One popular sex position has been identified as one of the “most dangerous.”
Injuries can happen at any time, but perhaps one of the worst places for them to occur is in the bedroom.
Whether it’s falling off the bed and hitting your head or pulling a muscle while trying to contort into a difficult position, these things can happen—but there’s one position that is particularly likely to lead to injury, specifically a broken penis.
You might wonder how someone can break their penis if it doesn’t have bones. TikTok star Dr. Karan Raj explained, “A penile fracture occurs when there’s a tear in the tunica albuginea, a rubbery sheath of tissue that enables the penis to expand in width and length during an erection.”
In the video, he explains that the position responsible for an estimated 50 percent of all penile fractures is the reverse cowgirl. Dr. Raj goes on to describe how it can be dangerous: if the rhythm between partners isn’t quite right, the male member could “slip out” and potentially be crushed by the female’s pubic bone. Ouch, indeed!
Supporting Dr. Raj’s claims, a 2014 study published in the Advances in Urology journal examined the “potential risk factors associated with penile fractures.”
The study found that heterosexual intercourse was the “most common cause of fractures,” and the specific position? It was the “woman on top” position, also known as cowgirl or reverse cowgirl (unless you’re getting very adventurous in the bedroom).
Sex-related injuries aren’t uncommon (Getty Stock Images)
You’ll certainly know if it happens to you, due to the intense pain, a popping or cracking sound, sudden loss of erection, swelling, or discoloration of the penile shaft, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“If left untreated, a penis fracture could lead to a curved penis or permanent erectile dysfunction, preventing a firm enough erection for sex,” it warns.
In addition to the tunica albuginea, the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) can also be damaged.
“Blood at the tip of the penis or in the urine may indicate urethral injury,” the site cautions.
To treat a fractured penis, surgery is usually required.
A urologist will perform the surgery, as Cleveland Clinic explains, stitching up the tunica albuginea with sutures. If necessary, the surgeon will also repair any urethral tears.
