A cock ring is a device worn around the penis, used to enhance the appearance of the male genitals and extend love making by keeping blood trapped inside the penis. The first documented use of rings were believed to be in China, made from the eyelids of goats, with eye lashes intact. These flexible eyelids were tied around men's erections and the hardened lashes were said to increase the pleasure from intercourse.
Another version of their history is that the use of cock rings began many centuries ago, developed for a rich prince who did battle bravely and took many women prisoners. Incapable of satisfying his women captives, he took his problem to his kingdom's man of medicine, who fashioned him a cock ring.
How does it work, exactly?
An erection occurs when the penis is filled with blood after arousal. Simultaneously, muscle spasms occur at the base of the penis causing the blood to be trapped and the penis to become hard. When there is a dysfunction of the muscle spasms, the blood flows out and the penis remains soft.
A cock ring applied snugly to the base of an erect penis will help prevent the blood that is keeping the penis hard from returning to the body. In this manner, the cock ring helps maintain a firmer erection!
Of what kinds of materials are cock rings made?
Cock rings come in every conceivable form and material known to humankind, including rubber, silicone, leather, metal, cloth, etc. We've even heard of them being made of Kevlar, but we'll believe that one when we see one!
What are the BEST cock rings made from?
This depends on what you WANT from a cock ring. If prolonged sex and a harder erection is what you seek, you'll want a cock ring that holds blood inside the penis most effectively, which means binds the tightest. For this, you should use either rubber or silicone, which stretch the most and constrict blood flow the most effectively. If you wish to wear a cock ring for longer periods of time, you should acquire a ring with a fixed size, such as one made from metal or leather. In the case of leather, most can be adjusted tighter via metal snaps or buckles, so you can get the best of both worlds. There are also versions of cock rings called "cock and balls," that both wrap around the penis and balls, AND have an extra ring attached to wrap around the shaft only (see picture below).
How do I know what size cock ring to get?
Whoa there, stud! Though we're sure you (or your partner) is the biggest thing since John Holmes and Ron Jeremy, we can assure you that most silicone rings will stretch to accommodate even the largest johnsons. In the case of metal rings, measuring is quite simple; take a strip of paper about 8" long and a quarter inch wide, and wrap it around the area, marking where the two ends meet. Measure the length of the paper and divide by 3 and you've got your size. For most men, a 1.75-2 inch ring will be sufficient to wear comfortably.
OK, I got a cock ring, how do I properly wear it?
The proper way to wear a cock ring is behind the balls, and around the top of the shaft against your body (see picture at left). With a silicone or rubber ring, you can also place it around the shaft only, but you run the risk of it slipping off during sex or when things get wet and slippery. No matter which one you choose, it should fit comfortably and cause no pain. IN ALL CASES, A COCK RING SHOULD BE PUT ON WHILE NOT ERECT!!!
To put on a stretchy ring, simply stretch the ring with the index and ring fingers of both hands, bringing it underneath and behind the balls, then back toward your body, slowly allowing the tension to bind the area securely. A metal ring is a little trickier; start with one testicle through the ring, then the other, then fold the penis and point it downward, pushing it through and pulling the ring back against your body, above the shaft. For a demo slide show, click here to see what we're talking about.
That sounds sensible, can these things cause damage to my privates?
The answer to this question is a resounding YES. The penis is composed of millions of blood vessels and constricting blood flow into, or out of, the area is not something your genitals are designed to do. Some of the pitfalls of using a cock ring improperly (too tightly) are numbness, discoloration, and severe pain.
For safety and pleasure, a cock ring needs to increase the size of the erection only slightly. If you notice more pronounced swelling, then the fit is too tight. In that case, take the cock ring off immediately. It's also vital for men to take off their cock ring at the first sign of pain or if the genitals feel cold. In addition, it's dangerous to leave a ring on for too long, including wearing one to sleep when spontaneous erections are all the rage. An erection of several hours can cause blood coagulation in the penis, making it difficult to lose the erection. This is called priapism, a prolonged erection. Since new blood cannot enter the penis, this can be severely painful and cause permanent damage to the erectile tissue. If this happens to you, seek medical attention as soon as possible, and don't worry — the staff at the ER has seen this before.
