This started as a copy of https://www.reddit.com/r/chastitytraining/comments/uwn6or/faq_and_rules_ensure_you_read_both_the_answers_to/ but as Dan, its author, is no longer active, I'm reposting with some additions.

We want to build a good, supportive and informative community that can be a good resource for all readers. To that end we ask that everyone who posts has takes the time to read the board Rules and, if you have a question, please also take the time to read the FAQ and longer FAQ threads below. Many of the questions that come up regularly are already answered and it would really help if people took the time to read the relevant FAQ threads first.

This thread aggregates all the Rules and FAQ information but you can always find all these links on the subreddit's sidebar.

Rules

You'll find the board rules at Rules. If you only read one thing here, please ensure you read these before posting. Summary here:

1. Over 18s only
2. We are here to discuss making chastity work — this is a practical subreddit, check the fantasy at the door.
3. Don't assume identity and there is no One True Way.
4. "Lock up" suggestions threads are not allowed
5. Be safe, sane and risk aware.
6. No bigotry, bullying or drama
7. No soliciting
8. No spam or paid services – please see our wiki for details on self-promotion.
9. Do not request medical diagnoses.
10. Genuine posts only — no posting for engagement

Additional information on our rules, especially the self-promotion rules, can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/mod/chastitytraining/wiki/index/rules-details

User Flair

We do not allow user-assigned flair. We do assign flair to people we have noticed have been consistently positive contributors to the community, but this isn't necessarily an endorsement of their opinions. We also assign flair to representatives / owners of chastity device businesses who are selling their own designs and respect other's intellectual property. If this is you, please message the mods.

Detailed FAQ

Here are our longer form threads covering some of the major topics in some detail can now be found in the wiki

https://www.reddit.com/r/chastitytraining/wiki/index

Female Chastity Guides

We don't have a lot of AFAB users so here are some useful links for femme style belts

Small Keyholder FAQ

Adjusting wired chastity belts

Modifying the cheap solid chinese belts

Quick FAQ

These are some quick answers for common questions that come up on this board:

What should I get for my first device?

Determining proper fit is extremely difficult and an error prone process. While girth and length can be measured for (please refer to any of the numerous measuring guides), ring size cannot. Fortunately commodity cages usually come with multiple rings. Do not purchase these cages from an online chastity shop. Purchase them from one of the large online marketplaces such as Amazon, AliEx, Temu, eBay, etc. Get one that isn't too unusual and has four or more rings in the 40 to 56 mm range. This device is to provide you feedback on your measurements and it is highly likely that it won't fit properly.

Are catheters safe?

No. Let me first describe how catheters are done professionally. Catheters you get at the hospital are single-use devices and patients are monitored with a rigorous protocol. They are sterile when opened and there is strict quality control in every aspect of their production, packaging, and shipping. And they are fed all the way to the bladder.

The one that came with your $20 Chinese cage meets the standard that it is probably water tight. And I promise you the company actually making them is not making them to be used as catheters. And they aren't being handled that way.

But regardless, they are still dangerous. The urethra is very thin and it is easy to inflame it and puncture it. And these devices don't go all the way to the bladder which means the end of them rubs against the urethra and can cause irritation and bleeding. And UTIs.

UTIs are no joke. They can and do lead to sepsis which can and does lead to death. We have quite a few stories from people who spent weeks in the hospital from UTIs from chastity use. We are lacking the stories of the people who weren't as lucky.

And just so you know, I'm not someone who freaks out about putting things in my urethra. I am an avid tetherspout user and after having done a very deep dive on the risks of such devices and I have decided that they are within my risk tolerance. I would never touch a catheter.

Are flat cages safe?

They are less safe than not wearing a flat cage. But there is one very concrete risk. If a flat cage is obviously too short for you, you are going to be turning your urethra into a tangled mess of Christmas lights. How is urine supposed to get through that? When urine can't make it through, when there's back pressure, you're facing the possibility of getting a UTI (I had one myself from a non-kink related activity) as well as other issues such as urethritis or prostatitis. You don't want anything that has to do with your junk that has titis at the end.

My scrotum feels like it's on fire

This is almost certainly caused by your ball gap being too small. Please search this subreddit for ball gap. It's a common problem. Most plastic cages can have the bottom their rings bent away from the cage using boiling water. Again, please search this subreddit for more details.

How do I stop my cage from being pushed away?

There are two ways this can happen. The key to determining which one is happening is how things sit when you return to flaccid. If everything is where it's supposed to be, it's due to erectile tissue growing behind (proximal to) the ring. In this case, you may find excess scrotum on the other (distal) side of the ring but your glans should be where it is supposed to be. Straps may help in certain situations but for the most part, this isn't a cage fit issue, it's an aesthetics issue — it shouldn't be uncomfortable at all.

