Scientists warn men of increased risk of penis fracture over Christmas

Holiday euphoria brings men to hospitals

“Penile fractures: the price of a Merry Christmas” – under such headings, scientists published the results of their sensational study in the authoritative medical journal British Journal of Urology Internationa. They found a marked increase in the risk of penile fractures during the Christmas period, a medical emergency where the erectogenous parts of the penis rupture, usually as a result of forceful flexion during excessive sexual intercourse. And now they advise not to enjoy the holidays too much.

Urologists from the University Hospital of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich suggested that penile fractures may become more frequent on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, like some other types of injuries during the holidays. They decided to test the hypothesis and analyzed the statistics of such visits for the period from 2005 to 2021 using the German National Inpatient Data (GRAND) from the Research Data Center of the Federal Bureau of Statistics (Wiesbaden, Germany). In addition, they simultaneously assessed the impact of COVID-19 on penile fractures and their seasonality.

A total of 3421 patients aged 32–51 years had a penile fracture requiring hospitalization during the period analyzed. The daily incidence of penile fractures over Christmas was 0.78. “If every day were like Christmas, there would have been 43% more penile fractures in Germany since 2005,” the researchers concluded.

Interestingly, only 28 (0.82%) penile fractures occurred during the New Year period. Most patients with penile fractures were hospitalized over the weekend. But summer (the holiday period) was also associated with an increase in the number of penile fractures. The “intimacy and euphoria” of this season encourages more sexual encounters, increasing the risk of injury.

The only good news is that the COVID-19 pandemic, including the quarantine period, did not affect the incidence of penile fractures. The analysis also found that most penile fractures occur in unconventional scenarios, such as during extramarital affairs or when sex occurs in unusual places. Dr Nikolaos Pyrgides, a urologist at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich who led the study, explained: “This injury usually occurs during wild sex – especially in positions where you are not making direct eye contact, such as reverse cowgirl.”

“The incidence of penile fractures is seasonal,” note the authors of the work. – Last Christmas, penile fractures occurred more often. This year, to save us from tears, we will NOT be doing anything special.”

“Penile fractures, despite the misleading name, do not affect real bones,” explains urologist Konstantin Moshkov. – The penis consists of two columns or cylinders that fill with blood and harden during an erection. These columns are covered with a protective layer called the tunica albuginea. A penile fracture occurs when this protective layer is torn. This condition is often heralded by an audible cracking sound, followed by severe pain, rapid swelling, swelling, and hematoma formation. They are considered urological emergencies requiring hospitalization and are associated with urethral injury in approximately 25% of cases. When patients go to the doctor, their penis often looks like an eggplant.”

The study authors recommend that everyone exercise caution to avoid this type of injury. “And remember: if you hear a cracking sound, do not panic, but act quickly,” they write.