It may be the season of loving and giving, but doctors have warned against embracing this spirit too enthusiastically – at least when it comes to sexual relationships. They discovered that the Christmas period is associated with a significantly increased risk of penile fractures—a medical emergency in which the erection-producing regions of the penis snap, usually as a result of forceful bending during overenthusiastic intercourse.
“This injury tends to occur during wild sex – especially in positions where you are not in direct eye contact [with your partner]like the reverse cowgirl,” said Dr Nikolaos Pyrgides, a urologist at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, who led the research.
The fractures are often heralded by an audible crack, followed by severe pain, rapid loss of erection, and severe swelling and bruising. “When [patients] to their doctor, their penis often looks like an eggplant,” said Pyrgides.
Suspecting that the intimacy and euphoria of the festive season may be a risk factor for this type of injury, Pyrgides and his colleagues examined hospital data for 3,421 men who suffered penile fractures in Germany between 2005 and 2021.
The study – the first to examine seasonal patterns for this type of injury – found that such injuries were indeed more common over Christmas. In fact, “if every day was like Christmas, 43% more penile fractures would have occurred in Germany since 2005,” Pyrgides said.
The research, which was published in the British Journal of Urology International, also found that the risk increased on weekends and over the summer holidays. However, New Year’s Eve was not associated with an increased incidence of penile injuries.
“It would be interesting to see data from other countries, but in Germany Christmas week is widely celebrated, while New Year’s Eve tends to be a bit quieter,” Pyrgides said.
Hospital admissions for penile fractures have remained relatively consistent throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, including during lockdown periods. The average age to sustain such injuries was 42.
“Most penile fractures occur in unconventional scenarios, such as during extramarital affairs or when sex is performed in unusual places,” Pyrgides said, adding that such scenarios may have been more likely as men approached midlife.
He advised couples to be aware of the risk of injury, and to be careful in the run up to Christmas. “If it does happen, you should present to your doctor as an absolute emergency, because if you don’t get treated, you could end up with long-term complications,” he said.
Eleven and safety: General Chris-haps
Penile fractures aren’t the only injuries associated with the festive season:
Christmas trees
The Christmas tree is one of the most common sources of accidents, with around 1,000 Britons maintaining tree related injuries every year, according to a report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and L’Oréal. Make sure chairs or ladders are stable before standing on them to reach the upper branches, and be careful when removing Christmas decorations from storage: a survey of 2,000 Britons commissioned by the National Accident Helpline (NAH) found that one in 50 fell out of the cage while doing so.
Fairy lights
Every year, around 350 Britons suffer burns, electric shocks or other injuries from fairy lights, the RoSPA said. Be especially careful around water: between 1997 and 2010, 26 people were electrocuted while watering their Christmas tree with the lights on.
Turkey trauma
The NAH survey also found that almost half of adults have injured themselves while preparing Christmas dinner. One in ten reported spilling hot grease on themselves, while one in five claimed to have cut themselves while preparing vegetables.
Champagne corks
The carbon dioxide in a bottle of champagne is under two to three times the pressure of the air in your car’s tires, and can shoot a cork out of the bottle at up to 50 mph. If one hits you in the eye, it can tear an eyeball or detach a retina, warns the RoSPA.
Swallowed snortly
A US analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System – which collects emergency room admission data from a representative sample of US hospitals – found that between 1997 and 2015, 22,224 children attended hospital after ingesting Christmas items, such as small trinkets or toy parts. swallowed. .
Button batteries are a particular risk, according to the RoSPA, because saliva can react with them to produce caustic soda, which burns the throat or stomach.
Heart disease
Deaths due to heart disease peak around Christmas and New Year, with one US study identifying a third more cardiac deaths in Los Angeles County during December and January compared to the June-September period. Further research suggested that deaths peaked on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – possibly because of delays in seeking treatment.
Santa injuries
Although rare, a separate analysis of NEISS data found that between 2007 and 2016, three children reported to the ER after “falling off Santa’s lap,” while another injured herself while running away from a Santa impersonator because she was scared. If extrapolated to the entire US population, this would equate to approximately 277 Santa-related injuries during the study period.
