Men have been issued a warning if they're planning to spend their Christmas downtime getting freaky between the sheets - as it could end up in a pretty painful visit to the ER.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, and when the festivities are done and the Baileys has been drunk, many people want to end their Christmas with a bang.
And while most of these Xmas encounters usually happen without a hitch, a urologist has issued a warning for men to avoid getting too carried away and ending up with some nasty consequences.
Dr Nikolaos Pyrgides, a urologist at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, warned men that they are at increased risk of fracturing their penis over the holidays.
And while there's no actual bone to break, penile fractures are just as excruciating as they sound.
He explained, per the Guardian: "This injury tends to occur during wild sex – particularly in positions where you’re not in direct eye contact [with your partner], such as the reverse cowgirl."
When the erect penis is impacted in the wrong way, people often hear an audible crack followed by severe pain, loss of sensation, as well as severe bruising and swelling.
Pyrgides revealed: "When [patients] present to their doctor their penis often looks like an eggplant."
According to Pyrgides, more men suffer penile fractures at Christmas than at any other time of the year.
He led research into penile fractures, noting that 3,421 men sustained penile fractures in Germany between 2005 and 2021, and while they did happen all year round, there was a notable increase over the festive period.
According to the National Library of Medicine, people hear a "sudden, audible snapping or cracking sound at the exact time of the injury", which is quickly followed by "pain, bruising, immediate significant swelling, angulation (bent), and rapid detumescence [loss of erection]".
Pyrgides also warned: "If every day was like Christmas, 43 percent more penile fractures would have occurred in Germany from 2005 on."
The study, which was published in the British Journal of Urology International, found that as well as Christmas, there are other occasions when the risk is heightened.
Weekends and summer vacations were also identified as penile fracture danger zones, while New Year's Eve was oddly pretty safe.
Pyrgides added: "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."
He also revealed that there's often a common theme to the injury, explaining: "Most penile fractures occur in unconventional scenarios, such as during extramarital affairs or when sex is performed in unusual locations."
And while the thought of fracturing your penis is enough to bring tears to the eyes, there's no need to avoid getting frisky altogether, as long as you're taking care not to go overboard with the enthusiasm or unusual positions.
If you are one of the unfortunate few who do hear a dreaded crack while getting jiggy, Pyrgides advises going to the emergency room as soon as possible to avoid long-term health issues if left untreated.
Featured image credit: