Are there risks or contraindications to prostate stimulation affecting sexual function?

1. What prostate stimulation is and why people do it

Prostate stimulation involves applying pressure to the prostate either internally (digital or toy insertion into the rectum) or externally (perineal pressure) to elicit sexual pleasure or to attempt therapeutic drainage of prostatic fluid, a practice once used for prostatitis and still pursued by some as sexual exploration or symptom relief ^{[3] [6] [7]}.

2. Mechanical and mucosal risks: tearing, bleeding, hemorrhoid aggravation

The rectal mucosa and anal sphincter are sensitive and do not self-lubricate, so rough, unlubricated, or inappropriate insertion can cause pain, anal tearing, and rectal bleeding; those injuries not only cause immediate harm but also raise infection risk and can exacerbate hemorrhoids or fissures ^{[2] [1] [8]}.

3. Infection, spread of pathogens, and systemic risks

Introducing bacteria from the rectum via unwashed hands, unclean toys, or mucosal injury can cause localized infections of the prostate or perirectal tissues and, in severe cases, contribute to systemic infection; clinicians warn that hygiene and sterile technique matter because prostate massage has been associated with infectious complications in case reports and guidance documents ^{[3] [9]}.

4. Nerve injury and the theoretical/observed sexual-function consequences

Several sources list nerve damage as a potential risk of traumatic prostate manipulation, noting that injury to perineal or pelvic nerves could in theory impair erectile function or ejaculation; while high-quality population data linking routine sexual prostate stimulation to lasting erectile dysfunction are scarce, the literature and medical caution flag nerve trauma and irritation as mechanisms that could negatively affect sexual function ^{[1] [9] [10]}.

5. Contraindications and clinical cautions — when to avoid prostate stimulation

Practices strongly cautioned against include prostate stimulation in the presence of anal fissures, active hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, acute prostatitis, or recent rectal/prostate surgery, and clinicians typically advise against self-prescribing prostate massage for medical conditions like prostatitis or BPH because of limited efficacy data and these safety concerns ^{[2] [5] [4] [11]}.

6. Evidence for benefit is mixed and often anecdotal; some small trials show tolerable side effects

Anecdotes and small studies report improved sexual pleasure, occasional improved ejaculatory function, and in device trials some users reporting sexual-function gains, but the evidence base is thin: many reviews say benefits are unproven clinically and call for medical supervision, even as one device study reported modest rates of rectal soreness (≈8.6%) and rare bleeding (≈0.87%) alongside possible functional gains ^{[12] [13] [7] [11]}.

7. Practical harm-reduction and the final assessment

When individuals choose prostate stimulation, harm-reduction — using plenty of lubricant, clean, purpose-designed toys with flared bases, gloves or clean hands, going slowly, and avoiding stimulation with known contraindications (fissures, active infection, recent surgery) — is the pragmatic advice from sexual-health writers and clinics, but anyone with concerning symptoms or significant medical history should consult a clinician because the balance of uncertain benefit versus documented risks means prostate stimulation can, in some cases, worsen or threaten sexual function ^{[10] [2] [5]}.