A 17-year-old high school student in Guangzhou reportedly suffered a penile fracture after applying excessive force while his penis was erect, but delayed seeking medical treatment for around eight hours due to embarrassment, potentially affecting his recovery.
According to the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, the teenager, identified as Xiao Zhang, later sought treatment at the urology department of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. He arrived looking pale and walking awkwardly, and initially avoided explaining his condition before finally telling doctors: “My private area is swollen and very painful.”
Doctors found that his penis was severely swollen, bruised, and bent to one side. Upon further questioning, he admitted that he had forcefully bent his erect penis with his hand, after which he heard a “crack” sound followed by sudden severe pain.
Because of embarrassment, he did not seek immediate medical help and only went to hospital eight hours later when the pain became unbearable.
Medical staff diagnosed him with a rupture of the tunica albuginea, commonly known as a penile fracture. Doctors warned that the delayed treatment meant he had missed the critical early intervention window, which may impact full functional recovery.
Doctors also stressed that in such cases, patients should not apply hot compresses, massage the injury, attempt to straighten it, or delay seeking treatment due to embarrassment, as these actions may worsen bleeding and complications.
