‘Putting lead in your pencil’: self-insertion of an unusual urethral foreign body for sexual gratification

Selfinsertion of foreign bodies into the urethra and bladder, usually for sexual gratification and auto-eroticism especially during male masturbation, is an unusual but important condition which urologists will encounter. Patients thereafter usually feel embarrassed and tend to avoid seeking immediate medical help. The urological consequences of this type of behaviour can be significant and the implications for patients can be serious including death from sepsis. Over the last decade, reports in the literature of selfinserted intra-vesical and intra-urethral foreign bodies have increased. We present a case of selfinsertion of household batteries into the urethra for sexual pleasure during masturbation. We review possible motives for insertion of foreign bodies in to the urethra and discuss clinical presentation, as well as diagnosis and management of such patients.