How To Use Penis Rings

How To Use Penis Rings
Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on December 16, 2020
Cock rings are rings that go around the penis and/or scrotum. They slow blood flow out of an erect penis and can help make erections harder and longer-lasting. Some may also have little vibrators to increase pleasure for you and your partner.
Cock rings are also known as penis rings, tension rings, and constriction rings. They may also be marketed as erectile dysfunction (ED) rings, but people without this condition may want to use them, too.
Soft and stretchy rings. These are the most common and generally the cheapest rings available. They are circles of a soft material, often silicone. They’re easy to use and remove. It may take some trial and error to find the right fit.
Adjustable cock rings. These use lasso adjusters, velcro, or other fasteners to allow the wearer to adjust the fit as needed.
Vibrating cock rings. These have a small vibrator attached. The sensation may feel good for men, but these are generally designed to stimulate a woman’s clitoris during sex.
Solid cock rings. These rings are only for very experienced users. Even then, you may want to avoid them. There is a danger of penis strangulation with metal cock rings that fit poorly, get stuck, or are left on too long.
Cock rings make sex more intense and last longer. Specific benefits include:
There are a few common misconceptions about cock rings:
They’re Only for Older Men with Erectile Dysfunction
Not at all. People with no medical issues use cock rings. They may want the erection to last longer, increase sensitivity, or add a new element such as vibration or texture for their partner.
No. Cock rings cannot help you avoid pregnancy in any way.
When you use them correctly, cock rings should not cause pain. The new sensation may take some getting used to, but if it hurts, remove the ring right away. It may be a symptom of something else or simply an indication that you need a different size or style of ring.
Pick a beginner-friendly ring, something soft, stretchy, and easy to remove. Use the least constrictive size that still stays on and helps maintain your erection .
Psychologist and sex expert Antonia Hall, in an interview with Cosmopol itan magazine, recommends putting the ring on while the penis is flaccid or only semi-erect. Use lubricant to make it easier to slide the ring on, and then continue stimulating the penis until it’s erect.
If you want to wear your ring over your testicles, Hall suggests sliding them in one at a time. Remember: the fit should be snug but not uncomfortable.
The best way to use a cock ring to help with ED will depend on your specific problem.
If you can get an erection but have trouble keeping it, you can try the cock ring by itself. If you struggle to become erect, you may want to use your ring with a penis pump.
After pulling blood into your penis with the pump, slip your ring around the base of your penis before you remove the pump. The erection should last long enough for sex. A little light bruising afterward is normal.
Because cock rings restrict blood flow, it’s important not to wear one for longer than 20 minutes. Start by wearing one for just 5 minutes at a time to give yourself time to get used to the feeling. If you feel discomfort, take it off immediately.
If you’re using the cock ring as a sex aid for erectile dysfunction, make sure that you’ve talked to a doctor about your symptoms. There are many health conditions that can cause ED or make it worse, including heart disease, diabetes, alcohol problems, and mental health issues. It’s important to get help for those conditions and not use a sex toy to mask the symptoms.
Also, consult a doctor before use if you are on blood-thinning medication or have a bleeding disorder.
Do not fall asleep while using the ring, and don’t use it while you’re impaired by drugs or alcohol. It could lead to potential injury.
Allow at least 60 minutes between uses.
Remember that sex toys can transmit STIs . You may also risk other kinds of infection if you don’t clean them properly.
For most toys, water and a mild dish soap or antibacterial hand soap should do the trick. If your device vibrates or otherwise uses power, you may not want to submerge it in water, but make sure you get it fully clean with soap and a damp cloth.
For further instructions, refer to the directions on your sex toy’s label. At the very least, it should list the material, which may require special care.
Cosmopolitan : “Can You Use Cock Rings for Stronger Orgasms?”
Food and Drug Administration: Center for Devices and Radiological Health: “Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: External Penile Rigidity Devices.”
Journal of Pharmacy : “Successful Removal of Metal Rings Causing Penile Strangulation.”
Mayo Clinic: “Erectile dysfunction: Nonoral treatments.”
Men’s Health : “How Penis Rings Can Help You Have Better Sex.”
Self : “How to Clean Your Sex Toys So You Can Use Them Safely.”
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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Gabrielle Kassel is a sex and fitness journalist who writes at the intersection of queerness, sexual health, pleasure, and sports. She is a CF-L1 CrossFit trainer and locally competitive athlete based in the greater New England area. Her work has appeared in publications such as Shape, Health, Hello Giggles, Cosmopolitan, Well & Good, Healthline, SELF, Women's Health, Greatist, Bustle, and more. In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, or recording episodes of her queer education podcast, Bad In Bed: The Queer Sex Podcast.

