TetherSpout installation

At the beginning, it used to take me a while to get my TetherSpout in place or remove it. Nowadays, I have worked out a procedure that allows me to get it in (or out) easily, in under 2 minutes...

To perform the TetherSpout installation, I use, of course, the spout and retainer, but also a second spout. I also need some fine string and some lubricant...

For the string, I use OralB Glide dental floss. Personally, I think is is terrible for flossing because it is so slick that it doesn't entrain food or plaque worth a damn. But for our purpose here its thin tape shape and its slickness make it perfect.

Now for lubrication... Stainless steel is smooth, but it does not slide well against semi-dry mucous membranes like the wall of the urethra. I have seen suggestions to urinate just before performing urethral insertions, as a way to provide lubrication. I don't recommend it, for two reasons:

• Unless the insertion is performed while urine is flowing, the lubrication is not that great.
• I prefer to preserve the capability to urinate after the insertion, as a way to flush out the piping. In particular, if a water soluble lubricant was used, that will get rid of any excess.

My current favorite for lubrication is an almost liquid Aloe Vera "gel" made by Earth's Daughter. I found it on Amazon. 99%+ pure Aloe Vera gels have the advantage that they do not leave behind long term sticky residue as they are readily absorbed by skin or mucosa.

Ok, I'm done with the product plugs, let's get on with the process...

First, clean your hands, the two spouts, and the retainer thoroughly with antibacterial soap (you should also clean the tip of your penis). You won't be pushing stuff into the urethra much further than a piercing would go, but when dealing with this area you want to be as aseptic as reasonably possible.

Cut a  length of the dental floss (about 10 inches or 25cm will do fine) and thread it through the cross holes of the spout, so there are equal lengths on each side. Then, apply a dab of lubricant to the flange of the spout and push it gently up the urethra until only the very tip sticks out (with the floss now hanging from it). You may feel a slight resistance at the beginning as the flange goes past the inelastic ring within the penis tip, but it should go through without discomfort.

Now, thread both ends of the floss through the bore of the second spout, starting from the tapered tip (not the flange side), so that you can bring the two spouts tip to tip. Apply a dab of lubricant to the second spout and, while tensing the floss to keep both spout tips in contact, push the second spout in, until its flange comes to rest on the tip of the penis. This will cause to first spout to go deep enough in to make space for the upcoming insertion of the retainer.

Now let go of the floss and gently pull out the second spout, leaving the first in place. Pull the second spout completely off the floss and set it aside on a clean surface. Make sure you do not pull the floss off the first spout!
Now, thread both ends of the floss through the retainer. Bring the retainer to the tip of the penis, align it with the vertical slit, apply some lube and push it in. There will be more resistance than with the spout (assuming you have the proper size retainer. Selection of that will be the subject of a future post). You will need to hold the glans between two fingers, one on each side, not top and bottom. Once half the retainer goes past the urethra's inelastic part, it will literally get sucked in:

Now, thread both ends of the floss through the second spout's bore, the same way as before. Apply a bit of lube if need be and gently push the tip of the second spout in.

At this point, you should no longer apply any pressure on the side of the glans as that would prevent the retainer from rotating into position. Tension the floss gently so the first spout starts heading back out as you continue slowly pushing the second one in. This will cause the retainer to rotate along the vertical and align itself so that the two spouts' tips make contact through the retainer:

 Once you feel, through the side of the penis, that the retainer has rotated into position, pull gently on the floss and bring the spouts out, keeping their tips together (this makes it easier on your urethra lining than dragging one spout tip out by itself). You will feel the spout sliding metal against metal inside the retainer.

Once the tip of the first spout peeks out the tip of the penis, you can remove the second spout and the floss. You are done:

Now, as I mentioned before, it is a good time to flush the plumbing by urinating. You will note that the flow of urine out the tip of the spout is quite smooth (in particular, it does not spray out the side holes).