Beginner’s Guide to Cock Rings For All Bodies

With a name like “cock ring,” you can pretty much guess what these little toys are designed for, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Cock rings may be created for use on a cock, but would you believe me if I say you really don’t need a cock to enjoy them?

If you ask me, cock rings are one of the most diverse sex toys on the market. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and functionalities, and they really can be used on all bodies, for all different types of sex. 

Often when things are so literally named, we tend not to explore them if we don’t identify with that anatomy or the type of sex we understand them to be for. But I find sometimes, moving around the name and into a relationship with the object outside of it’s gendered implications can bring a lot of unexpected joy. 

I’ve put together a Beginner’s Guide To Cock Rings that can be applied to all bodies, however you like to have sex, because cock rings deserve their moment and we deserve to enjoy their many wonders, no matter what types of sex we’re having. 

What Is A Cock Ring?

Cock rings are ring-shaped devices designed to be worn around the base of the penis, to support longer-lasting, harder, erections, and provide another source of stimulation during solo and/or partnered sex. Think of them as your personal assistant in getting where you want to go.  

Physiologically, when a person with a penis experiences an erection, the brain is sending chemical messages to the penis from a state of arousal, essentially telling it to relax. When this happens, it allows for an increase in blood flow to the penis, which causes the erection. 

A cock ring then, applies pressure to the penis and testicals, trapping the blood for longer in the penis, causing an increase in the intensity and duration of the erection. 

They can also be helpful for folks that experience Erectile Dysfunction. 

Cock rings can come in all shapes and sizes, and can be made of stretchier, softer materials such as silicone and rubber, to more rigid materials such as metal, plastic, or leather. The material the ring is made of will drastically change the sensation, so have a check-in with yourself as to whether you like a more secure, firm sensation, or if you like to keep it soft and flexible.

Some rings are small and simple, meant to fit around the base of the penis, or around the penis and testicles, in a more minimal, barely-there, type of way. Others have more bells and whistles, such as vibrators, butt plugs, anal beads, or cages, attached, to stimulate multiple areas and provide multiple sensations at once. 

What If I Don’t Have A Cock?

All of this said, cock rings are also extremely useful for people without penises, and/or sex that doesn’t involve a penis, to enjoy in many different ways. 

The design of a cock ring as a ring, means that it can be attached to pretty much whatever you’re using during sex to add a little stimulation (vibrating rings are especially diverse). They can be attached to hands, feet, most toys, and even fixed objects. 

Depending on which one you get, they can;

• add a vibrating sensation to whatever toys, or body parts, you’re using
• they can add anal stimulation
• they can provide a bondage-like sensation on a penis (even if the penis is not hard/not involved in sex)
• they can be added to stationary dildos and/or other stationary objects for a little hands-free option
• they can be quite practical, helping to hold things in place (during sex that involves a strap-on, this one is major!)

They are also useful for both solo and partnered sex. 

Which Cock Ring Is Best For Me?

Which cock ring is best suited to you depends on what sensations you are looking for. 

Start simple:

If you’re a person with a penis and you’re new to cock rings, perhaps starting with a more minimal design, like a silicone loop-ring or a set of a couple different sizes to play with could be a good start. 

Just because their design may seem minimal however, does not mean these babies aren’t powerful. Sometimes less is more! 

The beauty of the loop-ring style is its adjustability. 

Designed pretty much like a bolo tie, silicone loop-rings are excellent if you want to experiment with tightness and placement, and their minimal size means that you can enjoy the sensation without it getting in the way of anything else you may be using at the same time. 

See how it feels in your solo sex practice to have this new sort of pressure happening for you during arousal, and from there decide if you’d like to add more types of stimulation, go tighter or toward a different shape, or venture into use with a partner. 

**Experiment with placing the ring both around the penis and testicals as well as just around the base of the penis and see how the sensation varies. Some cock rings even offer multiple rings connected so both placements can happen at once!

Vibrating C-Rings:

There are many cock rings that also offer vibration, which can be useful for both partnered and solo play. 

During partnered sex, the benefits of the vibrating cock ring is that it can be enjoyable for all parties. 

If worn for penetrative sex involving a vulva (whether with a penis or a strap), the vibrating component can increase stimulation to the clitoris and vulva during penetration. Depending on what position you’re in, adjust the vibrating part of the ring to align with your bodies the way you want it. 

If worn during anal penetration, the vibrating cock-ring can add sensation for both parties. If you wear the vibrating side upside-down on the shaft during anal penetration, it’ll more easily connect with the testicals (if you have them) and the genitalia of the person receiving penetration. 