The other cause is growth on the far (distal) side of the ring pushing the cage down the shaft, and upon returning to flaccid, you'll find your glans isn't in place. This is usually addressable with a smaller ring or straps.

Will my body adapt / is it supposed to hurt?

In my experience the body doesn't "adapt". Any discomfort is due to an improper fit. The ball gap is a common culprit as ball gap issues don't feel like ball gap issues — they usually feel like ring issues.

A proper fitting cage should be forget-its-on comfortable. While "erect" from arousal, it should be almost pleasurable. Nocturnal erections shouldn't be painful although depending on your fit, they might feel very tight. Note that unlike arousal-based erections, nocturnal erections don't come with pain desensitization.

When will my erections stop?

You can train yourself to not have arousal-based erections — this has nothing to do with wearing a cage. But such erections have a semi-conscious aspect to them. Think of such training as akin to those people who have extreme control over their abs or can wiggle their ears — developing conscious control over something that you generally can't control. Nocturnal erections are a different story. If you stop having those, you've broken something.

Will someone notice my "chastity bulge"?

Almost certainly not. I personally have been caged for over two years with young kids at home. And there's something interesting about young kids: they like to hug and they have no filter. If they had noticed, they would have said something. But basically people aren't looking at your junk and hugs are whole-body experiences. For the same reason people don't notice their wallet being lifted out of their pockets when getting bumped into, people don't notice something not feeling quite right during a close hug.

If you're worried about it, perhaps don't wear a speedo or bike shorts but for the most part, it's all in your head — you're wearing what you think of as a sex toy and you're hyperaware of it.

What does a chastity device do?

In the main chastity devices are designed to prevent penetrative sex and direct masturbation. For some folk they will also prevent orgasm but this is highly dependent on the person and the type of device. The more concentrated and direct stimulation you need to get off, then the more likely a chastity device will also prevent orgasm for you. However, most people find that with the common ball-trap chastity devices they can use a vibrator or even just the small amount of travel the device allows in order to orgasm. A rarer number of folk even find they can achieve prostate orgasms if needed. If you're looking to prevent orgasms you'll find that a device like a full belt may be necessary.

Do chastity devices prevent erections?

Not usually. They don't prevent erections for most folk. A small number of people do report that the smaller more restricting cages (especially narrower cages) do prevent erections, preventing the penis from engorging sufficiently but this doesn't appear to be the case for most people. Most people will still have night time erections as normal.

Will chastity cause my dick to shrink?

We have a longer form thread covering this. But the short answer is no.

The penis is not muscular and will not undergo muscular atrophy when unused for a period but compression will push any fluid out of the tissues. The most common observation is that after removal of the cage everything will return to normal within 24hours (and maybe a couple of erections). Even those who have been locked for more the 6 months report this. Worth noting that people who no longer experience any erections at any time (not even during the night) can experience "penile atrophy". This is a specific, serious medical condition with the number of health and lifestyle causes (though none of them are chastity), and you should see a doctor if you are experiencing this.

Will chastity cause impotence?

Assuming your cage is well fitted and hasn't caused an injury, chastity does not appear to cause issues with erections or orgasms. In fact many folk report they orgasm more easily after periods of being locked. And one of the most common issues with long term comfort are night time erections. That said there are some very rare reports from long term lockees saying they experienced some ED issues after being released. Though it is not clear to what extent this was due to chastity, age or some other factor.

Is chastity safe?

Chastity play is not a risk free activity. There are certainly reports of both temporary and permanent injuries on this subreddit. There is a little more info about possible injuries in the sizing and fitting guide above. Here also are some views from urologists;

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/209960/can-locking-my-penis-in-a-chastity-device-cause-longterm-damage/

https://savage.love/lovecast/2019/12/10/lock-him-up-chastity-cages-with-dr-ashley-winter/

https://www.metrotimes.com/news/should-i-loosen-my-chastity-belt-2181050

https://www.reddit.com/r/chastitytraining/comments/1e448e4/urologists_checked_off_cage_wifes_thrilled/

But it's worth noting we don't see a huge influx of guys reporting injuries. It's on your head to investigate the risk and assess if you're willing to take those.

How do I make my chastity device more secure?

All ball-trap style chastity belts can be escaped. A penis is very soft and pliable and with time or water or lube (or some combination of all three) you can remove yourself out the back of any chastity device. If you're using a belt style devices the mass produced ones often have enough play to be pushed aside. If you want security that prevents this then the only options are a custom fitted belt style device, get a genital piercing secured device, or a tetherspout. Other than those options willpower and the honour system are what's needed

Will chastity increase my risk of prostate cancer?

There is currently no evidence for this. There are 2 research papers on this topic; one in 2006 and a follow up in 2016 by the same group, which appears to confirm the initial paper. What they show is that men who report that they ejaculate most frequently appear to have a modestly reduced risk for the least severe prostate cancers. They show the protective effect is strongest for men who report high ejaculation frequenct prior to age 30 but there is protective effect up to age 50. It is worth noting that self-report data for medical/lifestyle issues is often poor quality. No causal mechanism has been demonstrated.

