Is a Chastity Cage for You? Experts Explain the Kinky Locktober Practice

This story originally appeared on Out. Autumn is here, and that means cozy sweaters, fall leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and orgasm denial.Locktober — a portmanteau of lock and October — is an annual month-long celebration of chastity within the kink and BDSM community where people challenge themselves to stay locked in male chastity devices for as long as possible. It’s like a literal cuffing season, but you’re cuffing your dick instead of trying to lock down a cold-weather romantic partner.In a culture that is all about instant gratification, it’s hard to imagine that people willingly engage in something that is all about denial, but Locktober is a kinky way to play with power dynamics, self-discipline, and edging.But what is a male chastity cage, how can you use it safely, and can they be sexy? To find out, we turned to expert-level kinksters who have a wealth of experience when it comes to exploring male chastity.What is a male chastity cage?A male chastity cage is a wearable device that puts a literal cage or covering, usually made out of metal or silicone, around the penis and can be locked closed with a key.“It's a toy that covers a non-erect penis and locks on; it's generally like a locking cock ring with a cage attached,” Good Vibes Sexologist Dr. Carol Queen tells Out. “Some varieties make it hard or uncomfortable for the person wearing it to get an erection. Think of a chastity belt variant for a penis.”A chastity cage usually fits around the base of the penis and behind the testicles, and covers the shaft from root to tip in order to prevent “someone from directly accessing their penis for sexual pleasure,” says Topher Cusumano, a sex and sexual health writer who produces shows about queer sex and kink as the cofounder of Daddy TV.“Traditionally, chastity has been a popular part of BDSM dynamics, where a dom acts as the ‘keyholder,’ controlling when their submissive partner gets access to their penis,” Cusumano explains. “B