Question

I've always wondered: Is it possible to "break" your penis?

Answer

Although it occurs very rarely, it actually is possible to break your penis. However, this does not happen in the way you might think.

Normally, when we speak of someone "breaking" a part of their body such as an arm or leg, what we are talking about is a bone breaking. There is no bone in the human penis. When it is in a flaccid state, you can no more break the penis than you could break an ear. With enough tugging, you might cut, rip, or tear it, but it wouldn't really "break."

However, when it is erect, the penis becomes quite hard. Three tubes (known as the corposa cavernosa) fill with blood and become almost as hard as bone. Should a man do something that would exert a great deal of sudden lateral pressure on the penis, one or more of these tubes can break (actually, "rupture" is probably the more appropriate term). The cases in the medical literature which report this are almost invariably caused by a woman trying to jump on top of a man and missing her target. Ouch.

If you are worried that you might have done this, all I can say is: You would know! The event is accompanied by a loud "popping" sound, severe sudden pain and horrible bruising. You would need to seek medical attention immediately. Unfortunately, this damage is difficult to repair, and men to whom it happens often experience some internal leakage whenever they become aroused, preventing full erections. Luckily, it is a very rare occurrence.

Best,

Dr. Sandor Gardos

MyPleasure provides up-to-date and useful sexual education materials in combination with a store that allows people to buy, try, and learn about new aspects of sexuality. We believe everybody deserves a great sex life.