So we do not know if changes in ejaculation frequency change people's risk (i.e. reducing frequency increase cancer risk or the opposite). Neither studies looked at this issue. And neither study was designed to discover the causal mechanism. From what we know right now, it could be the case that ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk are mutually linked to some third lifestyle or genetic feature which drives both. Right now, it is not possible to give any evidence supported advice about the effect of increasing or reducing your ejaculation frequency.

Can I remain locked while swimming or in the shower?

Cages made from steel, nylon and silicon are all safe for water. So generally you don't have to worry about the cage itself. Most cages today use cheap brass barrel locks. Brass does not rust or corrode in water. As such, brass is generally water safe too and you should have no issues with showering and drying. Brass can develop a black tarnish (and in some rarer cases can lose the alloyed zinc and become weaker). And maybe in some very, very rare cases sufficient tarnish might foul a lock. If you're worried keep an eye out for any tarnish and polish/wipe it off should you see any.

How do I find a keyholder?

The quickest and most direct method is to pay for it. Plenty of prodommes offer this as a service and that is worth considering. That said, most keyholders are just people's partners and you meet a partner in the usual ways. There is no better advice beyond those that apply to normal dating. Try the apps, get out there, go to events etc... You might have some more success going to kink events like clubs and munches. People there may be more aware of and already well predisposed towards chastity. But there's also a lot to be said for just dating normally and being honest about your kinks as early as possible. Good luck!

If you want to use a professional online keyholder, use a platform like OnlyFans as it will ensure the identity of the person. Any domme contacting you through DM is almost certainly a scammer.

Can I wear my chastity device through airport security?

Most airports have both metal detectors and back scatter full body scanners. Almost certainly the metal detectors will be tuned to pick up something as small as a metal chastity cage. Back scatter scanners will pick up both metal and plastic cages. If you set off the metal detector you will at a minimum be pulled aside and asked to explain and you may be strip searched if your answers are not deemed adequate. In the latter case this may take so long you miss your flight. People using fully plastic devices have reported making it through security without issue, likely as whatever shows up via backscatter doesn't look like a concern. Perhaps most importantly, chastity devices are kink/sex toys and it is not acceptable to involve non-consenting people in your kinks, and doubly unacceptable if you're doing this because you feel being "found out" would be exciting/arousing. The most sensible thing to do is to take off your device before passing security and then put it back on immediately afterwards. All airports have toilet facilities either side of security.

Additionally we have asked TSA subreddit. Balance of responses from those flaired as TSA employees appears to be; "Please don't do this"

https://www.reddit.com/r/tsa/comments/1f45esy/serious_question_about_wearing_chastity_devices/

Help I've lost my key and I'm pretending I'm "permanently" locked in my cage

By and large chastity devices are not all that secure and if you're a determined adult with access to the internet it shouldn't be that hard to figure out how to resolve this situation. But just in case...

1. Lets say you've accidentally (or deliberately) glued the keyway of the lock shut trying to get the remains of a snapped key out of the lock; First use an appropriate solvent to dissolve the glue. Acetone to dissolve superglue for instance. Once the glue is gone you can pick the lock or get an alternative key from another cage and use that. The keys are very often cross compatible as the locks are cheap bullshit. Lock Picking Lawyer on youtube also has a guide to picking cheap chastity cage locks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uEYveSssok
2. Perhaps the lock is stuck for some other reason, like a broken key is in the keyway, then you can drill out the lock. Get a dremmel or similar rotary tool and carefully drill down through the centre of the lock. They are mostly brass so any tempered steel drill bit will make pretty short work of the barrel. You can then replace with another of the cheap crappy brass furniture locks.
3. If you don't care about the cage. Slide some amount of heavy material in to the cage to protect your bits (say some folded denim). Then using a dremmel or small hacksaw saw through the pins or lock housing at the top. You don't actually have to saw too near your bits if you're only attacking the lock housing or pins

If you're worried about sawing/drilling near your sensitive bits then consider going to the ER, they will have had a fair bit of practice releasing penises from items they shouldn't have been jammed in.

If you know of some other threads or resources that we should add to the FAQ please comment to add these below

This subreddit has always been about asking questions, getting answers, and sharing insights but we recognize that people also want to form a connection. So that's what this thread is about. In this thread, we are suspending one aspect of rule 7 — you can make "chat friends". Feel free to post discord servers or the like or solicit for other chastity users to DM you. This is not a place to find keyholders, solicit for subs, or share chaster links and all other rules remain in force.

This used to be weekly but beyond the first few weeks, there hasn't been enough demand to make it a weekly post. We're still playing with it. Perhaps we'll just leave this up for the entire month.