Glossary of Terms

The vocabulary in this category is a mix of clinical terms, marketing terms and slang for the same handful of things. Here is what each one means, and which of them are synonyms.

Devices

Constriction ring. The clinical name for a ring worn at the base of the penis to restrict venous outflow. Synonyms: tension ring, ED ring, erection ring, penis ring, cock ring. All the same object. See penis rings .

Tension ring. Usually refers specifically to the ring supplied with a vacuum erection device, transferred onto the shaft after the erection is drawn up. Mechanically identical to any other constriction ring.

Vacuum erection device (VED). A cylinder placed over the penis with a pump that creates negative pressure, drawing blood in. An erection produced this way is then held with a constriction ring. Also called a penis pump or a vacuum constriction device. See the penis pump guide .

Penile implant / prosthesis. A surgically placed device, inflatable or malleable, for ED that has not responded to other treatment. The most invasive option and the one with the highest satisfaction rates among those who need it.

Stroker / sleeve. An open- or closed-ended textured sleeve. Used recreationally, and used deliberately for start-stop control practice. See strokers and trainers .

Anatomy and physiology

Corpora cavernosa. The two columns of spongy erectile tissue running the length of the penis. They fill with blood to produce an erection. A constriction ring works by slowing the drainage from these.

Tumescence. Swelling. Nocturnal penile tumescence (erections during sleep) is used clinically to help tell psychological ED from physical ED, since the sleeping brain is not anxious.

Venous leak (veno-occlusive dysfunction). The veins fail to close off properly during an erection, so blood drains out as fast as it comes in. You get hard and then lose it. This is the specific mechanical problem a constriction ring addresses. See venous leak .

Endothelium. The lining of blood vessels. Endothelial dysfunction impairs the vessel dilation an erection depends on, and it is the reason erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease travel together.

Pelvic floor. The sling of muscle supporting the bladder and bowel, including the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles that assist erection and ejaculation. Trainable. See kegel exercises for men .

Conditions

Erectile dysfunction (ED). Persistent difficulty getting or keeping an erection sufficient for satisfactory sex. Occasional difficulty is normal and is not ED. Causes are vascular, neurological, hormonal, psychological, or a combination.

Premature ejaculation (PE). Ejaculation sooner than desired, consistently, causing distress. Lifelong PE has been there from the start; acquired PE develops after a period of normal function and is more likely to have an identifiable cause.

IELT (intravaginal ejaculatory latency time). The clinical measure used in PE research, counting the time from penetration to ejaculation. The measure the 2007 constriction ring study found rings did not change.

Peyronie’s disease. Fibrous scar tissue in the penis causing curvature and often pain. A contraindication for constriction ring use without medical advice.

Priapism. An erection lasting more than four hours, unrelated to arousal. A medical emergency. Go to an emergency department, because prolonged priapism causes permanent tissue damage.

Performance anxiety. Anxiety about sexual performance that itself impairs performance, creating a self-sustaining loop. A common cause of situational ED in younger men. See performance anxiety and ED .

Medication and topicals

PDE5 inhibitor. The drug class including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil and avanafil. They work by amplifying the vasodilation signal, which is why they need arousal to do anything. Absolutely contraindicated with nitrates.

Nitrates. Heart medications including nitroglycerin and isosorbide. Combining them with a PDE5 inhibitor can cause a catastrophic drop in blood pressure. This is the single most important interaction in this whole subject.

Topical anaesthetic. Lidocaine, benzocaine, or lidocaine-prilocaine. Reduces glans sensitivity to raise the ejaculatory threshold. The mechanism behind most clinically studied delay sprays. See lidocaine vs benzocaine .

Osmolality. A measure of a lubricant’s concentration relative to body tissue. Very high-osmolality lubricants can draw water out of cells and irritate tissue. See the lube guide .

Materials

Platinum-cure silicone. A curing process producing a more stable, less porous silicone than tin-cure. Preferred for body-contact products because it is easier to keep genuinely clean.

TPE / TPR. Thermoplastic elastomer or rubber. Softer and cheaper than silicone, and porous, so it cannot be fully sterilised and has a shorter safe lifespan.

Non-porous. A surface with no microscopic pores for bacteria to sit in. Silicone, glass, stainless steel and ABS plastic are non-porous. Porous materials cannot be sterilised, only cleaned.

Regulatory and clinical bodies

AUA. American Urological Association. Publishes the US erectile dysfunction guideline. EAU. European Association of Urology. Publishes the European sexual and reproductive health guidelines. SMSNA. Sexual Medicine Society of North America. ISSM. International Society for Sexual Medicine. Class II device. The FDA classification covering external penile rigidity devices, meaning moderate risk managed through special controls rather than premarket approval.