Snapped penis explained as number of treatments rises

Recent NHS figures have shown an increase in the number of people being treated for “snapped” penises.

The figures revealed that hospital appointments to repair a broken penis have risen by 38% since 2014/15, as reported by The Sun.

Although penile fractures are rare, it is thought many are too embarrassed to report it to their doctor.

So the surge in hospital appointments could mean people are becoming more comfortable seeking help.

Or, as Dr Earim, medical director for Manual, told the Metro: “This suggests that our sexual behaviour is getting more adventurous and vigorous.”

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“However it’s important to put this all into context. ‘Humans have a lot of sex and in reality penile fractures are thankfully rare and these numbers are still small.”

What is a snapped penis?

Although there are no bones in the penis, it can break when erect.

This happens when the tubes that fill with blood during an erection burst, according to the NHS.

On the NHS Sexual Health website, it explains: “Blood pours out of them inside the penis and causes a very painful swelling.”

Dr Tobias Köhler, urologist at Mayo Clinic Rochester, told Urology Care Foundation: “Typically, with a penile fracture a loud cracking sound can be heard (but not always), and the man will lose his erection right away.”

However, a penis can also tear underneath.

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How does a penis snap?

Sometimes the small tag of skin under your penis, between the foreskin and shaft, can tear during sex.

This is called the frenulum or banjo string, and is sometimes tight, which is why it can tear.

But the penis itself can also break during sex, for example when a man’s penis slips out and is violently bent.

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What to do if you have a snapped penis?

If the skin which joins your foreskin to the tip of your penis has torn, you should avoid sexual activity.

According to the NHS, most cases should heal without treatment.

Once it has healed you can try using lubricant during sex to prevent it from happening again.

If it keeps tearing you may need to have an operation called a frenuloplasty.

During the operation the frenulum is lengthened, and it reduces the risk of it tearing again.

However, if your penis has “broken” you must seek urgent medical attention, because you may need surgery to repair the tissue.

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