It's called a penis fracture. This isn't a common injury. But trauma to an erect penis can cause it. A penis fracture differs from other fractures in the body. That's because the penis has no bones. Instead, the penis becomes firm during an erection when two spongy tubes on the top side of the penis fill with blood. Those tubes are called the corpora cavernosa.
When the tubes fill with blood, their tough outer lining, called the tunica albuginea, stretches. If an erect penis is bent suddenly or with force, the trauma can tear the tunica albuginea of one or both tubes. That can cause a penis fracture. Most often, the trauma happens during sex. For example, during vaginal sex the penis may slip out of the vagina and thrust against the pelvis.
Rarely, a penis fracture also can happen due to aggressive masturbation. Or it can result from a cultural practice called taghaandan. That involves pushing down the top of an erect penis with force to stop an erection. With a penis fracture, the penis shaft often bulges and changes color. This can make the penis look somewhat like an eggplant. Sometimes the tube that drains urine from the body is damaged as well. This tube is called the urethra.
Blood at the opening of the penis or in the urine may mean the urethra was injured. A penis fracture requires medical care right away. Often, a healthcare professional can find out if the penis is fractured by doing a physical exam.
But blood, urine or imaging tests also may be needed. Most often, the treatment for a fractured penis is prompt surgery to repair the damage. Without treatment, a penis fracture might lead to a curved penis.