'Cock ring' may sound like the name of the junk jewelry or boner bling you'd put through a Prince Albert (piercing). But a cock ring is actually a category of pleasure products — and a very underappreciated one at that!

Never heard of 'em or unsure how to use them? Not to worry. Below, three sex educators explain exactly why cock rings can be a fun addition to any sexual play involving a penis or dildo.

Let's start with a definition, k? Also known as pleasure rings and c-rings, cock rings are round (or oval) rings that are designed to either snuggly hug the base of a penis (or dildo), explains Taylor Sparks, erotic educator and founder of Organic Loven , the largest BIPOC-owned online intimacy shop. Some cock rings secure around both the penis and the testicles, she says.

There are cock rings available in a number of materials including leather, stainless steel, ABS plastic, glass, and ceramic, says queer sex educator and lesbian Marla Renee Stewart, MA, sexpert for Lovers adult wellness brand recommends. But the bulk of them are made out of stretchy silicone. And stretchy silicone is exactly the material you want if you're new devices (more on why below).

When worn on a biological penis, cock rings are designed to place slight (slight!) pressure on the vein at the base of the penis in order to (slightly!) restrict blood flow, explains sex educator Lisa Finn with sex-toy emporium Babeland . The point? More blood flow = stronger erection + more sensation.

Does this mean cock rings can help a penis-haver with erectile dysfunction stay hard longer? Yes, it does! However, says Finn, "if someone has issues with erectile function, they should check in with their doctor before jumping right into cock rings." Fair.

Vibrating cock rings have the added benefit of providing buzzy stimulation to both the wearer and the receiver. "The vibrating piece of the ring can be placed against the balls to stimulate the balls and perineum, or on top of the shaft to stimulate the receiver's anus or vulva," she says. For vagina-havers who need clitoral stimulation to climax ( and most do ), vibrating cock rings could be the difference between touching the O-zone and not.

On store-bought cocks (AKA dildos), "cock rings can be used to keep a dildo in a harness during strap-on sex," says Stewart. And vibrating options have the ability to transform non-vibrating dildos into vibrating dildos, sending buzz up and down the shaft that stimulates both the wearer and receiver, she says. Woo!

There's a misconception that cock rings are accouterments for P-in-V intercourse, only . But this is most definitely not true. Cock rings can be used during any kind of solo, partnered, or multi-partnered sex act that involves a penis or dildo, says Finn. Including: Anal penetration, masturbation, oral sex, hand sex, outercourse, and more.

Sparks adds that there are some cock rings designed for day-long wear, for kink and/or aesthetic purposes. A Leather Daddy, for example, might choose to wear a leather cock ring to a leather competition, while a Professional Dom might choose to wear a stainless steel ring to a sex party.

Yep! So long as they are used correctly. Here's exactly how to use a cock ring correctly.

1. Use a silicone ring for your first dozen uses.

The silicone used in cock rings is pretty darn stretchy, explains Finn, which means silicone-based cock rings are more likely to provide slight pressure for slight blood flow constriction, compared to more rigid metals.

Also: While there are cock rings that go over the shaft and balls, she recommends starting with one that only goes over the shaft. "It's the easiest way to start because it cuts down on the risk it will be too tight, and makes it easier to remove if it feels uncomfortable."

