A VIDEO has laid bare the painful reality of penis fractures – from what causes members to ‘break’, to initial agonising symptoms and the sex positions most likely to cause it.
The nightmarish injury can occur when happen during “acrobatic” sexual positions or even when playing sports, anatomy experts revealed.
Research shows they’re more likely to occur at specific times of the year.
Now, a video produced by the Institute of Human Anatomy details the eye-watering reality of penis fractures.
Jonathan Bennion, who co-founded the institute in 2012 and teaches anatomy and physiology at multiple schools, said he got asked by students all the time about whether it’s possible to break
“You can most definitely break a penis and this is called a penile fracture.”
But “contrary to one of the slang terms used for an erect penis, there are no bones in penis and so a penile fracture is not like a typical bone fracture”, Jonathan went on.
He gave a quick rundown of penile anatomy and what actually ‘breaks’, showing a cross section of a real penis from a donated cadaver to demonstrate.
Penises are made up of two bodies of erectile tissue called corpora cavernosa that fill with blood during an erection, as well as the corpus spongiosum – containing the urethra, which urine and seminal fluid flows through.
What actually breaks in penile fractures is the internal connective tissue called the tunica albuginea, which surrounds the erectile tissue of the penis.
When blood fills the penis during an erection, the tunica albuginea stretches and tightens to maintain its shape and stop the member from expanding further.
Erections place tension on this connective tissue so this is the area that breaks during a penis fracture – making a distinct cracking, popping or snapping sound.
In many cases, this intimate injury is a result of what Jonathan called “an aiming issue”.
“You miss the target you were going for and you were going for and hit an immovable object, or in other words, another part of the body that was not meant to receive the penis,” he explained.
“Typically this occurs during vigorous sexual activity because there has to be some level of vigorous force and/or velocity to damage the penis.
“Or it could possibly happen with some other blunt force trauma to the erect penis.”
It’s even common practice in some cultures to forcefully bend a penis in order to make an erection go away, Jonathan went on.
While that might indeed make an erection go away, it may also leave you with nasty injuries to your private parts that need to be seen to immediately.
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Sudden or forceful bending of an erect todger will essentially tear or rupture the tunica albuginea.
Chances are you’ll immediately feel if some adventurous or acrobatic bonking has resulted in a penile fracture.
According to Jonathan, signs and symptoms tend to be “unmistakable”.
“People may hear a popping or a cracking sound, combined with sudden and severe pain.
“This is accompanied by a rapid loss of the erection, with swelling and bruising of the penis.”
If you’ve suffered a break, your penis may also look “deformed” or “abnormally bent”, Jonathan added.
According to Jonathan, penile fractures are more likely to occur during “vigorous movements or unusually angled or acrobatic positions”.
Experts have previously revealed some of the most dangerous sex positions for penile fractures.
They include:
A study published in the Advances in Urology journal revealed that any ‘woman on top’ position is the most common sexual arrangement associated with penile fractures – causing over half of all breaks.
In comparison, ‘doggy style’ caused 29 per cent, and ‘missionary’ was responsible for 21 per cent of fractures.
Urologists at General Hospital of West Nusa Tenggara Province issued a warning that penile fractures and injuries to the urethra can occur when an erect penis hits the perineum or pubic bone of their partner during sex in certain positions.
They added that penis fractures can also happen during masturbation or even by turning over in bed at a funny angle.
Though breaking your penis – during sex or other activities – may be embarrassing, it’s important not to delay treatment.
If you suspect you have a penile fracture, seek medical attention immediately, Jonathan stressed.
“Delaying treatment could lead to complications such as erectile dysfunction, permanent abnormal penile curvature and continued pain during erections.”
Surgery is normally required to repair penile fractures, the anatomy expert said.
A surgeon will make an incision in the penis to access the tear and stitch the tunica albuginea back together, as well as the urethra if needed.
How might you avoid a penile fracture in the first place?
This can be hard to do, as the unfortunate injury tends to be an “accident of passion”.
Jonathan advised taking care during acrobatic sexual positions and stopping if something feels awkward or painful.
He also advised avoiding “situations where the erect penis might be accidentally bent or struck”, i.e. don’t play sports with an erection.
If you’re hoping to get rid of an erection, Jonanthan advised doing some exercise like jumping jacks to redirect blood to other areas of the body instead of bending the penis.
Research has shown that penile fractures might be more likely to happen during Christmas.
Couples get more adventurous in the bedroom in the festive season, the researchers said – raising the risk of a Christmas cracker.
Dr Nikos Pyrgidis, from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, said: “Penile fractures seem to occur in periods when couples are enjoying moments of relaxation.
“The intimacy and euphoria of these moments might lead to more frequent sex and maybe more wild sex.
“They also seem to occur during sex in extramarital affairs and unusual locations.”
