It’s typically enjoyed by men who want a hands-free way to masturbate (Picture: Getty)
There’s little left in the world of sex that shocks us anymore, but this just might. Literally.
It turns out that typical hand-and-lube masturbation just isn’t cutting it for some guys, and they’re turning to something a little more intense.
E-stim, otherwise known as electrosex or electrostimulation, is a niche sexual practice where men are using electrical pulses to stimulate their penis and testicles.
There’s an entire 16,000-strong Reddit community dedicated to the practice of e-stim where men share what kit they’re using and how mind-blowing their orgasms are.
That’s not to say women can’t pleasure themselves this way, and it’s also touted as a great way to achieve a hands-free climax.
But, it’s left us wondering just how safe it is to shock your privates on a regular basis. So we asked sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox to tell us more…
What is e-stim and how is it practiced?
‘E-stim is a sexual practice popular within BDSM communities that uses low-voltage electrical currents to stimulate nerve and muscle endings, creating heightened sensation throughout the body,’ Becky tells Metro.
It’s a form of sensation play, and she adds it has a dedicated following, but it’s still far less common than things like spanking or wax play. However, just because it’s niche, doesn’t mean the method isn’t well established.
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E-stim is a niche but popular form of masturbation (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Electric play dates back to the 1800s, evolving through the violet wand of the early 1900s – which emitted sparks and tingling on contact with skin – to the TENS machine of the 1980s, originally designed to soothe sore muscles using weak electrical currents’, Becky explains.
When the 2000s arrived, the expert says the sex toy market began to formulate e-stim specific toys purely for sexual pleasure.
Now, when it comes to putting e-stim into practice, it’s a delicate matter. Note: it does not include using any electricity from a plug socket.
Becky explains devices used for electrosex typically include a shaft ring, which is essentially a c**k ring which sends mild electrical pulses throughout the penis, and it’s connected to a purpose built stimulator. This stimulator allows you to adjust the strength of the electrical pulse based on what feels pleasurable.
‘There are also adhesive pads to attach to your testicles, or insertable toys for both anal and vaginal use,’ the sexologist says.
‘A typical set-up might place a loop around the shaft and a second contact on the perineum or inner thigh, allowing current to travel through a highly sensitive pathway. Vaginal users might combine a probe with an adhesive pad placed above the pubic mound.’
If you’re scratching your head wondering how these pulses feel pleasurable, Becky explains the electrical shocks increase sensitivity and promote blood flow, which intensifies arousal.
‘For people with penises, increased engorgement can create a sensation of greater firmness,’ she says. ‘The testicles are particularly responsive – the skin is thin, nerve endings are densely packed, and many people find even low-level current there produces an intense sensation.’
It’s a more intense alternative to traditional masturbation (Picture: Getty Images)
Are there any risks to electrosex?
If you hadn’t guessed, e-stim is a masturbation method that comes with significant risks.
‘Placing pads too high on the body can cause cardiac disruption,’ Becky explains. ‘Anyone with a heart condition or epilepsy shouldn’t try e-stim.’
Electrosex blogs insist that stimulation is only applied below the waist, because introducing external electric currents—especially near the head or neck—can trigger seizures, according to the NHS.
If you have a pacemaker, the electrical pulses can also interfere with it, causing the device to stop pacing, or malfunction. ‘Other risks include muscle spasms, nerve damage, and electrical burns,’ the sexologist adds.
On the e-stim Reddit page, others complained of electrosex ruining more traditional methods of masturbation.
‘The normal way used to be get in the mood, bit of porn or whoever I was with at the time doing stuff etc, and the finish would be great,’ said one. ‘Now, when I do it the normal way on my own it just feels a bit underwhelming.’
Of course, this is because your body learns to respond to a certain method of masturbation, and with time, if you stop using e-stim you should begin to gain more pleasure from typical self-pleasure methods.
Others mentioned genital numbness for a day or so after, with many saying it’s due to using the stimulator on high power, rather than letting low or medium power build.
‘Does this give other people tingly/buzzy sensations similar to those during sessions but it’s over after?’ asked one. ‘For me this is lasting even 24 hours after or longer, it’s not as intense during a session, more like a phantom of it, but it’s a similar buzzy feeling.’
Electro stimulators allow you to adjust the intensity of the pulses (Picture: Getty Images)
What are the benefits and how do you practice e-stim safely?
If the above hasn’t deterred you, Becky outlined how best to practice this masturbation method.
‘Always start with your chosen device on the lowest setting and increase gradually, and only ever use purpose-built sex-tech devices – never improvised or DIY equipment,’ she says.
‘Check your device before use and never use it near water, as well as keeping pads strictly below the waist and away from the heart.’
Becky also recommends doing it with a partner for the first time, which is popular with the dom-sub dynamic in BDSM anyway, in case of any medical emergencies.
The expert even suggests this masturbation method could be useful for men with erectile dysfunction. ‘Increased blood flow offers a non-medical route to improved function,’ she adds.
If you’re keen to try it, you shouldn’t be shy about it, either. ‘The desire to seek out novel stimulation is nothing new,’ Becky says.
‘Long before purpose-built devices existed, people found creative workarounds – repurposing electric razors with the head removed for vibration, for instance.
‘The internet hasn’t changed human ingenuity so much as made it visible, and given people access to devices that previously required a lot more imagination to replicate.’
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