The first thing we have to cover about cockrings are all of the myths that surround them. Like most sex toys there are all sorts of reasons why someone would be against rings, many of which are complete misconceptions.
The biggest myth of all in the realm of rings is that it will hurt the penis. This is pretty unlikely honestly, as long as you don’t force an undersized ring on a too large penis. A cock ring is supposed to be tight but it is NOT supposed to be so tight it hurts. The goal is to either slow down blood flow or hold a vibrator in place, neither of these things should require a painfully tight ring.
The next most common reason for not using a ring is that the penis will get stuck in it. This should not be an issue if you take some care in what rings you choose. Since cockrings are used for a number of different purposes there are a variety of them out there. They range from so stretchy that I can put them on my head to solid metal. You need to select a ring that is suited to what you need to do with it and that never includes metal or hard plastic if you are a beginner. Those have their purposes but they are not for folks who are just starting out.
There are also folks that think if they start using a ring they will somehow become dependent on it or be unable to perform without it. There are three common reasons for someone thinking this that I am kinda lumping together because of the common theme.
1) The folks who are using the ring for erection support and yes this is a valid concern but it’s probably a bit late for it. If you need it for support then yeah, you are kind of dependent on it but you are not going to get more dependent unless the original issue gets worse.
2) Then there are folks who find that either their partner or themselves like the stimulation of a vibrating ring. If either you or your partner are really enjoying it, then yes, you might have a performance hiccup just after you stop using it. Truly that is a temporary effect only, not dependency in the more permanent sense. There are folks that only orgasm during sex if there is vibration involved and rings with vibrators were a miracle for them. I suppose that is a dependence of a sort but it is certainly a positive one for that person!
3) the last reason that has cropped up a few times is that the ring works like a back belt and that the penis will lose its “tone” if you use one. That would be an issue if the penis was a muscle but it’s not. The fact is that the penis is a hydraulic system that gets all of its rigidity from blood pressure. There is absolutely no risk of losing muscle tone down there.
I have spoken to a lot of folks who can’t even imagine using a cock ring. The penis is frequently mistaken for a delicate instrument that will wilt if confined by a ring. This is simply unrealistic honestly. Any penis that has made through the teen years with its owner is not going to be harmed by a stretchy rubber ring. As long as you choose a ring that is appropriate to the penis in question and what you are trying to do with it you should be fine.
Hopefully this has made you less concerned about using a ring. If so, come along with me as I cover the very basic do’s and don’t’s of cockring use in the next section.
