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"The History of E-Stim",
By Vitamin A, Medical Columnist
The application of electricity for the purposes of sexual stimulation is nothing new, but did you know that doctors were applying electrical current to the genitals to treat sexual problems in the late 19th century? A review of medical textbooks from that era bring to light fascinating theories on erectile dysfunction (ED) and the use of therapeutic currents to cure this condition.
William Hammond, a New York physician of the late 19th Hammond was a staunch advocate of
electrotherapy as a means to cure these conditions. In his textbook Sexual
Impotence in the Human Male (published 1883), Hammond describes the
application of electrical current to the neck and/or rectum for the treatment
of lack of sexual desire or ejaculatory problems, respectively.
For the treatment of ED Hammond advised
applying electricity to the scrotum, urethra, and penis. A variety of electrodes were available for
both internal and external use. Hammond
preferred to use “4-6 galvanic cells” to produce a direct current that was
applied to the head of the penis for 15 minutes daily and via a urethral
electrode (depicted in figure 1) twice weekly.
He stated that the “only rule in regard to strength of the current…is to
produce a decided sense of discomfort.” Hammond hastened to add that after
treatment many patients reported “engorgement and a pleasant residual tingling
sensation.”
He went on to report that this treatment successfully cured at least one of his patients of ED, although it is unclear whether or not the patient simply endorsed cure to avoid further treatment. Sexual inadequacy was often secondary to distractions or sexual excesses such as having sex too often or masturbating too much in early life.
Edward Martin, author of Impotence and sexual weakness in the male and female (published 1893), was another physician of the late 19th century who endorsed electricity for the treatment of ED. He also recommended application of electricity to the female genitalia for the treatment of dyspareunia (severe pain with vaginal penetration).
It is not surprising that electricity was seized upon as a
potential cure for sexual problems in the late 1800s. At the turn of the 19th century electricity was still
a strange and poorly understood phenomenon and its’ applications were still
being determined.
Electrifying the penis was certainly more humane and much less dangerous than earlier treatments for ED, which included installation of hot caustic agents such as silver nitrate, mercury chloride, or potassium permanganate into the urethra (water channel) via a psychorophor (figure 2) or a rubber tube attached to a syringe (figure 3). While insertion of the device itself was usually safe in experienced hands, the caustic agents had the potential to cause heavy bleeding, infection, and scarring which could easily have been severe enough to completely obstruct urination. The installation of caustics almost certainly led to high rates of scarring in men unfortunate enough to have undergone this type of treatment in the early 19th century.
Unfortunately for you e-stim enthusiasts, no mainstream contemporary physicians are offering this type of treatment. There was a time, however, when electrifying your sex life was just what the doctor ordered!
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Penile and Testicular Fractures: The Kink
NO ONE Enjoys!"
By Vitamin A, Medical Columnist
“Penile fracture.” “Testicular fracture.” These two little phrases always arouse nervous titters from junior medical students doing their first urology rotations. This response is not unusual given that most people aren’t aware that this kind of thing can happen; indeed most medical students don’t learn about it during their pre-clinical classes. Nevertheless, penile and testicular fractures are two very real phenomena that can be quite painful and lead to significant problems, including impotence (erectile dysfunction, ED) in the case of penile fracture and problems with fertility and testosterone levels in the case of testicular fracture. Fortunately, both problems can typically be managed by a urologist, but optimal treatment requires rapid diagnosis and intervention for best results.
Penile Fracture
Understanding how a penis can actually break requires a bit of knowledge about normal erectile function. Erection of both the penis and clitoris is a two step process that is the result of 1) increased inflow of blood brought on by dilation of pelvic arteries and 2) compression of penile/clitoral veins, which serves to trap blood in the erectile bodies and keep it from exiting. The blood is trapped in two paired inner-tube like structures called the corpora cavernosa; in men, another tube called the corpus spongiosum (which makes up the head or glans of the penis and contains the urethra) also swells with blood. This engorgement with blood leads to enlargement and rigidity of the penis or clitoris in much the same fashion as filling up an inner tube makes it firm.
