Is there really such a thing as a fractured penis?I heard this can happen during sex, but how can you break it if there aren't any bones in it?-- "Dave"
Although a penis fracture may sound as implausible as the threats of hairy palms and masturbation-induced blindness long propagated by nuns and anxious mothers, it is actually possible to "break" your penis. Although colloquialisms imply otherwise, there is no bone in the penis, so this term is a bit of a misnomer. So what gets broken?
The penis is composed of cylinders of spongy erectile tissue known as the corpora cavernosa. These tissues are wrapped in a thick sheath called the tunica albuginea. All of these structures are then surrounded by another tough, thick membrane that keeps everything lined up. During an erection, the corpora cavernosa flood with blood while these thick sheathes keep everything from swelling, creating a high-pressure situation that puts the hard in hard-on.
A hard penis is, functionally speaking, generally a good thing because otherwise penetration is rather tricky. This rigidity can become a painful problem, however, when the penis meets another hard structure at the wrong angle. If this occurs the tunica albuginea can tear, causing a sudden loss of erection and excruciating pain. Often patients also report hearing a loud "snap" not unlike the sound of a breaking bone, making the term "penis fracture" seem rather appropriate. As blood escapes from the corpora cavernosa into the surrounding tissue the penis swells, creating what urologists like to call the "eggplant deformity," which looks exactly as gross as it sounds.
According to a 2001 article from the journal Urology, it takes 1500 mmHg of pressure to exceed the tensile strength of the tunica albuginea. Fortunately, most men don't go knocking their members around with that much force on a regular basis, so penile fractures are fairly rare. Several situations can, however, put this much pressure on a penis (being faced with Jessica Alba in lingerie is not, incidentally, among them). Most penile fractures occur during intercourse, often involving "female superior" position (that's medical jargon for "girl on top"). This position leaves the penis vulnerable as the woman's full weight is available to come crashing down on it at a potentially awkward angle.To the delight of nuns everywhere, overly aggressive masturbation is another cause for penile fracture. The Cornell Center for Male Reproductive Medicine also reports some cases of men undergoing penile fracture after rolling over onto their erect penis while sleeping.
No matter how you break it down, a broken penis is no fun for anyone. Male readers can breathe a sigh of relief, however, because this condition is not permanent. In further good news, repair doesn't involve wearing a penis cast, which, fun as it might be to have your friends sign it, could make bathing, urinating and a number of other activities rather difficult. Although nobody's going to be taking a Sharpie to your wounded soldier, a penile fracture is still an urgent situation and requires prompt surgical intervention to remove the escaped blood and repair the defect. Occasionally, the injury can involve the urethra, which requires more extensive surgery. After surgical repair, most urologists recommend patients abstain from sex for about six weeks. A minority of patients will experience complications such as curvature of the penis caused by scar tissue and, very infrequently, erectile dysfunction. For the vast majority of men with penile fracture, however, after proper treatment and healing time the once-wounded soldier is soon ready to stand at attention!
Anne Mills is a Cavalier Daily Health & Sexuality Columnist. She can be reached at mills@cavalierdaily.com or through the Sex & Balances submission page at cavalierdaily.com/sex.asp. This column should be used for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute advice from your doctor.
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