Looking for some product suggestions? Finn says her favorite three for first-timers are the Screaming O Primo Tux ( Babeland.com , $26), Je Joue Mio ( Babeland.com , $109), and Fun Factory Nos ( Babeland.com , $99).

"Silicone cock rings are one size fits most girths," says Finn. "But if you know you have a girthier shaft, buy a ring marketed specifically towards girthier shafts." For example: The Ringo Ritz XL ( Babeland.com , $15).

Another option is to try a bolo-style cock ring like the Toyfriend Buddy Ring (Babeland.com, $12) or JBoa by Vel'vor (OrganicLoven.com, $34), which allow you to customize how snug the fit is, she says. When adjusting one of these babies on your shaft, aim for "pressure" not "pain".

If you eventually level up to a metal or glass cock ring, you'll need to do a little measure-and-math. Start by wrapping a string around your penis, then measuring that length on a ruler or measuring tape to find the circumference of your penis, explains sex educator Bobby Box , co-host of the Bad in Bed: Queer Sex (Education) podcast recommends. "Cock rings are sold by diameter (not circumference)," he says. So, you'll need to divide that measurement by pi (3.14) to find your diameter. Then, when metal ring shopping, look for that diameter on the packaging.

3. Put it on before you're rock hard.

Ideally, you want to slide the ring down the shaft when you're flaccid or just semi-erect. "You don't want to put it on a penis that is above half-mass, unless we're talking about a store-bought penis," says Finn. Why? Because sliding the ring down an erency penis can create an uncomfortable tugging sensation, she says.

No matter the state of your peen, she suggests applying lube to both the inside of the ring and the shaft before trying to shimmy the ring down to minimize friction, she explains.

As a reminder: Silicone-based lubricant is not compatible with silicone pleasure products. And oil-based lubes aren't compatible with latex barriers. So opt for a water-based lubricant like Sutil Water Based Luxe Body Glide ( Babeland.com , $42).

Usually, people wait to remove the cock ring until after they've ejaculated and/or become less-hard. When the penis is soft, the cock ring will slide off pretty easily with a lil lube.

That said, it is possible to remove the ring if you're still hard! And you should do so if you're uncomfortable or your body is turning blue, says Sparks. "Always follow the signals from your body. Your body will tell you if the ring is too tight."

Good news: Doing so won't hurt, according to Finn. "Simply apply lube and slowly, slowly roll the ring back up the shaft if at any point the ring starts to feel uncomfortable." (It shouldn't need to be said, but please don't take scissors to the ring while it's on your shaft!)

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Elizabeth Bacharach
Elizabeth Bacharach is the Assistant Editor at Women’s Health where she writes and edits content about mental and physical health, food and nutrition, sexual health, and lifestyle trends across WomensHealthMag.com and the print magazine.

