Wellness

Penis Rings: 8 Tips for Using a Penis Ring

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 5 min read

If you're interested in having greater control over your erections and increasing pleasure for both you and your partner, a penis ring (or cock ring) might be the key to better sex.

Learn From the Best

What Is a Cock Ring?

A cock ring—also called a c-ring, penis ring, tension ring, or constriction band—is a sex toy that wraps around the base of the penis, or around the testicles and penis simultaneously. The primary uses of a cock ring are to help the wearer to maintain their erection longer and to make sex more pleasurable for both the wearer and their partner. There are a number of different types of cock rings that allow for use before or after arousal, and some that can stimulate both partners simultaneously.

3 Benefits of Using a Cock Ring

Here are a few sexual benefits that a cock ring can offer.

  1. 1. It may help with erectile dysfunction. If you or your partner struggle with maintaining an erection, a cock ring may help. Once blood flows into the penis to cause an erection, the cock ring applies pressure around the base of the penis to trap the blood inside the erect penis for longer.
  2. 2. It can enhance pleasure. Since a cock ring helps keep your penis stay engorged and sensitive, wearing one can make sex feel more intense. It may also increase girth, so that your penis feels wider to your partner if you are having penetrative sex. Toys like vibrating cock rings stimulate you when you wear them, as well as your partner's clitoris during vaginal sex and the anal region during anal sex.
  3. 3. It can relieve performance anxiety. If you struggle with performance anxiety or the pressure of maintaining an erection, using a cock ring can help relax your nerves and boost your confidence. That way, you can focus your mental energy on enjoying your sexual experience instead of monitoring the status of your erection.

4 Types of Cock Rings

Cock rings come in a variety of sizes, materials, and features designed to enhance your pleasure. Here's a rundown of the basic options to help you decide which type of cock ring is best for you.

  1. 1. Adjustable cock rings: An adjustable ring that is worn around your penis and over (or under) your scrotum. You can alter the tightness of the ring to fit your penis size and desired level of comfort.
  2. 2. Silicone cock rings: These stretchy cock rings come in a fixed size that wraps around the base of your penis, and can stretch to fit penises of different girths. They're easy to put on and take off, but depending on your penis size they might not fit as tightly as you desire.
  3. 3. Vibrating cock rings: Vibrating cock rings have a battery-powered external stimulator that vibrates, potentially causing a more intense orgasm for both you and your partner. Some vibrating cock rings have a bullet vibrator extension, geared towards clitoral stimulation or stimulation of your own perineum. Vibrating cock rings wrap around the base of the shaft, but do not go below the testicles.
  4. 4. Solid cock rings: These are fixed-size rings that do not stretch at all. Worn around the base of the shaft and under the scrotum, solid cock rings are not recommended for inexperienced users since choosing a ring that's too small will not be pleasurable and can cause pain.

8 Tips for Using a Cock Ring

You can use a cock ring on your penis during vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, or masturbation. If it's your first time using a cock ring, here are some helpful tips to make sure that your experience is the best it can be.

  1. 1. Choose the right type, size, and fit. You'll want to go with either a fully adjustable or stretchy silicone ring to ensure a comfortable fit especially if it’s your first time. When adjusting the fit, try to make the ring feel snug, but not so tight that you begin to go numb. If you or your partner are interested in extra stimulation, try a vibrating cock ring.
  2. 2. Trim your pubic hair. Before you use a cock ring for the first time, shave or trim your pubic hair. This will prevent your cock ring from potentially tugging at your hair in the midst of sex.
  3. 3. Use lubrication. Apply lube to both the cock ring and your penis. This will help the ring slide onto your shaft easily, and will also prevent uncomfortable friction if the ring shifts during sex.
  4. 4. Put on the ring when you're semi-erect. Your penis should be semi-erect before putting on the cock ring. If you put the cock ring on a flaccid penis, you probably won't get the maximum amount of blood flow into your penis. If you try to put the cock ring on when you're fully erect, you may find that your penis is too difficult to bend to get the ring on properly.
  5. 5. Put the cock ring on before the condom. You should always practice safe sex by wearing a condom, but you want to be mindful not to rip it when you’re wearing a cock ring at the same time Put your cock ring on first to avoid the risk of ripping the condom. Once your cock ring is secure and your penis becomes fully erect, then you should roll your condom on.
  6. 6. Only wear the cock ring for 30 minutes or less. If you wear a cock ring for too long, it can cause permanent penile damage, so limit your cock ring usage to about 30 minutes at a time. If you start to feel your penis going numb or see its skin changing color after wearing the ring for any amount of time, immediately remove it. When engaging in back-to-back sex sessions using your cock ring, make sure to wait at least an hour between sessions.
  7. 7. Wash your cock ring after each use. To prevent bacteria from forming and to extend its life, always thoroughly clean your cock ring when you're finished using it.
  8. 8. Be mindful of your health. If you have a number of pre-existing conditions—like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or blood and nerve diseases—don’t use a cock ring, because it may interrupt your normal blood flow. People who take blood thinners or have an existing penile injury or groin soreness should also refrain from using a cock ring.

Let’s Talk About Sex

Craving a little more intimacy? Grab a MasterClass Annual Membership and learn more about open communication with your partners, experimenting in the bedroom, and being your own best sexual advocate with a little help from Emily Morse (host of the wildly popular podcast Sex With Emily).