Masturbation is usually harmless and is even healthy for a man’s body and his sex life. But the penis is more delicate than you think – can a penis actually break during masturbation or even during rough sex? Believe it or not – yes! While it’s not exactly like having a broken bone, having a broken penis is a serious and painful condition. Here’s what you need to know and how you can avoid it! [Watch the Video]
What Is A Penile Fracture?
A man’s member doesn’t break in the same sense that a bone would break, because there aren’t any bones in the penis. However, it can fracture and here’s what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it:
During an erection, the penis is engorged with blood. If the penis is bent suddenly or forcefully while it’s engorged, the trauma may rupture the lining of one of the two muscular cylinders in the penis responsible for erections — resulting in a penis fracture.
When The Penis Can Break
The penis can fracture during especially vigorous masturbation, but it can also happen during rough sex or when engaging in awkward sex positions. A man is generally careful with his package, especially since the scrotum and testicles are so sensitive, but it is especially important to be careful with the penis as well.
What Indicates A Fracture?
A fracture isn’t something you’re going to miss or think you “might” have. This is something you (and your partner if you’re having sex) are going to be aware of immediately. A fracture is characterized by a loud “cracking” sound, followed by extreme pain and the immediate loss of erection, as well as a deep, dark bruise that spreads over the area very quickly.
What To Do In The Event Of A Fracture
If you’ve experienced a fracture of the penis during masturbation or during sex, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Don’t bother driving yourself to the hospital or even having your partner drive you to the emergency room. In a case like this, you will probably want to dial 911.
A doctor will give you pain medicine right away and will most likely recommend some type of surgery to correct the problem. If you leave a penile fracture alone (but chances are, you’re not going to want to see if it “goes away on it’s own”), it can create more serious problems such as having a malformed penis or experiencing erectile dysfunction – being unable to get or maintain an erection at all.
Don’t be embarassed about going to the doctor or seeking medical attention for a problem like this – your doctor has seen it all before and you’ll be very sorry if you didn’t go get treated just because you were embarrassed.
How To Prevent A Fracture
While some people like rough sex and enjoy the feeling of pain mixed with pleasure, you need to be especially aware of pain during sex. If something hurts, don’t do it! Communicate with your partner and let them know what you like and don’t like – and what feels painful to you. If something starts to hurt, stop immediately and find something else that is fun and pleasurable! Sex toys such as a masturbation sleeve – which is soft and usually made of jelly-like silicone – can feel fantastic and it’s very unlikely that you will get a fracture if you pleasure yourself this way.
More Common Injuries During Masturbation
While penis fractures are actually quite rare, there are more common injuries that can happen during masturbation:
- Chafing from not using lube. Lube is inexpensive and available almost everywhere. Not only will a good water or silicone based lube help it feel better and give you better orgasms, it will also help keep you from chafing!
- Skin reactions from using lotions, shampoos and other products not designed for use on the genitals. While it may seem like a good idea to just use the shampoo or soap in the shower when you want to do your business, the fragrances and additives in these products can easily irritate the sensitive skin of the penis. Play it safe and use lube!
- Bruising or soreness if masturbating very hard. Again, if it hurts, stop! You don’t have to masturbate hard or fast to have a great experience. Go easy on yourself so you don’t hurt anything.
- Urinary tract infections, especially when using products like lotions or soaps not designed to be using while masturbating. The products can easily get into the urethra through the opening in the head of the penis and can not only burn or irritate the penis, they can also cause nasty infections that require a doctor’s care and a prescription for antibiotics to get rid of. Again, proper lubrication really makes a difference when masturbating.