sound. The ManCage Model 15 is a clear polycarbonate cage with a 35 mm ring and a slim, removable silicone sound, meant for people with sounding experience. Remove the sound before peeing. Our guide how to choose a chastity cage explains cage sizes, and Gates of Hell and cock and ball rings covers rings you can combine with a plug. If you are just getting started with kink in general, read BDSM gear for beginners too.

Frequently asked questions