Oooh, Ahhh…Ouch! An Intro to Genital Clamps for Men

Genital clamps can be used in so many delicious ways on the penis and testicles. Whether used to provide a gentle tug to enhance sexual pleasure, or to create sadistic sexual pain, they can be an amazing and inexpensive addition to your sexy arsenal.

Using genital clamps is form of sensation play. The act of cutting off circulation and then allowing the blood to rush back in when the clamps are removed makes the skin much more sensitive than normal. Clamping can be even more erotic when coupled with bondage or blindfolds during partnered play.

Genital Clamps Sound Painful!

Clamping doesn't have to be painful. It’s not uncommon for men to enjoy tugging their scrotum while stroking their penis. Many find this pressure very arousing and that it helps bring on orgasm. Weight added from placing light clamps on the scrotum can give this same effect while leaving both hands free. To try this, start by clamping the skin of the scrotal sac beneath each testicle along either side of the raphe line (the seam that runs down the center of the scrotum).

You can go on to experiment to find out what feels best to you. Some men enjoy clamping further up the scrotal sac or even at the base of a not yet fully erect penis. Scrotal skin is very similar in sensation to labia. You can check out this article on labia clamps for more ideas about playing with this type of sensation for pleasure.

What Type of Genital Clamps Should I Use?

It’s not necessary to go out and buy a bunch of fancy equipment for genital clamping. The best thing to start out with are basic, wooden clothes pins. These have a very light grip and most people don’t find them painful. You can always increase their intensity by twisting a rubber band around each pin. If you want to increase the tugging sensation on the scrotum, simply add more clothes pins. One great thing about these types of clamps is adding more pins increases the weight without adding pain which helps heighten pleasure. Experiment with running your fingers gently over the clothespins to enhance arousal.

Other items around the home like plastic chip clips or octopus style hair clips are usually gentle enough for erotic clamping of the scrotum. Nipple clamps or plastic clothes pins can be used also but may prove painful because they have a tighter grip.

You may also experience some pain when removing the clamps. This will be especially true when using more intense clamps. To combat this, remove each clamp quickly and immediately apply firm pressure with a flat, warm hand. A damp washcloth pressed firmly on the area after removal may feel good as well. At this point the skin that was clamped may be hypersensitive to touch. Some people find incredibly pleasant.

I Enjoy Erotic Pain. How Can I Incorporate Clamps in BDSM Play?

If pain is what you're after, go for those clamps with a tighter grip. It’s best to work up in intensity slowly by starting with wooden clothespins and moving on to stronger clamps. Many people use clamps as a form of CBT (cock and ball torment/torture).

Zippers are a popular form of CBT and are quite easy to construct from wooden clothespins and a string. An example of a basic genital zipper for men may consist of clothespins clipped side by side along the raphe line, spanning from the underside of the scrotum to the head of the penis. The string is clipped into each clothespin so when a partner pulls it, the pins pop off in a line. It's important to tie a knot in between each clothes pin so that the string doesn't slip right through when it’s pulled.

With a zipper, you can pull all the pins off at once quickly or pop off a few at a time very slowly. The pleasurable pain occurs as each pin pops off and blood rushes back to the area. You can use zippers in as many ways as you imagination can conjure up. From side to side across the scrotal sac or on other parts of the body like the inner thighs, arms, or chest can be especially fun.

For genitals, you can clamp the scrotum, foreskin, the skin along the penile shaft (which can be difficult with an erection), head of the penis, and even the perineum. Different areas and different types of clips will produce a myriad of sensations ranging from pleasurable to painful.

What Safety Considerations Are There for Genital Clamps?

You should never leave a genital clamp on more than 15 - 20 minutes. As a general rule of thumb, the tighter the clamp, the sooner it should be removed. Check the area every few minutes and if it goes numb, turns purple, or otherwise reacts oddly, remove the clamp right away. It’s also important to never clamp the testicle itself or the entire shaft of the penis-- only use clamps on the scrotal or penile skin. Finally, the skin in this area is very delicate. More intense clips like plastic clothes pins with grooved grips can tear the skin if they are yanked too hard or quickly. It’s fine to use these types of clamps; just make sure to take extra caution.

How Do I Get Started?

If you think you might enjoy penile and scrotal clamps, pick up a package of clothespins at your local dollar store and try them out alone first. Experiment with placement, number of pins, and the level of pain or pleasure you are comfortable with. Once you get the hang of it, you can go on to experiment with different types of clamps and even invite a partner to play along. You can use them along with penile vibrators or couple them with other BDSM equipment like restraints or a blindfold as part of an erotic role play. Now that you know how much fun genital clamps for men can be, what are you waiting for?