Sex injuries: probably the most entertaining part of working in an emergency room. Apparently they happen much more often than one would think. According to ivillage.ca, some studies suggest that up to one-third of all adults succumb to some kind of sex-related injury annually, totaling a whopping 2.3 billion personally intimate injuries each year.
In the vein that knowledge is power, here are a few of the more common intercourse impairments occurring in the world’s bedrooms:
1) Strained Muscles
This one doesn’t sound so extravagant, but a strained muscle in the leg or back can sometimes take months to recover. From non-conventional poses and locations such as living room chairs, counter tops and picnic tables, it’s one of the more common injuries.
Making things worse, these injuries often hide for a while, so you don’t even realize you’ve been hurt. Sexual arousal releases endorphins that can mask the fact that a muscle has been pulled.
Be adventurous but keep safety in mind. A little time, heat and ice will help you out if things get too wild.
2) Broken Penis
Yes, who knew-it can actually break! According to iVillage.com, the penis is made up of tubes that fill with blood during an erection, which can rupture when exposed to sudden strong movements or forceful bending.
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can sound like a sudden snap and leave dark bruising and pain. If it happens, see a medical professional right away. True, there aren’t any bones to be ruptured, but this one hurts just the same can result in lasting erectile complications if not treated.
3) Vaginal Tearing
Ouch, ladies. Many of you are familiar with this one. The key in preventing vaginal tears is to make sure the body is properly lubricated before any penetration happens. “This can mean going slower during sex, or simply using lubricant,” said Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., research scientist at Indiana University to Women’s Health Magazine. “Most vaginal tears are small and heal on their own,” says Herbenick. “But if a cut is bigger or keeps bleeding, call a healthcare provider.”
4) Something ‘Gets Stuck’
Woman’s Health Magazine states that the most common objects to get stuck when things get steamy are forgotten-in-the-moment tampons, and condoms. It usually easy to fix this problem without a visit to the hospital or doctor by simply fishing things out yourself, after taking a deep breath.
“The best course of action is to wait 10 or 15 minutes after you’ve had sex,” says Dr. Herbenick. That’s the time it takes for your vagina to get back to its normal, unaroused size—and it’s a lot easier to reach up there in its normal state than it is when it’s all engorged from sex.”
Making sure the condom is the right size and has been put on all the way can help you steer clear of this problem.
And obviously, taking tampons out beforehand, but we know sometimes passion has its own priorities.
5) Yeast Infection
Sex partners can pass yeast infections back and forth so making sure you and your partner are yeast-free before intercourse happens will help. Also, making sure the penis is clean before engaging in penetration can do wonders. It’s good to remember that yeast infections can happen in the mouth, making oral sex an easy way to pass things around. Women can end up spreading a yeast infection to themselves from their mouth to the nether regions by giving a man oral sex before he enters the vagina.
Thankfully, it’s easily treatable but if you get a yeast infection more than four times a year, experts recommend seeing a doctor to see what’s up and find a treatment.
As with so many sex-related issues, communication is key in preventing injuries. Stay wild, but also stay comfortable.
