I apologize if I am committing a forum faux pas by combining two topics into one thread, but they related.
My wife is a busy, well-respected physician with a very large practice (and no, my tremendous love for her is not clouding my vision on this.) Last night I asked her to review the Aneros web site to solicit her medical opinion on the device, and any inherent risks associated with its use, as well as to obtain a spouse's viewpoint. I explained that I kept coming across this web site during my research on a connection between anal stimulation and sexual orientation. Expecting the primary users of this product to be lonely, overweight men in their 40s who are still living at home with their mothers, I was surprised to find men of all backgrounds and orientation. I was impressed by the intelligence and articulation of the forum members and encouraged at the openness and support shared among the users.
My wife read the Overview and was relieved that the device had tabs to keep it from being drawn into the anus. She relayed the following anecdote from her residency at a large metropolitan county hospital:
A man presented in the emergency room with a vibrator deep inside his rectum. He was stimulating himself when he lost control of the unit and the natural reverse peristalsis drew it in beyond his reach. When the hospital staff was able to contact the surgeon on call, the surgeon's response was, "Does he want me to take it out....or change the battery!"
We continued to read the Overview and she listed her shortcomings with the product. Although we discussed each topic and formed our own conclusions, I present them below because I feel they are valid concerns and should be considered by the readers of this forum. I understand that this is the opinion of one physician, but the open and professional approach to this analysis is significant.
#1. This appears to be an enhanced masturbatory aid that is most beneficial to unpartnered individuals.
#2. Since it creates such intense orgasms ("a man can achieve strong, continuous full-body orgasms previously unattainable through conventional sexual techniques") what would you need ME for?
#3. The use of this device could easily become addictive.
#4. Due to the tenderness of the tissues and normal fecal bacteria present in the area, people who engage in anal play are more prone to rectal tears and, subsequently, serious infections. The user must exercise extreme caution when prepping the rectum and inserting the device. Warning signs to be aware of include blood, pain, itching and/or any discharge from and around the anus.
#5. People who engage in anal sex or use devices that prevent the anal sphincter from closing are at significant risk of bowel incontinence in their later years. The stem of the Helix model displayed should be narrow enough not to cause this problem.
#6. The use of KY jelly as an internal lubricant should not pose a serious health risk from rectal absorption. This is the same product used in the clinical setting for insertion of medical equipment.
#7. The stimulation from the device may initiate an evacuation response. The glycerin in the lubricant would act to exacerbate this.
#8. Rigorous or frequent rectal cleansing may lead to a dependency on enemas in order to move the bowels. Gentle and occasional rinsing would reduce this dependency risk.
The medical issues associated with the use of the device can be reduced through caution and prudence. The emotional issues, however, still leave significant reservations. I asked my wife to be my supervisor and to inform me of any loss of affection, addictive patterns, or other detrimental changes in my behavior.
We will continue to monitor this post for additional insight you can provide and to solicit your comments and conclusions.
i will be the first to take a whack at these.
overall response: please see the www.highisland.com site where this device is provided as a medical therapy, and prescribed by urologists and proctocologists.
#1. This appears to be an enhanced masturbatory aid that is most beneficial to unpartnered individuals.
this is a personal and relationship opinion, not a medical one. it is both true and false, as shown in the diversity of posts on the forum.
#2. Since it creates such intense orgasms ("a man can achieve strong, continuous full-body orgasms previously unattainable through conventional sexual techniques") what would you need ME for?
love, affection, life, companionship, sharing. in short, everything. a wonderful orgasm is much more wonderful when shared. plus, women can learn the same skills, through partnership in tantric approaches.
#3. The use of this device could easily become addictive.
mildly: definitely yes. seriously and destructively: only if you are predisposed to addiction problems
#4. Due to the tenderness of the tissues and normal fecal bacteria present in the area, people who engage in anal play are more prone to rectal tears and, subsequently, serious infections. The user must exercise extreme caution when prepping the rectum and inserting the device. Warning signs to be aware of include blood, pain, itching and/or any discharge from and around the anus.
i have read every post on this forum for more than six years (10,000+). no infection reported yet. a hard stool poses the same issues. note, the insertion of the device and its action are very gentle, as they are driven by the anal sphincter and other pelvic floor muscles.
#5. People who engage in anal sex or use devices that prevent the anal sphincter from closing are at significant risk of bowel incontinence in their later years. The stem of the Helix model displayed should be narrow enough not to cause this problem.
the device strengthens the sphincters. no incontinence problems ever reported on the forum.
#6. The use of KY jelly as an internal lubricant should not pose a serious health risk from rectal absorption. This is the same product used in the clinical setting for insertion of medical equipment.
yes, but medical use of ky jelly is not at the volume used with the aneros. medical use might be, say, once per year, at 5ml, while aneros use might be three times per week, at 5ml, ie, 5000 ml per year. that is a thousand-fold difference in volume. i personally worry about this, as discussed extensively on the forum.
#7. The stimulation from the device may initiate an evacuation response. The glycerin in the lubricant would act to exacerbate this.
evacuation prior is recommended. the device rarely does this. glycerin lube often does.
#8. Rigorous or frequent rectal cleansing may lead to a dependency on enemas in order to move the bowels. Gentle and occasional rinsing would reduce this dependency risk.
agreed. i personally rarely cleanse my rectum, and have no problems with soiling, etc. i don't recommend it.
The medical issues associated with the use of the device can be reduced through caution and prudence. The emotional issues, however, still leave significant reservations. I asked my wife to be my supervisor and to inform me of any loss of affection, addictive patterns, or other detrimental changes in my behavior.
We will continue to monitor this post for additional insight you can provide and to solicit your comments and conclusions.
yes, each couple will need to deal with these issues in their own way. the posts on the forum are all over the spectrum, ranging from concealing use from the partner, to finding love and emotional attachment enhanced, to sharing elation and expansive lovemaking. highly personal and individual. good luck to you on this. but note, it is common for men to report an opening of their emotional life and improved relations with loved ones.
darwin
Thank you Slippery, it's good to hear a professionals opinion of the product. Please share more of her observations if she has any in the future.
Slippery, does you wife, the doc, have any opinion on the prostate health benefits of this device? I keep hearing people talk about this, but I've never seen any hard medical facts or what specifically those benefits are.
(This is slipperybugger typing)
Unfortunately, routine prostate massage itself is highly controversial within the medical community, even though prostate massage was the treatment of choice for prostatitis prior to the development of heavy-duty antibiotics.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2374945
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Urology-Male-issues-989/2008/1/Prostate-Massage-1.htm
http://www.chronicprostatitis.com/massage.html
http://www.uclaurology.com/conditions/Prost29.cfm
There is reference on the High Island Health web site to prostate massage as an alternative to masturbation for fluid release from a book published in 1994. Other than that, the only evidence I can find toward the health benefits of the device is anecdotal. I hear that High Island is seeking FDA approval of their product for use as a medical device. If they are successful, that would be a major step toward generating interest within the urology circles. Of course, if significant health benefits are documented and distributed, it will make it harder for us to obtain our little toys. They'll be flying off the shelf so fast, the company won't be able to keep up. Am keeping my fingers crossed that these devices are the panacea to all the common male urogenital maladies.
If they get FDA approval a lot more people will have super O's. What a wonderful world that would be!