Can a Mouse Cable Fit Into the Urethra?

Recently, a news story has been making people uneasy: a young man was discovered by a female internet friend's boyfriend during a rendezvous. The boyfriend and his accomplices then forced a 1.2-meter-long mouse cable into the young man's urethra and up into his bladder. Everyone is astonished by the cruelty of the act—just how heartless does one have to be to insert such a long and thick cable into someone's urethra? In fact, urethral or bladder foreign bodies are not uncommon in urological surgery, and there are many objects more bizarre than a mouse cable that have been found.



What Can Be Inserted Into the Urethra?



The variety of objects that have been found in bladders is staggering: plastic tubes, ballpoint pens, candles, rubber bands, thermometers, hairpins, needles, contraceptive rings, intrauterine devices, remnants of broken balloon catheters, eels, garlic sprouts, leek leaves, and more. Now, thanks to the news story mentioned earlier, mouse cables can be added to the list.



The vast majority of bladder foreign bodies enter through the external urethral orifice, and most are self-inserted by patients (primarily male). The very thought of inserting such bizarre objects into the urethra is enough to send shivers down most people's spines. So why would anyone do it? The main reasons are as follows:



1. **Sexual Psychological Disorders**: Mostly seen in young and middle-aged adults who lack sexual knowledge and seek pleasure by inserting objects into the urethra. Some may be curious after reading related books, watching pornographic videos, or browsing web pages and insert various items into the ureathra. Others may inadvertently cause bladder foreign bodies through improper masturbation techniques.

2. **Some men with sexual weakness or erectile dysfunction** hope to achieve some aphrodisiac effects or pleasure through the stimulation of foreign objects.

3. **Certain patients, particularly elderly males**, insert objects to alleviate urinary tract narrow or difficulty urinating caused by urethritis or an enlarged prostate.

4. **In some cases, individuals are victims of pranks or violence**, such as the young man in the news story.

5. **A few patients have mental disorders** that lead to such actions.

6. **In rare cases, female patients have foreign objects inserted into their urethra by their sexual partners**.

7. **Some women accidentally slide thermometers into their bladder** while measuring their temperature to track ovulation and are unable to retrieve them on their own.

8. **A small number of cases are iatrogenic** (occurring during medical procedures), including reports of intrauterine devices migrating into the bladder.



What Do Foreign Bodies Cause?



After a urethral or bladder foreign body incident, patients may experience varying degrees of urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, and other urinary tract irritation symptoms. Some may have visible hematuria (blood in the urine) or interrupted urine flow. Others may develop per urethral inflammation or abscesses, bladder stones, or even systemic infection symptoms.



If a foreign body remains in the urethra or bladder for a long time, it can lead to internal fistula formation due to inflammation and infection. If the fistula connects with the intestines, patients may experience pneumaturia (gas in the urine) or the passage of food residue. If the urethra connects with the vagina or uterus, urinary incontinence or leakage may occur. Some patients may also experience lower abdominal pain.



Diagnosis is generally straightforward for patients with a history of urethral or bladder foreign bodies. However, some patients may delay seeking medical care due to shame or insecurity, or may not disclose the truth to medical staff, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. In the news story, the young man waited for several days before seeking help, causing himself unnecessary suffering.



Getting It In Is Easy, Getting It Out Is Hard



In cases of urethral or bladder foreign bodies, the priority is to remove the object as soon as possible. Do not attempt to do this yourself; instead, seek immediate medical attention. After diagnosis through ultrasound, X-rays, urethroscopy, or cystoscopy, doctors will choose the appropriate method for removal based on the size, shape, and location of the foreign body.



For anterior urethral foreign bodies, urethroscopy or long forceps can be used for removal. For posterior urethral foreign bodies, they can be removed via urethroscopy or pushed into the bladder for cystoscopic extraction. For bladder foreign bodies, if cystoscopy is not feasible, a suprapubic cystotomy can be performed. Depending on the severity of bladder infection, a suprapubic cystostomy may also be necessary. Some patients may require indwelling catheters for 7 to 14 days and antimicrobial therapy. Most patients have a good prognosis, although a small number may experience complications such as urethral stricture, wound infection, residual foreign bodies, stones, or urinary fistulae.



Speaking of catheters, they are actually the most common "foreign bodies" in urethras and bladders, but their insertion is for medical purposes and must be performed by trained medical personnel under strict sterile conditions.



Lastly, to explain why a mouse cable can be inserted: typical mouse cables are about 3 millimeters in diameter, while adult male catheters are approximately 3.8 to 5 millimeters in diameter. So, in terms of size, a mouse cable is slightly smaller. Of course, those who harm others out of malice are unlikely to be as gentle as medical professionals.



In summary, inserting foreign objects into the urethra is a dangerous act that can cause physical harm and psychological distress. There are many ways to seek pleasure for yourself or your partner, and equally diverse legal methods to deal with rivals. Avoid such extreme actions at all costs.