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Genital Injury - Male

Types of Genital Injuries in Males

  • The penis and scrotum are at risk for injuries. All the common skin injuries can occur.
  • Cut. Minor cuts or scrapes heal quickly.
  • Bruise. Minor bruises heal quickly.
  • Penetrating Injuries (serious). Puncture injures, whether due to a fall or impact with a sharp object, will need checked at the ER.
  • Zipper Injury. The foreskin or skin on the penis can get caught on a zipper. You may want a doctor to help with removal.

Blunt Injuries

  • Urethral Injury (serious). The urethra passes through the entire penis. It can be injured by a kick to the groin or a straddle injury. Also, from putting objects into the urethra through the opening at the tip of the penis. The urethra can be bruised or torn. The main symptoms are bloody urine and trouble passing urine.
  • Painful Scrotum. A blow to the testicle(s), such as during sports or by being kicked, will often cause severe pain. If there was no damage, the pain should go away within 30 minutes. If it persists, you need to be examined.
  • Swollen Scrotum (serious). Any scrotal swelling from an injury needs to be examined. It may be minor, but you need to rule out any other problems. With a severe blow, the testis can burst (rupture).
  • Ruptured Testicle (serious). A direct blow to the scrotum can also cause a tear of the capsule around the testicle. To save the testicle, this needs emergency surgery. The main symptoms are severe pain and a swollen scrotum.
  • Hematoma (Blood Clot) of Scrotum. Blunt trauma can cause a large blood clot to form inside the scrotum. Sometimes, it needs to be drained. This can happen from being hit by a ball or a kick. The main symptoms are severe pain and a swollen scrotum.

Straddle Injuries

  • An injury to the groin from falling on an object that is being straddled.
  • Examples are the crossbar of a bike or a fence.
  • The urethra can be bruised or torn. The urethra allows urine to pass from the bladder to outside the body.
  • A symptom of a damaged urethra is blood at the penis opening.  Other symptoms are bloody urine, trouble starting the stream or pain when passing urine.

Other Injuries

  • Burns or Scalds. Cool the area right away with cold running water and go to ER. Burns or scalds to the genitals may need care by a specialist.
  • Fractured Penis (serious) can occur during rough sexual activity or masturbation. You may hear a snap or pop sound and the penis is painful and swollen right away; there is loss of the erection. The penis will look misshapen and bruised. This is an emergency and needs surgery.
  • Constricting Objects such as penile rings can get stuck and cause a persistent erection and increasing swelling of the penis. Go to the ER to get the ring removed to prevent serious and permanent damage to the penis.