Although the thought of breaking one's penis is painful to imagine, it is well within the realm of possibilities. The correct term for it is 'penile fracture,' but it's a misnomer since the human penis doesn't have a bone. Penile fracture refers to the rupture of the tunica albuginea, the fibrous envelope of the corpora cavernos or the erectile tissues of the penis. In recent news, a man from Uttar Pradesh, India tragically snapped his penis in half when his child jumped over his morning erection to wake him up. It's not a common problem, and most of them go underreported due to its embarrassing nature. But penile fractures can be a serious injury, causing sexual problems and voiding difficulties.

What is Penile Fracture?

The tunica albuginea is a tough fibrous tissue that encases the corpos caversonum of the human penis. When the penis gets erect, the corpus swells, causing stretching and thinning of the tunica. In this state, if a blunt force is applied to the penis, the tunica albuginea can tear, causing blood to leak and the penis to "break."

Cross section of the penis (Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Mcstrother)

What Are The Common Causes of Penile Fracture?

The human penis can be fractured due to many reasons, and it always happens when the penis is erect, and the person is aroused. Commonest causes include blunt trauma during sexual intercourse, rolling in bed with an erect penis, vigorous masturbation, noctural penile manipulation and falling on to an erect penis.

Risky Sex Positions

There is a greater chance of penile injury in the woman on top position since it bends the penis in a forced manner. The position gives the reins of control in the hands of the woman, who may not realise if the penis is positioned properly. Having sex in the doggy style position increases chances of the erect penis colliding against the pubic bone or the perineum of the partner.

Manhandling The Penis

Roughly handling the erect penis during masturbation can also lead to penile injury. Vigorous masturbation or even jelqing, a technique rumoured to increase the length of the penis can cause tears in the tissues and lead to penile fracture.

Sexual Excitement

Fumbling with clothes in the dark in the midst of sexual excitement is another big cause of penile injury. The hurried acts of wearing and removing clothes can put pressure on the erect organ, causing it to break or snap. Even having sex in crammed up spaces can be risky for men. A 2011 study revealed that having sex in a stressful situation can also lead to penile injuries.

Extramarital Affairs

A study also saw a link between extramarital sex and penile injury since it is carried out in a hurried, clandestine manner, which increases the risk of penile fractures.

Viagra

Penile injury is commonly seen as a complication of Viagra or sildenafil usage. Since the drug helps the penis to remain erect for a longer time, the risk of injuries also goes up.

Symptoms of Penile Fracture

A sound: An audible snap can be heard the second the penile fracture takes place. In 85 percent of the cases of the injury, patients hear a popping sound followed by pain.

Pain: The snapping sound is followed by intense pain in the groin.

Eggplant deformity: The penis fracture leads to what is called an "eggplant deformity" where the organ starts resembling an eggplant due to swelling and the bleeding. It is seen in 65 percent of the cases.

Losing erection: The injury immediately leads to detumescence or subsiding erection. The symptom is seen in 95 percent of the cases.

Bleeding through the urethra: The injury causes the blood vessels in the tissues to rupture, causing blood to flow into the urethra.

Treatment for Penile Fracture

In the early 1980s, conservative treatments were used to treat a broken penis, but they were all controversial. Using sedatives, bandaging the penis, applying ice and prescribing anti-inflammatory agents were the earliest treatment methods, which also increased complications in the long run. These days, doctors consider more invasive methods aimed at resolving the problem with minimal complications.

In case of a suspected penile fracture, the person should immediately seek out treatment from a urologist. If treatment is delayed, it could lead to long-term complications such as permanent erectile dysfunction.

(References: Current Management of Penile Fracture: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review; Penile Fracture: Presentation and Management; Penile Fracture: Our Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 01:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).