Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and generosity. But it also comes with a hidden risk that could ruin your holiday mood: penile fractures.
A penile fracture is a rare but serious injury that occurs when the tunica albuginea, the tough fibrous tissue that surrounds the erectile chambers of the penis, ruptures during sexual intercourse or masturbation. The symptoms include a loud cracking sound, severe pain, swelling, bruising, and bleeding. It is considered a urological emergency that requires immediate medical attention and surgery.
A recent study has revealed that the incidence of penile fractures in Germany increases significantly during the Christmas period, from December 24 to December 26. The study analyzed the data of 3,421 patients who were hospitalized for penile fractures from 2005 to 2021, using the GeRmAn Nationwide inpatient Data (GRAND) from the Research Data Center of the Federal Bureau of Statistics.
The study found that 40 (1.2%) of the penile fractures occurred in the 51 days of Christmas, with a daily incidence of 0.78 and an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.43. This means that if every day was like Christmas, 43% more penile fractures would have occurred in Germany from 2005 on.
Interestingly, the study did not find any effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdown measures on the incidence of penile fractures. This implies that the increase in penile fractures during Christmas is not related to people spending more time at home or having more sexual opportunities.
The study also revealed some other patterns of penile fractures, such as the higher occurrence on weekends and during summer. The median age of the patients was 42 years, and about one-fourth of them had urethral injuries as well.
The study did not explore the reasons behind the seasonal variation of penile fractures, but some possible factors could be the increased stress, fatigue, alcohol intake, or sexual experimentation during the festive season. The study also did not examine the long-term outcomes of the patients, such as their sexual function, satisfaction, and quality of life.
The study concluded that penile fractures display a seasonality, and that Christmas is a particularly risky time for this injury. The study advised people to be cautious and avoid excessive or unusual sexual practices during the festive season, to prevent such a painful and embarrassing complication.
Relevant articles:
– Risk of penile fractures rises at Christmas, finds new study of 3,421 men with penile fractures in Germany between 2005 and 2021. If every day was like Christmas, 43% more penile fractures would have occurred from 2005 on. New Year’s Eve was not associated with an increased in penis injuries.
– Risk Of Penile Fractures Goes… Up At Christmas, Doctors Warn
– You’re more likely to snap your manhood at Christmas, doctors warn
– Increased risk of penile fractures over Christmas, doctors warn