As a guy cursed with a “high and tight” scrotum, I know that finding a chastity device with the right fit can be difficult. Guys who have one know what I am talking about here. But there may be some guys who are new to wearing male chastity devices who may not be familiar with the term “high and tight” in the context of scrotums, testicles, and chastity. In this post, I’ll explain the term and how it impacts chastity device sizing choices.
Loose Versus Tight Scrotums
To explain the difference between high and tight and loose scrotums to someone unfamiliar with it, I equate a loose scrotum with scrotums more in the appearance of those you see on a bull. Here is one of those instances where a picture is worth a thousand words, so I provided one. Sure, it’s a
slight exaggeration, but you easily grasp the concept. Guys with the loose variety, like bulls, have scrotums and testicles that hang well below the base of their penis shafts.
Having noticed the scrotums of other men in locker rooms and communal showers when I was in the military, I admit I’ve always envied guys with the low riders. I think the look is just more aesthetically pleasing. And after embracing the wearing of chastity devices, I envy them even more.
A guy with the high and tight variety has a scrotum and testicles that don’t hang much at all. Instead, the tight scrotum keeps the testicles tight against the base of the penis and close to the body.
Below is an image I found on Wikipedia that shows a high and tight scrotum from tight to relaxed. As you see, even when relaxed, the testicles are still high and close to the base of the penis.
Scrotums and Testicles 101
In natural male development, the testicles form in the abdomen in the womb and usually descend into the scrotum by birth. If not, they typically descend within a few months after birth.
The testicles (also called testes) are oval organs about the size of very large olives that lie in the scrotum and are secured at either end by a spermatic cord. Most men have two testes. The testes are responsible for making testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, and for producing sperm.
The scrotum, a loose pouch-like sac of skin hanging below the penis, holds the testicles and many nerves and blood vessels. The scrotum protects your testes, as well as providing a sort of climate control system. For normal sperm development, the testes must be at a temperature slightly cooler than body temperature. Muscles in the scrotum wall allow it to contract (tighten) and relax, moving the testicles closer to the body for warmth and protection or farther away from the body to cool the temperature.
For this reason, the testicles naturally move up and down in response to changes in temperature, erections, and sometimes seemingly for no particular reason at all.
The dartos muscle, found just beneath the skin of the scrotum, is a layer of tissue that gives the scrotum its wrinkly appearance. Contraction and relaxation of the dartos muscle help regulate the temperature of the testicles and works in conjunction with the cremaster muscle to raise or lower the balls. This naturally occurring phenomenon is what can cause some guys with high and tight scrotums significant problems when they wear a ball-trapping chastity device.
Chastity Device Issues For High and Tight Guys
Most off the shelf chastity devices work for men with loose scrotums (although too loose and a wearer may be able to pull out the back end without releasing their testicles). Finding the right fit can be significantly more difficult for those of us cursed with a high and tight scrotum.
When a wearer has a high and tight scrotum, a ball-trapping device exerts almost a constant pull on the scrotum while he is wearing it. While the scrotum may stretch a bit over time from wearing the device, the dartos and cremaster muscles pull the testicles against the base ring and cage a lot of the time. This situation happens in response to cold, during an attempted erection, and so on. It often causes discomfort and even pain for a wearer with a high and tight scrotum.
If you’re a high and tight guy, you might have found it a struggle to wear a ball-trapping chastity device because of feeling the sensation of your testicles getting pinched and wedged between the base ring and cage in strange ways. The sensation can range from noticeable discomfort to feeling like the cage is ripping your balls off your body. You can thank your dartos and cremaster muscles for that.
Troubleshooting for High and Tight Guys
The base ring width and shape is more of a factor for guys with tight scrotums than those with loose scrotums. Wider rings may be quite uncomfortable as they cause more stretching to occur. Here I use the term wider to refer to the depth, anything wider than a common steel base ring.
The distance between the ring and cage (the gap) is another measurement that is more critical for high and tight guys. A little too narrow, and it can lead to the tight, uncomfortable wedging feeling. If the gap is too wide, the scrotal muscles can make you feel like the device is slowly crushing your balls as the muscles pull your testicles deeper into the gap. You must find the sweet spot when it comes to base ring size, shape, and gap. That means you may not be able to wear an off the shelf device but will have to bite the bullet and buy a custom-made chastity device if you plan on extended wear.
