Considering all the hard work it gets put through, it’s surprising the penis doesn’t experience more painful episodes. As all men know, there are any number of factors which can account for penis pain, some of which can have an impact on penis health. One of the more painful penis pain situations arises when a guy tears or otherwise damages his frenulum – so it’s best to try to avoid situations that put the frenulum at risk!
What is it?
This is a not-so-secret secret: Despite all the time men spend with their penis and despite the importance they place upon it, most guys don’t know what all the parts of the penis are. And many may have heard the word “frenulum” without knowing exactly what (or where) it is.
To put at ease any questions readers of this article may have in that area, the frenulum is the name given to the area of sensitive skin on the underside of the penis, right near the center of the head. In intact men, this is the part of skin that attached the foreskin to the penis. In circumcised men, there may be no frenulum; more likely, there is some remnant of the frenulum there. In many men, this area is especially sensitive, and stroking it while masturbating can be pleasurable.
In common conversation, the frenulum is often referred to as a guy’s “banjo string.”
What happens
As indicated above, the penis is actually pretty resilient. Nonetheless, some things do cause penis pain, and a tear in the frenulum is one of them. Since there is a greater sensitivity in this area, a tear can lead to greater penis pain than a tear elsewhere. The frenulum is also located right “where the action is” where sex is concerned, so the pain can be significantly bothersome.
In intact men, the most painful form of frenulum injury is when it tears and separates from the rest of the foreskin. Fortunately, this does not happen with great frequency. More common is a partial tear, and this can occur in both intact and circumcised men.
And the most common culprit of these tears is rough, aggressive handling during sex. So if, for example, a man is increasingly using a “death grip” on his penis while masturbating – that is, he is squeezing it intensely tight while pumping up and down – he may increase the likelihood of a tear. Or if a man engages in sex which is not well-lubricated, the chances of a tear go up.
Some researchers believe frenulum tears are becoming more common, based on a belief that sex (both partner-based and masturbatory) is becoming rougher, perhaps due to the increasing prevalence of pornography. This is based on an assumption that the “rougher” experience of sex in pornography is being replicated among everyday people. But this is based on anecdotal observations, not on any hard and fast evidence.
If a guy does tear his frenulum, in addition to penis pain there may be some blood. Seeing a doctor is usually a good idea, although most often the tears heal on their own. However, healing requires that the penis be given a good rest for 4 to 6 weeks – which means no sex, including masturbation, during that time. In some cases, an operation may be required if the tear is severe or if it keeps recurring.
Taking good care of the frenulum to avoid penis pain is strongly urged. One way to insure better penis health is to consistently make use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . Find one that includes L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former is an amino acid that plays a role in helping penile blood vessels relax and expand. The latter is a neuroprotective ingredient that can help restore diminished sensation in the penis due to rough handling.