Like any inner tube, the penis and clitoris are under a significant amount of pressure from the inside in their fully inflated states. The lining of these tubes is a tough layer of connective tissue called the tunica albuginea, which generally does a good job of bearing the stresses associated with vigorous sex. In the flaccid state, the cavernosa is quite hardy. Despite this, like any substance, the tunica has its limits and when subjected to sudden extreme impact, these tubes may burst. The two most common causes of penile fracture reported in the medical literature are overly vigorous masturbation that possibly includes household objects, or sudden downward force from a partner’s pubic bone during a fall involving creative use of positions or furniture. However, any sort of strong blow to the penis (such as may occur during particularly rough CBT) may be sufficient to cause rupture. Typically (but not always) penile fracture is associated with an audible popping sound, rapid loss of erection, and a significant amount of pain (and not the good kind). The penis may or may not rapidly swell from blood leaking out from the rupture site and become markedly bruised (this is in known in urologic circles as the “eggplant sign.”) In severe cases, both corpora cavernosa may rupture, and in truly exceptional cases, the urethra itself may rupture.
Embarrassment keeps many patients from contacting a doctor or going to the emergency room. This is unfortunate because penile rupture is a treatable condition; however, prompt diagnosis and initiation of therapy is very important to minimize the risks of long term complications such as erectile disfunction (ED). A urologist is usually called on to make the diagnosis and to initiate treatment. The diagnosis can typically be made based on history and a good physical exam by an experienced physician, but in some cases an ultrasound or other diagnostic test may be ordered. If a penile fracture is suspected, the treatment of choice is often surgery through a circumcising or other incision on the penis. Most commonly, the area of corporal rupture is identified and sewn closed. Recovery takes a week or two but patients recovering from this type of injury should not engage in penile play until cleared by their doctor.
Fortunately, despite the abundance of intense cock play out there, penile fracture remains relatively uncommon. It’s a credit to the durability and toughness of the penis (and all the other organs and orifices that we use in our play) that they can tolerate the types of forces we routinely subject them to.
Testicular Fracture
The testicle represents a privileged area of the male body; a dense layer of cells known as Sertoli cells protect developing sperm from toxins and hormones which may be present in the blood stream. The testicle itself is actually formed from meters and meters of tightly coiled angel-hair-pasta-like seminiferous tubules in which sperm cells develop over the course of 2-3 months. In between these tubules are cells that are responsible for the production of testosterone. Like the penis, the testicles are protected by a tough rind of tissue called the tunica albuginea. This tissue is able to absorb a great deal of stress, as anyone who has been on the receiving end of CBT will tell you. Nevertheless, like every other part of the body, the testicular tunica has its limits and a strong blunt force or any sort of penetrating trauma can cause that tough tunica layer to rupture, causing the stringy seminiferous tubules to burst out of their protective layer. This may be associated with unusually intense pain, swelling, and/or bruising of the scrotum.
While the diagnosis of testicular fracture can be made based solely on history and physical exam, most doctors will order an ultrasound of the scrotum in cases of suspected testicular fracture. If a fracture is suspected, the standard of care is surgery through a small incision on the scrotum. If a fracture is confirmed at surgery, it is often possible to simply excise any dead tubules and sew the rupture closed. The testicle typically feels fairly normal after this type of procedure although it may not remain perfectly oval.
In some severe cases of testicular rupture the damage might be severe enough to make the possibility of salvaging a functional testicle almost zero. In this situation, removal of the damaged testicle is usually recommended to prevent the patient’s body from forming anti-sperm antibodies which may impair fertility later in life. Fortunately, since most men have two testicles, the chance of severe infertility or hypogonadism (low testosterone production) in a man who loses one of two testicles is small. However, a man who has only one testicle should take extra special care of it and should therefore not engage in risky behaviors, including contact sports and CBT, unless he has no fear of infertility or low testosterone.
Conclusion
Despite being built to withstand significant stress and force, the male genitalia are breakable just like every other part of the body. Hence, there are risks associated with vigorous intercourse and genital trauma such as CBT. An understanding that severe damage can occur with this type of activity and a willingness to seek out medical assistance when required are essential to preventing unnecessary long term complications. While there might be some embarrassment at needing to see a doctor about an issue such as possible genital fracture, the chances of long term complications are very real and for this reason it is important to be evaluated if there is concern. A knowledge of and respect for potential complications will help to prevent needless injuries and insure that you and your partner(s) are able to enjoy your genitalia for many years to come.
Vitamin A, Medical Columnist, is a Doctor of Medicine licensed to practice in the State of Califronia.
