Disclaimer: This article reports common sex injuries, all of which were thoroughly researched in various medical resources online. This is not a substitute for direct consultation with a doctor. For severe injuries, please go to the nearest hospital immediately.
When talking about sexual risks, illnesses like STIs and unplanned pregnancies are often the center of discussion. Though discussions about these conditions are incredibly important to promote safer sex practices, we should also take the time to learn about other risks, such as sex injuries.
You might be thinking… “Aren’t UTIs and STIs injuries, too. They cause pain and require medical assistance, right?”
Injury and illnesses have distinct definitions. Illness or disease is a condition that gradually develops over time, while injury is sudden physical damage to the body due to unforeseen incidents. For example, if you contracted a sexually transmitted infection, the symptoms wouldn’t show up within seconds, as opposed to breaking your back in the middle of the deed. That said, here are some of the common sex injuries, how to manage them, and ways to minimize your risk.
1Skin Wounds
Wild sex often involves a lot of scratching, biting, pinching, and nibbling, which can then result in skin wounds. In most cases, the wounds are pretty small, so you only need to wash the wounded area, apply a thin layer of antibiotic, and cover the wound. As for prevention, avoid applying too much pressure when biting or scratching your partner.
2Vaginal Tears
Vaginal tears are small cuts and wounds that occur in the delicate vaginal walls. This usually happens when there’s less to no lubrication during vaginal sex or if the person has quickly inserted a penis or sex toy that’s way too big.
Most of the time, the tearing heals on its own. You need to wash the area thoroughly to prevent infection, avoid putting anything inside the vagina for weeks, and wear loose cotton underwear. You can also take pain medication, like ibuprofen, to ease the pain. However, if the pain is unbearable, never stops even weeks after the sex, and you’re bleeding for days, consult your doctor immediately.
To avoid vaginal tears, make sure that your vagina is lubricated enough before inserting anything in there. If the natural lubrication isn’t enough, you can always use water-based or silicone-based lube; it’s formulated to mimic the natural glide of your natural lubrication, ensuring a comfortable penetration.
3Anal Fissure
Like with the vagina, the anus may also end up with cracks or tears in the anal canal if penetrated without any lubrication or proper warmup— specifically known as an anal fissure.
Having an anal fissure can feel like there’s a burning or stinging sensation on your buttocks. It may also come with rectal bleeding and anal itching. This condition isn’t also limited to sex. In fact, it’s a common condition in infants and pregnant people, as passing hard stools can also cause anal fissures.
Anal fissures can heal on their own; it could be hours or days, depending on the severity. But if the pain has been occurring for weeks or there’s heavy bleeding involved, visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
In terms of prevention, using lube is the key! Unlike the vagina, the anus doesn’t self-lubricate at all, so it’s mandatory to use a water-based or silicone-based lubricant every time you insert anything on it, whether it’s a finger, penis, or butt plug. Also, ensure the thrusting is slow and gentle in the beginning.
4Broken Penis
Though the penis doesn’t have bones, it can still be broken if forcefully bent during sex, tearing the tunica albuginea open. The tunica albuginea is a dense, blue-white layer of fibrous connective tissue that covers the erectile tissues in the penis, which are the corpora cavernosa (runs the length of the top of your penis) and corpus spongiosum (runs along the bottom part of your penis).
Symptoms include a popping or cracking sound, intense pain, and instant softness of the penis. There might also be some blood dripping from the tip of the penis, as well as intense bruising on the area.
This is one of the sex injuries that are considered rare, with reports saying that it is only occurring in 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000 people who have a penis. But if this happens to you or your partner, seek help immediately. This is a medical emergency, and ignoring it can lead to further issues like erectile dysfunction. As for prevention, make sure to be very careful when engaging in “on-top” positions like cowgirl and reverse cowgirl. The male partner must also avoid sudden position changes in the middle of these positions to prevent the other partner from hitting the wrong angle.
5Muscle Strain
Muscle strain or pulled muscle occurs when a muscle is overstretched. It’s a common injury among athletes, but regular peeps can also get it from household chores like mopping, dusting, and lifting objects, as well as through sex. The risks are high if the couple is trying a new sex position or doing it outside of the bed, like the kitchen counter, dining table, or staircase.
In most situations, you don’t need to go to the hospital for a pulled muscle. Just follow the R.I.C.E. procedure, which meant:
- Rest: You’ll need to temporarily stop activities that cause the pain. Let that pulled muscle get the rest it needs.
- Ice: Apply ice pack on the area for 15-20 minutes. Do this every two or three hours on the first few days (whenever you’re awake only) of your injury.
- Compression: If there’s swelling, you can compress the affected area with an elastic bandage. When wrapping the area, make sure to start with the part that’s farthest from your heart. It should also be the right tightness; if you wrap the area too tightly, you might feel pain or notice some numbness.
- Elevation: To reduce swelling, try placing the affected area above the level of your heart. For example, if the pulled muscle is in your leg, stack some pillows and place the affected leg there while sleeping.
For more severe cases, go to the nearest hospital immediately. And if you want to prevent this sex injury, just be careful whenever you’re experimenting with new positions and locations. Also, try your best not to overstretch your legs or upper body when you orgasm, as that could also cause muscle strain.
6Bruising
Bruising is another common injury that could occur in the bedroom. As things are about to go wild, you or your partner might find themselves bumping into the corner of a side table or on the wall, which can result in some skin bruises. Hickeys are also known to be superficial bruises, so whenever you receive one, you basically have a ‘sex injury.’
Aside from bruising on the skin, people who are assigned female at birth may also end up with a bruised cervix. This usually happens when a long dildo or penis is thrust intensely onto the vagina, which then “pokes” the sensitive opening of the cervix, the narrow tube that connects the uterus to the vagina. It can cause pain, cramping, and bleeding, depending on the severity of the case.
If you do end up with this condition, assess first the pain and see if there’s bleeding or intense cramping that happens a few hours after the deed. If you feel some mild pain and nothing else, then it’s better just to give it a rest. But if you end up with severe cramping, bleeding, nausea, and other related symptoms, see your healthcare provider immediately. As for prevention, all you or your partner need to do is be gentle during penetration, especially if the dildo or penis that’ll penetrate has an above-average length.
7Carpet Burn
The idea of floor sex can be incredibly thrilling, but it could also cause some sex injuries, like carpet burns. It’s a wound caused by skin touching an abrasive surface, such as a carpet or rug. This injury is pretty minor, and you’ll also need to clean the affected area (don’t use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide), apply antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a loose bandage or gauze.
8Back Injury
Like with the pulled muscle or broken penis, one wrong move can cause a back injury, especially for those who are already suffering from chronic back pain.
To avoid exacerbating your back issues, make sure to choose sex positions where the natural curve of your back is maintained. Avoid positions that’ll lead to excessive arching or twisting of your upper body. You’ll also need to avoid intense thrusting, use a firm mattress, and consider using pillows or sex wedges for support. Also consider talking to your healthcare specialist and ask for further recommendations to make your bedroom plays more comfortable.
Takeaway
Sex injuries may not be frequently mentioned in sex-ed resources, but their significance and impact are still the same. This is why sexually active individuals must be knowledgeable about sex injuries, what the symptoms are, and how to manage them so that in case of an accident, they’ll be able to deal with it calmly. Keep your sexcapades fun and safe!
