Penis rings are increasing being used by men and people with penises to enhance sexual pleasure or to help with erectile dysfunction. Emergency physicians have written hundreds of reports based on case studies where people were rushed to the A&E needing help to remove their penis from the ring.
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Penile strangulation
Although cock rings are now quite common and accessible (they are sold for as little as £3 in the UK), some people improvise by inserting their penis into a bottle opening or a vacuum cleaner. Penis rings in particular work by constricting the flesh around the organ.
When blood is trapped in the penis, the wearers are able to maintain erections for longer. Others swear the rings enlarge their member, thus heightening sexual pleasure. Some of the rings are made of metal making it difficult to take off sometimes, landing some people in emergency care.
Professor Giulio Garaffa a uro-andrologist at International Andrology, a private men's sexual health clinic in London, told DailyMail, in his 20+ years of practice, he has encountered his fair share of men being rushed to the A&E due to penile strangulation caused by cock rings.
It was not uncommon for these patients to experience a degree of permanent damage to the penis and in some cases to loose the penis completely or need extensive reconstructive surgery.
Stick to plastic
Dr Richard Viney, a consultant urological surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham said plastic as a material is easier to remove if stuck than metal.
Non-elastic materials such as metal or hard plastics should be avoided. The danger with these is that they will interfere with the natural drainage of blood from the erect penis in such a way that it swells excessively beyond the ring.
The experts’ warnings follow a disturbing clip making the rounds on social media of doctors using an angle cutter and bolt cutters to detach a metal cock ring from a young man’s penis. They warn of the risk of genital amputation, although that is rare.
Sources used:
DailyMail: Men need to STOP using metal penis rings, doctors beg: Steel erection-boosting gadgets — which can cost as little as £3 — are too risky and may leave men needing their member amputated
Medical News Today: Is it safe to use a cock ring? Benefits and risks
Men’s Health: This Dangerous Habit Could Leave You With an Amputated Penis
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⋙ Buying the perfect sex toy: What to look for and what to avoid
