How to
A guide to sounding
A surgical procedure with sensual results.
Funnily enough, the sentence; “sliding a steel rod down your pee hole” elicits a common response; tightly closed legs, and a facial reaction indicative of watching someone's arm break. However, despite the misleading stigma placed around it; when practiced safely, sounding functions as a phenomenally effective errotic activity. The urethra is rich with nerve endings, and can even provide an alternate route to stimulate the prostate. However, as with many exciting activities, there are risks involved. The best thing that we can do to mitigate these risks is to be informed and prepared. That way we can kick back, relax, and enjoy the rod.
Avoiding malpractice. Sounding is as intricate and delicate as a surgical procedure, because well… it is one. Sounding tools and rods (a.k.a. urethral dilators), as well as the practice of sounding, can be traced back to surgical procedures even as early as 3000 B.C. As such, the best safety precautions we can take are quite similar to those taken in surgical situations. The most common risk is the formation of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s) due to unwanted substances and bacteria entering the urethra. However with a little time and forethought we can reduce that risk to almost nothing, sparing you the rod (ha) of having to visit a doctor after playing doctor.
1) Choosing Proper Lubricant - When it comes to lubricants, sounding is a little complex. While we love the versatility of water based lubricants, they have a much easier time carrying around bacteria. Silicone lubricants are a good replacement, but they can’t always guarantee sterility. The safest option is a surgery grade, sterile lubricant that’s bacteriostatic. Bacteriostatic is a big word, but it just means that the lubricant itself hinders the spread/growth of bacteria in its area allowing your body to isolate and kill it before it becomes an issue. One of the most commonly used lubricants that meets those criteria is Surgilube Lubricating Jelly. While it is water based, it has additives in it to protect you from unwanted intruders, and is packaged in a secure and sterile way.
2) The Right Tool for the Job - One of the first discoveries an intrepid explorer will find is the many different forms, shapes, and sizes of Sounding Rods. Each has their own method of stimulation, material, and usually come in graded sizes as well. While all of these tools provide different sensations, they can all generally be used the same. That is all of them except the Van Buren sound. Characterized by its (J) adjacent shape, these rods are specifically meant for prostate stimulation. Van Buren sounds are only meant for penile insertion when not erect. Should any user find themselves erect from any of the sessions activities, then that rod should stay put until the little fella sits back down. Serious harm can come from removing these sounds while erect, so… don’t.
Good sounds for beginners and experienced users
Hegar dilators
Silicone sounds
Rosebud dilators
3) Maintaining a Clean Environment & Rods - Any and all rods that are purchased should be cleaned before each use. Not just with cleaners, but with the certainty of boiling water. Cleaners can be effective, but don’t always get those 0.01% of germs that seem to elude them. It’s equally important to handle your rods carefully, especially post boil, and have a clean holding spot for them to cool down safely. Be sure to not freely touch other bacteria rich zones, errotic or otherwise while sounding. Clean around the area the sound is entering, and have any other toys in place prior to starting.
What to expect.
Sounding is a unique experience, loaded with equally unique sensations. Due to the nature of the play, there will be effects or feelings that you are not used to. If trying it for the first time, having some discomfort or difficulty adjusting to these new feelings is normal. You will feel a thousand things down there, but don’t let pain be one of them. Being overly forceful, or not using enough lubricant can be very dangerous, and will harm the fragile lining of your urethra. If pain is felt, do not push yourself. Sounding is a high risk, high reward experience, where knowing is pretty much the whole battle.
Practicing Medicine.
The first step of any good procedure is to prep the area. Basically, you’re gonna use a lot of lube. Lubricate the rod incredibly well, and use it as an applicator to the entrance of your urethra. Insert the rod slowly, stopping if you hit resistance or discomfort. Remove the rod and keep repeating this process. The rod will be able to go a bit deeper each time you delve your depths. If you’re not comfortable applying force to the rod, you can absolutely position yourself accordingly, and let gravity do the dirty work. The rods might try to rotate or spin into more natural positions, and that's perfectly fine. Once you reach your desired depth for play, you’re good to toy around with sensations as you see fit. Many people find pleasure in the sensations of movement, fullness, stretching, and insertion. Feel free to pal around down there until you find what’s most enjoyable to you. Just remember to relubricate whenever possible, and listen intently to what your body is telling you.
Post Op.
As unfortunate as it is, there will be discomforts with sounding that are unavoidable. Just as you should pee after sex, you should do the same after sounding. Except about five times more, and it's going to burn like hell. It doesn’t mean anything is immediately wrong, there's just still lubricant in your, now irritated, peehole that needs to come out. The feeling should fade after an hour or two and there will be a residual funny feeling for about a day. Aside from these feelings there should be no other uncomfortable sensations, especially not pain. If any of the effects linger for an uncomfortable amount of time or bring you pain, it’s important you see a doctor.
While all of the warnings might come across a bit scary at first, sounding is an incredible way to reach new sensations and erogenous areas. However, sounding is a particular sexual interest and won’t be pleasurable for everyone. If you want to take a few pokes down there and find out whether or not sounding is for you, just be sure to do it as safely and cleanly as possible. Steel your rod, listen to your body, and yes; you need more lube.
- Brandii Harlow, 2025