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"A cock ring is very much for both of you."
While there are tons (and I mean tons ) of amazing sex toys out there, few are as forthright as a cock ring: quite literally, a ring that goes around a cock, be it a man's penis or a penis poser, err, a dildo. Typically made of silicone, leather, or metal, this sex toy maintains a solid rep as being easy-to-use and a smart starter choice for those making their foray into so-called bedroom toys .
Thanks to the growing conversation surrounding sex toys, any lingering stigma or shame surrounding these types of goodies is quickly disappearing, and the cock ring is becoming increasingly popular, explains sex therapist Cyndi Darnell .
Beyond just what it name implies (again, ring for ~le cock~), this fun and flirty toy restricts blood flow out of the penis, so that an erection stays harder and lasts longer, according to Gigi Engle , a certified sex coach and author of forthcoming All the F*cking Mistakes .
Although words like "restricts" and "blood flow" don't necessarily evoke toe-curling, chills-inducing images, cock rings are actually quite handy if your S.O. suffers from erectile dysfunction (E.D.)—or just wants to last longer in bed. And—ding, ding, ding!—cock rings feel pleasurable for both men and women. Hey, just because you might not have a P, doesn't mean a cock ring can't give a little love to your V.
There's no denying that the average male gets turned on far more quickly than the average female, who needs about 20 minutes to become fully aroused, per Engle. So the more time your S.O. is able to maintain an erection, the more time you have to build up and eventually orgasm—not to mention, of course, enjoy all of the moaning moments in between. And that's just courtesy of your basic ring.
Can you imagine what a vibrating cock ring could do? Spoiler alert: a whole lot...of clitoral stimulation. Some rings are attached to a bullet style vibrator while others like the WeVibe Pivot and Lovely 2.0 are specifically designed in a cone shape to fit right against your clitoris. But they are all a "really great way to bridge the gap" such that both you and your partner orgasm via intercourse, Engle says. "One of the fun things about a cock ring is that it's not just like you're whipping out a giant wand vibrator that’s just for your clit during sex. A cock ring is very much for both of you."
And cock rings can also do wonders if you’re considering some back door action, either via a dildo or penis, Engle says. That’s because there are many erotic nerve endings in the anus and rectum that a ring can potentially stimulate as well.
Excited to put a ring on it? Great. Here's what you need to know about before using a cock ring:
Pro: Cock rings come in lots of different shapes and sizes to best suit your ~fancy~. Con: Not all rings are created equal. For example, although aesthetically pleasing, metal cock rings can be painful, especially if you're having vaginal sex because the steel can ram up against your pubic bone, Darnell says. That's why both Darnell and Engle recommend going for something that's simple, stretchy, and soft, such as a cock ring made of leather or, even better for newbies, silicone. Just be sure to go for a toy that's made of 100 percent body-safe or medical-grade silicone, says Engle.
Too big and it might slip off. Too tight and it might cause legit harm. But unlike buying a new pair of shoes, slipping on and off cock rings in an attempt to find the best fit isn't, well, the easiest. So save yourself from any shopping drama and just go for a toy that's either adjustable with, say, snaps or stretchy.
If your cock ring is too tight, it will start to inhibit blood flow, potentially causing the penis to change from fleshy red color to a darker blue. If the cock ring causes pain or nunbness, the user should remove it immediately. Engle also recommends communicating with your partner throughout by asking things like, "Are you feeling okay?" and "Is this working?"
Simply put: This is your best bet for avoiding any numbness, pain, or dick damage. Again, a cock ring restricts blood flow, which, reminder, is actually pretty essential to your overall your health.
To make sure you really understand the physical sensations involved with using a cock ring, it's a good idea to experiment during a solo sesh or play around with it prior to sexy time, says Janet Brito , PhD, a clinical psychologist and sexologist in Honolulu.
Take it from a pro like Engle: "You're absolutely going to want to use lube." And that's true for getting sexy with a dildo or a penis.
If you're using a latex condom or a silicone ring, opt for a water-based lube, which, unlike silicone and oil-based options, won't cause erosion or breakage to either. It's also very slippery, which is a win when trying to slide a ring around and down. Oh! And on that note...
But, ya know, no pressure or anything.
The ring should go at the base of the penis, but you don't want to just slip it on willy nilly—after all, the last thing you want to do is hurt your man's little man. Meaning if you wait until the penis is fully erect to slip on a ring, you might have trouble bringing it all the way down or in the case of a stretchy accessory, you could run the risk of it snapping against a seriously sensitive situation.
Instead, Engle suggests placing the ring over the penis when it's at so-called half-mast. Once the toy is positioned at the bottom or base of the P, you're ready to get back to the good stuff: sex.
"Don't expect to be an expert at cock ring use the minute you pop one on," Engle cautions. As with everything that comes with sex, this too will take practice and require open communication with your partner. So, again, don't be afraid to ask how a certain thrust or position feels and, in Engle's words, "just be willing to explore."
The key in both positions, however, is to just "rock against the ring," Engle says. "Fit
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