Vibrating cock rings are particularly diverse in their ability to be used outside of penetration/attachment to a penis. The ring shape allows these babies to be easily attached to your (or a partner’s) hands during hand stimulation to the vulva or penis, or any other part of the body (nipples, neck, feet, booty-play). The ring can sit around a finger or two, with the vibrating side rested in the palm or on the pads of the fingers, which allows the fingers to move as they please while bringing the vibrator into contact with the body. 

They can also be attached to sex toys such as dildos, grinders, straps, bondage gear, and whatever else you’re using. You can get quite creative!

Anal Stimulation:

If incorporating anal stimulation sounds exciting to you, there are many different types of cock rings that have this feature built right in, with an attached butt plug or anal beads. Getting something with an anal component can feel like an extra set of hands supporting you on your journey.  

**Rings with butt plugs or anal beads attached are quite useful when wearing a strap-on, as they attach securely to the base of the dildo while in the strap and hold the dildo in place, while offering the wearer anal stimulation simultaneously. Things get moving around down there, we can be practical and stimulated!

Stackable Rings

There are also cock-rings designed to be stacked, which can increase pleasure to the wearer, and can also help with penetration control (for vulvar, anal, or oral penetration) by providing a cushion/barrier of separation during penetration. 

These are usually made of a softer silicone or rubber, and can be used on the penis, as well as hands and toys (useful with dildos and internal vibrators and/or thrusts)  to add cushion and maintain penetrative boundaries. 

They usually come in sets of three or more, so you can establish a height of the rings that feels good for all parties. 

Strokers/Sleeves

Strokers are a bit different in intention and design than cock rings, so I’ll just briefly lay-out the difference if you’re not sure which is best for you. 

While cock-rings are designed to help hold the blood flow in the penis during arousal, and therefore intended for wear at the base of the penis, strokers are designed with the specific intention of being penetrated by the penis. 

Due to their ring-shaped design, cock rings are meant to enhance whatever else is going on, in a more low-key, less cumbersome way. Because of their flexible size and shape, they are quite versatile in their usability for all different types of sex whether or not a cock is involved. 

Strokers on the other hand, are intended to enhance sensation when stimulating the shaft of the penis specifically, to emphasize the sensation of penetration for the wearer. They don’t provide the same concentrated pressure around the base of the penis that a cock ring does, but they do offer texture and tightness down the length of the shaft. If you think of the cock ring as everyone’s very handy personal assistant, the stroker is the expert in one particular field. 

How Do I Wear A Cock-Ring?

There is really no right or wrong way to wear a cock-ring, but there will be right and wrong ways to wear them for you. It’s all about experimentation. 

In thinking of the cock ring as your personal assistant, you can ask it to do whatever you’d like support with, so give yourself some time to experiment both solo and with a partner or partners. 

If you have a penis and are using a cock ring for support with your erection, try wearing it at the base of the penis either with the testicals inside or out of the ring. 

If you don’t have a penis and are using a vibrating cock ring on a dildo, try positioning the vibrating side upward to align with your body. 

If you’re using a cock ring with your hands, play around with how best to align the shape and function of the ring with how you’re using your hands. 

Safety Tips

As always, safety first! Here are some things to consider to keep things safe and healthy while using cock rings. 

• First thing’s first, clean your sex toys regularly. Whether you’re using your cock ring for solo or partnered play, it is important to clean them in between uses to prevent any infection or irritation to the body. Proper cleaning instructions will almost always be found in the package when you purchase a cock ring. Most cock rings are washable in warm water with unscented soap. 
• If using with a partner, discuss consent and boundaries around use first!!
• If you’re using a cock ring to support Erectile Dysfunction, it is a good idea to chat with a healthcare provider prior to use, to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to ED.
• If you have a blood or bleeding condition, speak to a healthcare provider before using a cock ring to ensure safety
• Use lube to support taking the cock ring on and off
• Use lube for any form of anal play (use lube always, IMO!!)
• Don’t wear a cock ring for more than 20 minutes at a time
• Make sure the fit isn’t too tight, to avoid cutting off circulation (if you feel throbbing, pain, or numbness, or notice bruising, remove the cock ring and adjust to a looser fit next time)
• Avoid materials you or your partner(s) may be allergic to (such as latex or certain metals)
• If you have body piercings either remove the piercings or be extremely mindful of where they are in relation to the cock ring so not to catch piercings in movement.

There you have it, a beginner's guide to cock rings for all bodies!