These days, there are few things a man can experience that a woman can’t, and vice versa. Two exceptions to this rule are: giving birth and penis pain. Though a swift nut shot is certainly no walk in the park, a laboring woman would certainly select that type of pain over giving birth any day. Even still, no man in his right mind goes around looking for penis pain. Learn what steps can be taken to avoid it and how to maintain a healthy penis here.

Lubricate: Irritation, cracking, and soreness can occur when the skin of the penis receives too much friction during masturbation or sex. Most men may believe the more friction the better, but that may not be the case. The delicate penis skin can be rubbed too hard, causing penis pain and cracked skin. The best way to avoid this condition is to use a high quality lubricant during masturbation and sex; this still allows for adequate stimulation, but reduces potentially painful friction.

Protect the penis: One of the most painful - and potentially dangerous - reasons behind penis pain is a sexually transmitted infection, or STI. Not only does an STI cause painful side effects such as open sores, itching, burning during urination and even bleeding, they can have serious health complications such as sterility and even death. Using a condom is the number one line of defense in keeping the penis healthy, and it should always be worn unless the man is in a guaranteed monogamous relationship with an individual who has been tested for STI’s.

Avoid numerous partners: It is simple math that the more individuals a man engages in sex with, the greater his risk of contracting an STI is. Having numerous sexual partners is one of the main risk factors for acquiring an STI - but luckily - it is one risk factor a man is in control of. Additionally, whenever deciding to have sex with a new partner it is important to talk about one’s sexual history and both partners should be tested for STI’s to prevent the risk of spreading infection. Both men and women can be asymptomatic carriers of STI’s, meaning they are infected but not showing any symptoms; thus, they infect their partner without even knowing it.

Avoid penile injuries: Granted, no man is ever trying to get a wicked penis injury, but there are certainly ways to reduce the risk. Always use an athletic cup when playing a contact sport to avoid getting kicked or hit with a piece of equipment. Also, if YouTube has taught us anything, it’s that attempting the latest fad stunt is a sure-fire way to take a shot to the baby maker. So guys, no skateboarding down railings, doing back flips on pogo sticks, or other stunts of jack-assery, leave the tricks to the real athletes and stunt men - the penis will be thankful for it.

Maintain penis health: Keeping the penis healthy is an important way to minimize the effects of aging and prevent painful conditions such as Peyronie’s disease. Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which a curvature of the penis forms. This curve ranges from the slight to the severe and can make sex uncomfortable or even impossible. This curvature is thought to be caused by blunt force penis trauma (hence the need for a cup) or the build up of plaque, which gradually forms from aggressive sex or masturbation. As the plaque builds up on the penis, it forms scar tissue, which actually shortens the penis on the side of the scaring, causing it to curve.

Using a penis vitamin creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help reduce plaque buildup and the painful side effects that come with it. Selecting a penis creme with Acetyl L Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid is especially beneficial to penis health, as these two ingredients work to maintain cell health and reduce plaque build-up that causes Peyronie’s disease.