The Freight-Train Has Sounded (choo-choo!)

While the queer community has always been instrumental in introducing me to the awesome and perverse world of alternate sexual experimentation and practices, yesterday my roommate introduced me (the everly-perverted curious) to the world of urethral penetration, also known as "sounding". Within the heteronormative sphere I would generally be described as a straight woman [although I would never refer to myself in such constricting terms] it is not abnormal for me to involve myself in a conversation that touches on a variety of rituals from double-ended dildo play, male bodied female sexualization and vice versa, or even, oh, I don't know, anal fisting? I mean, after all, I do live here. But in truth, the term sounding was a completely foreign term for my meager vocabulary and it altogether crashed a train through my mutually exclusive deviance and virtue.

My roommate, a queer femme sex educator in a poly relationship with a male bodied female identified person (yeah, go ahead, read that again and go get yourself a snack) has been the information super bi-way for me and my other roommate. Yesterday, she indulged us in yet another one of the experiences she had with her partner which works both as our daily dose of gossip and an ordinarily modest amount of Q & A. However, I was more than a little perplexed when she went on to explain the extremely pleasurable encounter she had watching them "sound". My mind explored a great many possibilities of what that might mean, but it definitely never even broached the subject of urethral penetration. Upon a lot of investigation, my roommate patiently mollycoddled my array of questions and encouraged me to research the practice on my own.

This is what I've learned:

Sounding, an oft-taboo practice even for a weathered participant of the BDSM lifestyle, is the practice of imbedding long, thin, and surgical steel rods, called "sounds", into the urethra. In practice, an indivudual wishing to try this out should never use household objects for experimentation, as you risk breaking the object or omitting poison or bacteria into your body (a big turn-off if you ask me). Stainless steal sounds are ordinarily recommended because they are easy to clean and won't break inside of you.

Sounders should also be sure to use a lot of lube, as the sound is prone to be a painful procedure if the urethra is not properly dilated. This can in turn cause tearing of the fragile tissue which could be dangerous if forced too deeply. Lubrication allows the sound to more easily slide into the urethra, however the width and length of the sound is a personal preference so if it is not easily inserted, a shorter and narrower sound may be necessary. Silicone based lubricants are best to use since they last the longest in use and generally do not contain any sort of sugar, which is masked as glycerin in many commercial lubricants. For this reason, saliva should also be avoided because it dries quickly and also contains natural sugars which can lead to urinary tract infections.

Those in the know find that using sounds creates a very pleasurable sensation that is felt upon penetration. They are also gaining popularity among the S&M community as a means of power play. When used on a male-bodied person, certain sounds make reaching erection very difficult, therefore if the penis begins to engourge, the individual inserting the sound is forced to wait until the erection peter's out (haaaa!) to go any further. This underscores the identitied roles of submissive and dominant and can be interchangeable depending on who is in charge of the sound at any given time.

The main concerns in sounding are the prospects of cutting or tearing the urethra and creating an infection. Therefore any sound needs to be cleaned regularly and inserted slowly and carefully each time. Stretching of the urethra is to be expected, and irritation may consequently be a result of this, however if the feelings continue for an extended period of time or the individual experiences blood in their urine, they must seek medical attention.

The most important factor in sounding (and any sexual practice) is the maintenance of communication and safety between you and your partner. Sure, it may sound like a pretty far cry away from good old missionary position, or even, gasp, anal sex, but if you're confident and comfortable enough within your sexuality to experiment with yourself or your partner, anything is possible. So go out there and get it on and get sounded!

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT SOUNDING:


Van Buren sounds have a pronounced curve at each end, for the purpose of penetrating far into the urethra, eventually reaching the bladder.

Pratt sounds are longer urethral dilators [double ended ones can be as big as twelve inches long] with slightly bent and round ends. These are geared more towards the male bodied user.



The Dittel sound has a flat and rounded end and is the most standard sound on the market. These can be found in many high-end fetish and sex stores.


Hegar sounds have two rounded ends and are moderately short and slightly curved in shape. These are currently the most affordable sound and many of websites sell them in complete sets of up to eight for as little as 40$. These sounds are suitable for the male of female bodied person and are generally considered the most safe. They usually consist of slightly curved double-ended sounds that vary in size to range for the ability and comfort level of the individual. Whether a beginner or an expert these sounds offer the most diversity.

If you are interested in learning more about urethral penetration, please feel free to voice your opinions, experiences, or questions, and be sure to visit the following websites:

BMEzine
UrethralInfo
UrethralPlay

Love,
Lauren