How to use a penis pump safely, step by step

Choose a pump you can control

For a first pump, control matters more than power. A hand pump with a clear cylinder lets you see what happens and stop the moment you want. The Doc Johnson Beginner Penis Pump has a clear cylinder, a lever and a quick-release button. If you like numbers, the Pumped Elite Beginner Pump with PSI Gauge has a gauge on the cylinder, a 23 cm cylinder with an inner diameter of 5.5 cm, a silicone sleeve and a release valve. The Pumped Comfort Pump with Advanced PSI Gauge puts the gauge on a trigger handle for fine adjustment.

Prefer to let a motor do it? The Pumped Premium Rechargeable Automatic Pump has six pressure settings on a display and a safety valve for instant release. Water pumps such as the Bathmate HydroXtreme3 work in the bath or shower, where the water makes the seal and the pressure feels softer. Compare them all in our penis pumps section, and check the inner diameter before you buy: a cylinder that is too narrow rubs, one that is far too wide is hard to seal.

Trim the hair at the base

Hair at the base of the shaft breaks the seal and gets pulled into the cylinder, which hurts. Trim it short with a trimmer or small scissors where the opening of the cylinder rests against your body. You do not need to shave; short hair is enough and avoids razor burn under the rim.

Warm up and apply lube

Pumps work best when you are relaxed and warm. A warm shower first softens the skin and makes the whole process easier. Then put a generous layer of water-based lube around the base of your cock and on the soft opening of the pump. A smooth, light lube such as Pjur Aqua helps the sleeve seal and keeps the skin moving freely inside the cylinder.

Use a water-based lube rather than silicone or oil, because many pump sleeves are made of silicone. If your sleeve is worn or torn, replace it: the Pumped Silicone Pump Sleeve Medium fits Pumped cylinders and seals quickly against the skin.

Make a good seal

Slide your cock into the cylinder, soft or half hard, and press the opening flat against your pubic bone. Keep your balls outside the cylinder. A good seal is airtight but not painful: you should feel the rim pressing evenly all round. If air keeps leaking in, add a little more lube on the rim or trim a bit closer.

Pump slowly

Give the pump two or three gentle strokes, then wait. Watch how your cock fills the cylinder and feel how the skin reacts. Add another stroke or two, then pause again. The goal is a firm, full erection, not the highest pressure you can reach. On a pump with a gauge, start low and stay there for your first sessions.

Tip: Pump in short bursts with pauses, and release a little pressure now and then. Cycles of pumping and releasing feel better than one long, hard pull.

Keep sessions short and stop at any warning sign

Start with a few minutes in the cylinder and build up slowly over later sessions, with breaks between rounds. Read the manual of your pump and stay within what it says. Stop and release the pressure at once if you feel:

• pain, burning or sharp pulling
• numbness or tingling
• a cold feeling in the head of your cock

Also stop if you see small red dots, blisters or the skin turning dark or blue. Mild warmth and a heavy, full feeling are normal; pain is not. Never fall asleep with a pump on, and never use one after drinking a lot.

Release the pressure with the valve

When you are done, press the quick release valve and let the air back in before you pull the cylinder away. Never pull the pump off while it is still under vacuum. The erection from a pump lasts a short while on its own, and your cock will look and feel fuller than usual.

Slide on a cock ring if you want to keep it

To hold the erection longer, roll a soft, stretchy ring onto the base of your cock as soon as you have released the valve and taken the cylinder off. The Doc Johnson Stretch to Fit Cockring stretches to fit most sizes and comes off easily. Do not keep a ring on for longer than 30 minutes, and take it off at once if you feel cold, tingling or pain. More options are in silicone and rubber cock rings, and our cock ring guide helps you choose the right size.

Tip: Never use a steel cock ring after pumping. A pumped cock swells, and a ring that cannot stretch is hard to get off.

Clean and dry your pump

Take the pump apart as far as the manual allows. Wash the cylinder and sleeve with warm water and mild soap or a spray of Touché Toy Cleaner, rinse, and let everything dry completely before you put it back together. Keep the hose and pump handle dry. A pump is personal: do not share it.

For a water pump, the Bathmate Shower Strap holds the pump in place around your neck in the shower, so both hands stay free.

What to do next

Once you know your pump and your limits, you can make sessions a little longer, try a different sleeve or move to an automatic model. If you like the fuller look a pump gives, a penis sleeve can add length and girth during sex; read our guide to penis sleeves and extenders to choose one. Keep using the same slow rhythm, keep sessions short and always stop at the first sign of pain.