A Christmas Horror: Why penile fractures are most common on the holiday

“Christmas is all around… and the feeling grows…,” sang Billy Mack in Love Actually. The holiday is the time for romcoms and romance, love and lovemaking. But doctors are asking people to slow down and they have a good reason – penile fractures.

Christmastime sex often leads to accidents in bed. A new study has found that there is an increased risk of penile fractures, leading to a medical emergency.

What are penile fractures?

A fracture in the penis occurs when there is a trauma during erection, often caused during energetic sex. It differs from other fractures – unlike other parts of the body, the organ has no bones.

A penile fracture happens when the erection-producing regions of the penis snap. It is usually followed by a cracking sound. The other symptoms include extreme pain, an immediate loss of erection, bruising and swelling from blood build-up under the skin and/or blood in the urine or at the tip of the penis.

Why do penile fractures occur?

It could result because of forceful bending during zealous sex.

According to Mayo Clinic, the injury could happen when the penis slips out of the vagina and is accidentally thrust against the pelvis. It could also occur because of aggressive masturbation.

Penile fractures are common during taqaandan, a method of bending an erect penis, a practice in West or Central Asia, to make the erection go away.

Why are penile fractures common during Christmas?

According to new research, the risk of penile fractures increases during Christmas. Doctors suspect that the euphoria and intimacy that come with the festive season could be factors that lead to more such injuries.

Doctors from Germany examined hospital data of 3,421 men who sustained penile fractures in the country between 2005 and 2001. The study examining seasonal patterns for this type of injury found that they are common over Christmas.

Urologists at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich said that “if every day was like Christmas, 43 per cent more penile fractures would have occurred in Germany from 2005 onwards.”

“This injury tends to occur during wild sex – particularly in positions where you’re not in direct eye contact [with your partner], such as the reverse cowgirl,” said Dr Nikolaos Pyrgides, who led the research. It is “often heralded by an audible crack followed by severe pain”.

“When [patients] present to their doctor their penis often looks like an eggplant,” Pyrgides was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

What else does the study reveal?

The risk of penile fractures also increased over the weekends and during summer holidays but not during New Year’s Eve. “Based on our analyses, penile fractures occur in periods when couples are enjoying moments of relaxation such as Christmas, weekends, and summer,” the authors wrote.

According to the researchers, this is because Christmas is widely celebrated in Germany while New Year’s Eve is likely to be a bit quieter.

The study also said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the lockdown, hospital admissions because of the injury remained fairly consistent.

The average age for sustaining penile fracture was 42. “Most penile fractures occur in unconventional scenarios, such as during extramarital affairs or when sex is performed in unusual locations,” Pyrgides said. He also added that this happens possibly as men are approaching midlife.

Since 1924, 1,600 cases have been recorded worldwide, roughly 16 instances per year, according to a 2017 Telegraph report. Researchers noted that in 50 per cent of cases, a gruesome cracking sound can be heard. Four in five victims lost their erection, the report says.

What are the ways to avoid this mishap?

“Our findings place a demand on couples to reduce ‘wild sex’ during moments of relaxation to reduce the risk of penile fractures,” the researchers wrote.

Peppering the findings with puns from Wham’s Christman hit, the team added, “Last Christmas penile fractures occurred more often. This year, to save us from tears, we will not do something special (the new Christmas hit of the year).”

What should be done in case of a penile fracture?

The researchers say that couples should be aware of the possibility of such a fracture and be cautious. “If it does happen, you should present to your doctor as an absolute emergency, because if you are not treated you could suffer long-term complications,” Pyrgides said.

Such fractures are often treated with surgery. Curved penis, erectile dysfunction and painful erection are some complications that could come with it.

It all sounds very painful. The authors playfully conclude, “Therefore, “Home Alone’ during Christmas and vacation seems, in this case, a good idea.”

With inputs from agencies