Aggressive sexual activity can be fun, but it also brings with it the fairly common risk of penis pain as well as the fortunately not-so-common risk of penis fracture. This is a situation that any man wants to avoid. Taking appropriate precautions is a part of basic penis care, and well worth it when one considers the agony involved in fracturing the member.

Does the penis break?

Men often speak about the fear of "breaking" their penis, but a fractured penis is different than a broken arm or leg. In the latter cases, the fracture occurs in the bone of the limb. The penis doesn't actually have a bone (despite the nickname "boner" for an erection), but that doesn't mean it can't be fractured.

When one speaks of a penis fracture, one is referring to a tear in the tunica albuginea, which is a tough fibrous layer of tissue surrounding the spongy tissue in the member. The tunica albuginea plays a role in the erection of the manhood, so it's something a guy wants to keep in good shape.

When the penis fractures, there is usually a cracking sound and a lot of pain. This is quickly followed by hemorrhaging and a fairly immediate loss of erection. (Fracturing only occurs when the penis is in an aroused state.)

How does it happen?

Penis fractures generally occur during rough, aggressive or acrobatic sexual encounters; they occur most often during partner-based sex, but it is definitely possible to fracture the penis during solo sexual activity.

The fracturing happens when the erect penis is slammed against an object that is harder than the penis and lacks flexibility. During partner-based sex, this is most likely to occur when a man is vigorously thrusting his penis into the vagina and approaches from an angle such that his penis thrusts into the woman's pelvic bone.

Penis fractures incurred while masturbating typically happen when a man is simulating intercourse. For example, many men masturbate by thrusting their manhood between a pillow and another object, such as a mattress. Doing so at an inappropriate angle can cause a fracture.

Interestingly, a small study in 2001 indicated that penis fractures are more likely to occur during occasions when a man engages in extramarital sex and/or when having sex in unusual places or positions.

In the event of a fracture, a man should see a doctor immediately to determine the proper course of action.

Precautions

There are several things men can do to help prevent penis fractures.

- Take it a little slower. In the heat of the moment, this may be easier said than done. But men need to make sure that they are thrusting at an appropriate angle when they get into power-drive mode.

- Choose positions with care. Exploring a new sex position can be a wonderful experience; however, the unfamiliarity of the position means a man may need to take things a little more cautiously until he is comfortable enough to go full throttle. This may be especially true of the reverse cowgirl position (in which a man lies down and the woman sits upon his penis, facing away from the man), which a recent study indicated may be more likely to be involved in penis fracture situations.

- Masturbate with care. Especially when simulating intercourse, be sure that the objects used are not too hard and inflexible.

Penis pain can occur not only from a fracture but from many other instances of rough, aggressive or over-frequent sexual activity. An excellent method for treating common penis pain is the application of a first-class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil). The soothing effects of natural moisturizers such as Shea butter and vitamin E, found in the best crèmes, helps to alleviate that pain while restoring vitality to the skin. Pain due to fractures may also benefit from a crème with vitamin C. Much of the tunica albuginea consists of collagen, and vitamin C aids in collagen production. Recovery from a penis fracture can take time, so taking steps to reduce the penis pain during recovery is essential.