Sex.co.nz

Thanks to “Grey’s Anatomy” (Season 5 Episode 13), it’s the question on everyone’s minds.  No matter what your mother told you, the answer is yes – penises can break, but it doesn’t happen all that often.

Penises are remarkably bendy.  They can be twisted and contorted into a variety of positions without damage.  But the one thing they can’t do is survive being rammed against a hard surface when erect.  (Luckily, flaccid penises are safe from fractures.)

If you're a guy, you know you’ve broken your penis when you hear a popping or cracking sound and your erect penis suddenly flops.  The penis will look misshapen, almost like a boomerang, and may swell.  It will be extremely painful to the touch.

Usually, adventurous sex is the culprit.  If the woman is on top, a man’s penis can hit the hard bone of her pelvis by accident.  Similarly, be careful when having sex against hard surfaces like a desk or a chair.  An erect penis can accidentally collide against a hard surface and fracture.

Interestingly, when we think of a “broken” penis, we tend to think of a bone getting broken.  But what “breaks” in the penis is not a bone but rather the fibrous envelope around the penis (the tunica albuginea).  This fibrous envelope helps the penis maintain its erection, and urologist Dr. Darius Paduch likens it to a sail.  He tells ABC News:

“What happens is the penis is made of two spongelike bodies, which fill up with blood when you have an erection and that's what gives penises rigidity. When it's really overbent or when you apply too much pressure, the penis can break and what is breaking is the layer of fiber sheath, which can be likened to a sail.”

If you suspect you’ve fractured your penis, get to a hospital immediately.  The longer you wait, the greater the risk of complications.  A broken penis requires emergency surgery and will take several months to heal.  Patients are required to avoid any heavy lifting or manual work for at least six weeks after the surgery.

One man’s personal journey with a penile fracture is recorded at ibrokemypenis.com.  Francis, a 20-year old male who broke his penis during sex with his girlfriend, uploaded all his medical documents to the web in an attempt to inform other men about the dangers of penile fractures.

Just remember: if you suspect that your penis has broken, don’t delay in getting medical treatment.  If you continue to have sex with a fractured penis, you can develop a range of medical problems including painful sex, erectile dysfunction, permanent damage to the shape of the penis, and even damage to the urethra.