icon
Free UK Shipping - Plain Packaging - Same Day Dispatch
Free UK Shipping - Plain Packaging - Same Day Dispatch
Skip to content
Cock Ring Safety – How to Avoid Cock Ring Side Effects & Cock Ring Injury

Cock Ring Safety – How to Avoid Cock Ring Side Effects & Cock Ring Injury


Content Verification

Tatyana Dyachenko
Written by:

Psychologist and Relationship Adviser
Veronika Matutyte
Medically Reviewed by:

Medical Doctor
Katie Lasson
Fact Checked by:

Sex and Relationship Adviser

✨ Key Points at a Glance ✨

🛡️ Safety First: Always follow the instructions to avoid any discomfort.


💦 Lubricate, Lubricate, Lubricate: Ensure a smooth experience by using plenty of lubricant.


⏱️ Time Limit: Don't wear a cock ring for more than 30 minutes at a time.


🧼 Keep It Clean: Clean your toy before and after each use for hygiene.

💡 Key Advice and Tips from Our Experts 💡

  • ✔️ Listen to Your Body: If it feels uncomfortable, stop and adjust. Safety comes first!
  • ✔️ Experiment with Different Sizes: Not all sizes fit the same, so try different rings to find the perfect fit.
  • ✔️ Use Stretchy Materials: For beginners, silicone or rubber cock rings are easier to handle and remove.
  • ✔️ Consider Vibrating Options: Vibrating rings can spice things up for both you and your partner!

By Tatyana Dyachenko

Cock rings are some of the most fun sex toys around, especially as they encourage play between partners (as opposed to sex toys that mainly lend themselves to solo play). However, just because we use the word ‘toy’ does not mean you can use them without thinking of possible side effects and injuries. Here are some of the most common side effects and injuries caused by misuse of cock rings, and how to avoid them.

Friction burns and rashes

The main reason for this sort of injury is from a cock ring rubbing on your skin during sex. Now there is nothing wrong with rigorous, frantic sex – most of us love this! And we’d never ask you to slow things down. However, if you see a rash or friction burn somewhere on your shaft, then you need to use more lube, simple as that. If you are not using any lube at all, then what are you thinking?? All cock rings, even the extra soft and stretchy ones, require lube, and lots of it. And if you are using lube, and you still get friction burn, you are not using enough. We recommend water based lubes, as oil based lubes will degrade the rubber or plastic that many cock rings are made of. Try the Wicked Sensual Aqua Sensitive Intimate Lubricant, an especially moisturising and soothing water based lube that has extracts of aloe vera and olive.

If you have a sore rash or friction burn that needs attention, we recommend you wash the area with fresh water several times, and then use something soothing, such as calamine lotion or a mild corticosteroid cream. Also, wear loose fitting cotton underwear for the next few days until the sore spots are gone. You’ll be back to your performing best within a few days, but remember, you can never use too much lube!

Bruising / discolouration of penis

This is quite serious and is almost always caused by either a cock ring that is far too tight, or one that has been left on for an extended period. A penis becomes erect when the lining of it’s internal ‘cylinders’ become engorged with blood. A cock ring works by restricting that blood from leaving the penis, keeping you harder for longer. But if you are using a cock ring that is far too tight, or keep your penis ring on for long periods, the cylinder lining inside you penis can rupture, which can lead to bruising and pain.

What’s even worse is that you could even be damaging yourself long term, as once this lining is rupture badly, blood cannot flow into the penis properly, and you may find you can no longer maintain an erection. If this has happened to you, then no matter how embarrassing it is, you must see a GP, or a medical professional, at once. The longer you leave it, the higher the chance that the problem may become a permanent issue.

To avoid this problem, we will keep saying this till we’re blue in the face (we’d rather be blue in the face, then have you risk a blue, bruised cock) – ALWAYS make sure the cock ring you use is not too tight. The idea is to slow down the flow of blood away from you penis, not to stop it altogether. If you are a beginner, don’t even think about using metal cock rings – these are strictly for experienced cock ring users. Try using soft, stretchy ‘doughnut’ cock rings to start with, such as the Peaches and Screams BASICS Comfort Thick Stretchy Cock Ring, or try an adjustable cock ring, such as the Dr Joel Kaplan Adjustable Cock Ring, which you can adjust to get the firmness just right, and loosen easily if you feel you’ve gone too far. And even if you are an experienced cock ring user, we do not recommend you keeping a cock ring on for more than 30 minutes at a time. The consequences of having a cock ring that is too tight, and worn for too long, can be life-long, so please take this seriously!

Loss of feeling

This is another serious issue that happens when cock rings are too tight, and / or worn for too long. In most cases, the feeling will come back after a few hours, but in some severe cases, it is permanent. If you do not get feeling back within a few hours at the latest, seek medical advice. Follow the guidelines above to prevent this from happening to you, and protect your manhood – it’s the only one you have!

Most men will use cock rings, without issue, for many years, but injuries happen when you get complacent. We want to wish you a horny, sexy love life for many years to come, but this can only happen when you learn how to use cock rings properly.

Previous article Guide to the Best Vibrating Cock Rings
Next article What is a Cock Ring Used For?