Introduction: Urethral sounding is defined as the insertion of an object or liquid into the urethra.
The most common reason reported in the medical literature for deliberate urethral insertion is erotic gratification. The most unexpected complication of this practice is the inability to retrieve the object after it becomes lodged in the urethra or the bladder.
Methods and Results: The aim of this report is to describe a rare complication of this practice. We present the case of a middle-aged male who presented to our emergency department with a telephone wire stuck in his bladder after he had introduced it through his urethra with masturbatory intentions. Although the majority of foreign body extractions are managed endoscopically, we describe an unusual case of recreational urethral sounding that required open surgery. No evidence of a psychological disorder was found in our patient. A review of the literature on this issue was made.
Conclusion: Some reports claim that certain segments of society engage more readily in recreational sounding and that this practice can lead to complications. Clinicians must be aware of these practices so that they can provide proper care to such patients, apart from the mere resolution of the acute problem. For patients who have complications and seek medical care, a psychological evaluation and advice for safe sexual practices may be useful for better managing this rare clinical situation.
KEYWORDS: Recreational urethral sounding, sexual gratification, urethral foreign body, masturbation, sexual behavior
CORRESPONDENCE: Ignacio Puche-Sanz, MD, Urology Departament, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014, Granada, Spain ( )
CITATION: UroToday Int J. 2013 February;5(6):art 01.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2013.02.01
