Polyembolokoilamania: Self-insertion of transistor radio antenna in male urethra

Abstract

Though self-insertion of a foreign body in the male urethra is an infrequent urologic emergency, a weird variety of self-inserted foreign bodies have been reported. Most of these are attributed to autoerotic stimulation, a consequence of mental illness or the result of drug intoxication. We report an unusual case of a 65-year-old African man who self-inserted a broken transistor radio antenna into his urethra to serve as an improvised ‘itchstick’ to ease a bothersome itchy urethral condition. The foreign body subsequently migrated proximally out of reach. He presented a week after with urethral bleeding following nocturnal penile erections and we describe his evaluation and the challenge of retrieval. The reasons for self-inserting objects into the urethra may be as varied as the foreign bodies themselves and may include objects being used as an improvised ‘itchstick’ for itchy urethral conditions. The urologist's creative tendencies will often be required in safely removing these objects.

Case report: Removal of a big sewing needle from a boy's urethra from the skin for the first time

“…Self-insertion of foreign bodies into the urethra is part of some disorders referred to as polyembolokoilamania in which patients’ inserts foreign bodies into body orifices for diverse reasons which may be psychopathological or for other reasons include urological procedures, self-stimulation, erection enhancement, attention, curiosity and contraception. 5 Many methods have been used for foreign body removal including manual extraction, endoscopic retrieval, open cystotomy, and voiding to expel the foreign body and the most common method of removing a foreign body in the distal urethra is manual extraction using external pressure into the urethra by milking and endoscopic methods have been used for extraction of foreign body in the proximal urethra. Endoscopic methods are useful when proximal tip of foreign body is accessible through urethra otherwise it increased risk of urethral injury.…”

Urethral polyembolokoilamania: not a bread-and-butter issue

“…Polyembolokoilamania (‘PEKamania’) is a group of disorders characterised by the self-insertion of objects into body orifices. 1 Those who practice urethral PEKamania occasionally present to urological departments with potentially severe consequences that can prove fatal. Objects reported to have been inserted into urethras include pens, pencils, toothbrushes, wires, household batteries, light bulbs, vegetables, plants and even leeches and animal bones.…”