Is it possible to "break" your penis?
Answer From Matthew (Matt) J. Ziegelmann, M.D.
Yes. It's called a penis fracture. This isn't a common injury. But trauma to an erect penis can cause it.
A penis fracture differs from other fractures in the body. That's because the penis has no bones. Instead, the penis becomes firm during an erection when two spongy tubes on the top side of the penis fill with blood. Those tubes are called the corpora cavernosa. When the tubes fill with blood, their tough outer lining, called the tunica albuginea, stretches. If an erect penis is bent suddenly or with force, the trauma can tear the tunica albuginea of one or both tubes. That can cause a penis fracture.
Most often, the trauma happens during sex. For example, during vaginal sex the penis may slip out of the vagina and thrust against the pelvis. Rarely, a penis fracture also can happen due to aggressive masturbation. Or it can result from a cultural practice called taghaandan. That involves pushing down the top of an erect penis with force to stop an erection.
With a penis fracture, the penis shaft often bulges and changes color. This can make the penis look somewhat like an eggplant.
Symptoms of a penis fracture can include:
- Instant pain in the penis.
- A popping or cracking sound.
- Fast loss of an erection.
- Swelling in the penis shaft.
- A change in the penis shaft's color due to bleeding under the skin.
Sometimes the tube that drains urine from the body is damaged as well. This tube is called the urethra. Blood at the opening of the penis or in the urine may mean the urethra was injured.
A penis fracture requires medical care right away. Often, a healthcare professional can find out if the penis is fractured by doing a physical exam. But blood, urine or imaging tests also may be needed. Most often, the treatment for a fractured penis is prompt surgery to repair the damage.
Without treatment, a penis fracture might lead to a curved penis. Or it could prevent a person from getting or keeping erections firm enough for sex. This is called erectile dysfunction.
Trauma also may cause other injuries to the penis that don't result in a true fracture. For example, the large veins of the penis that are within tissue that's just under the skin could get injured. This can cause symptoms that look like those of a penis fracture, including swelling and a change in color.
With
Matthew (Matt) J. Ziegelmann, M.D.
Show References
- What is penile trauma? American Urological Association. https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/p/penile-trauma. Accessed Feb. 21, 2024.
- Walls RM, et al., eds. Genitourinary trauma. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 21, 2024.
- Guzzo TJ, et al. Urinary and genital trauma. In: Penn Clinical Manual of Urology. 3rd ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 21, 2024.
- Runyon MS. Blunt genitourinary trauma: Initial evaluation and management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 21, 2024.
- Genital trauma. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/genitourinary-tract-trauma/genital-trauma. Accessed Feb. 21, 2024.
- Ziegelmann MJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 22, 2024.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/expert-answers/penis-fracture/faq-20058154