Ring Size
You definitely must obtain accurate measurements before selecting a base ring size. Since many chastity device manufacturers like Mature Metal provide useful measuring guides, I won’t regurgitate the information here. You can read the Mature Metal measuring guide here to learn how to take accurate measurements.
As a rule of thumb, once you put on a base ring, you should be able to get a fingertip easily between the inside of the ring and your skin. If you can’t, the ring is too tight and will likely cause you problems. If you can get two or more fingertips inside, then the ring is probably too large. A base ring that is too big causes the device to be less secure and can result in one of your balls popping out of the ring when the scrotal muscles are doing their thing. I’ve had this happen. Sometimes it is painful, but at other times, I didn’t even notice it for a long while after it happened.
Gap
For me, gap size is even more critical than ring size. I’ve learned from experimentation that a 3/8 inch gap is what I need with my high and tight scrotum. The Mature Metal measuring guide says that is about right for most guys except those with really loose scrotums who may need a narrower gap. It seems most off the shelf devices come with a 3/8 inch gap.
The thing is, there is no way to measure for the gap. It is best then to start with a 3/8 inch gap and then adjust if needed. I once tried a 1/4 inch gap with a device I kept having a ball pop out of, and within thirty minutes, I felt excruciating pain. That’s how much of a difference even 1/8 of an inch can make when it comes to the gap.
If you have a tight scrotum and find it painful to wear a chastity device and you’re sure you chose the right base ring size, then you probably need a wider gap. Custom manufacturers can give you whatever size gap you need. So, if a 3/8 inch isn’t working, try a 1/2 inch gap. I wouldn’t add more than 1/8 inch at a time. You don’t want the gap to be too wide either. If it is too wide, you will likely experience having a ball pop out of the ring.
A high and tight scrotum requires a more precise fit, and there is a much greater potential for pain and a much lower margin for error when it comes to ring and gap sizing.
Other Tight Scrotal Issues
I’m not a medical professional, but having researched it a little, I learned that there is a medical condition called adult hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex, which causes retractile testicles.
For men with a hyperactive cremaster muscle, one or both testicles vigorously retract up into the groin to the extent they have to press the testicle back down into the scrotum. The retraction typically occurs during intercourse, exercise, getting in and out of cars, or other physical activity. There is a minor surgical procedure known as a microsurgical subinguinal cremaster muscle release. This surgery releases the muscle to prevent vigorous testicular retraction.
I’m not qualified to give medical advice or diagnose testicular problems. But if you have a high and tight scrotum and one or both of your testicles sometimes retracts into your groin, especially if it’s painful, you should consult with your doctor. I can’t imagine anyone with a hyperactive cremaster muscle could comfortably wear any ball trapping device.
When Ball-Trapping Devices Won't Work
With my high and tight, I have found some ball-trapping chastity devices I simply can’t wear. Fortunately, I have found many that I can. But for a guy who has tried everything, even custom-made devices, and hasn’t been able to wear a device for any appreciable length of time, there is another option.
There are chastity devices that don’t attach with a base ring, but they require a Prince Albert (PA) piercing. Male Chastity Now makes one called the Mouse Trap. It’s a metal tube that slips over the penis and has a hook attachment for a PA ring. The piercing does carry the weight of the tube. But I’ve heard if you size it properly, the tube shouldn’t slip past the glans of the penis, which takes some of the stress off the piercing.
If you’ve got a high and tight scrotum, want to practice male chastity, but haven’t been able to wear a chastity device for more than a few hours due to discomfort, there are some things you can do.
Always look at sizing first. Nine times out of ten, that’s where you’ll find the problem. I strongly suspect more guys are wearing improperly sized chastity devices than guys wearing properly fitted ones.
Off the shelf devices just don’t work for every guy with a high and tight scrotum. Custom devices are an investment, but sometimes that is what it takes to get a chastity device that works for you.
There are options for those with high and tight scrotums who want to practice chastity but can’t wear a ball trapping device. You might consider getting the PA piercing and going with one of the devices that don’t attach to your body with a base ring. There is also the chastity belt option. Fancy steel makes a slim-fit chastity belt that I find very intriguing.
Finally, if you think you have a medical issue, see a urologist. Whatever the issue, if practicing male chastity is something you want, you can probably find a way to overcome any obstacles to the long-term comfortable wearing of a chastity device.