Frenulum Tear
- The frenulum, or “banjo string,” is the small ridge of tissue that connects the head of the penis to the shaft. It also acts as a natural retractor of the foreskin over the glans.
- It is an area with lots of nerves, so it is extremely sensitive. A short frenulum can lead to problems, such as difficulty pulling back the foreskin.
- As this area is very sensitive, sharp pain is likely. However, light bleeding is not a cause for concern.
- The bleeding should not last very long after this initial treatment. Treating the wound immediately will also help prevent infection.
How can the frenulum tear?
It is a tight fold of skin and quite thin, so there are many ways that a frenulum can tear.
These include:-
- Rough sex or vigorous masturbation
- Cycling
- Sports
- Physical labor, such as working on a building site, can lead to accidents, falls, or groin damage.
- Wearing tight pants and underwear
- Getting the penis caught in a trouser zipper is painful and can pinch and tear the skin.
Symptoms:-
- The primary symptom of a torn frenulum is pain, which is most severe when partaking in activities that put pressure on the area, such as sexual intercourse.
- There may be bleeding from the area immediately after the incident, resulting from the tear in the skin.
Management/Treatment:-
- There is no treatment specifically indicated for a torn frenulum, as the tissue will usually heal itself spontaneously over time.
- It is recommended for affected individuals to avoid sexual intercourse for a period of time following the incident to allow the tissue to heal.
- Some men find that the tear will not heal itself again naturally and it frequently becomes torn again in the same place.
In this circumstance, a surgical procedure called a frenuloplasty may be indicated, which helps to increase the length of the frenulum and reduce the risk of tearing.
