If you hear a crackling sound, do the following

The holidays seem to bring with them some not-so-quiet nights.

A study by FeetFinder revealed that Google searches for “penis fracture” surged 234% during the festive season.

Last year, researchers studied 3,421 German men between 2005 and 2021 and found that between December 24 and 26, middle-aged men in particular suffered The odds of penile injury have increased significantly, according to the International Urological Association.

Penile fractures often occur during “wild sex,” said study leader Dr. Nikolaos Pyrgides, a urologist at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

According to the National Institutes of Health, most penile fractures occur when partners engage in missionary, “girl on top” (also known as cowgirl) and “doggy style” sex positions.

Injury victims can often identify a fracture by hearing a cracking sound (which is not a breaking candy cane), followed by pain and a quick loss of erection.

After an injury, the penis often looks like an eggplant, too, Pilguides said.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 1 in 100,000 American men will suffer from a broken penis in their lifetime. While not life-threatening, some injuries may require surgery and weeks of recovery time before the patient is at risk of permanent damage to sexual and urinary function.

Those who ignore the damage may be left with permanent crooked, dysfunctional and painful erections for a lifetime.

But potential penis fractures aren’t the only problem in the bedroom over the festive period as couples rip each other’s ugly Christmas sweaters off.

Other sexual injury-related search terms such as “muscle strain during sex,” “injury during sex” and “post-sex swelling” also saw an increase in searches in December, according to FeetFinder.

A sexologist and FeetFinder researcher told The Washington Post in a statement, “People feel more adventurous this time of year, possibly driven by the holiday spirit, alcohol and a desire to make the holidays more special. promote.”

“But if safety is not prioritized, experiments can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.

This is especially true for couples trying new positions, using sex toys for the first time, or even trying out holiday-themed role play without proper preparation. “

Santa’s elves aren’t the only ones playing with toys this holiday season.

People ages 20 to 24 are most at risk for sex toy injuries. However, men and women have different rates of injury from sex toys.

Women are most vulnerable to these injuries between the ages of 25 and 29, while men are at highest risk between the ages of 55 and 59.

Overall, more men suffer these injuries. Over the past decade, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 26,000 men were treated in hospitals for sex toy-related injuries, compared with 19,000 women.

But why does everyone get excited during the holidays?

Experts believe there are many reasons for the continued seasonal surge in sexual injuries, noting that people are feeling particularly celebratory, giving and increasing their drinking but insisting it’s sexy to be safe.

“Communication is key,” say FeetFinder researchers. “Couples should openly discuss their boundaries, take their time, and always make sure they are using toys as intended.”

“Alcohol lowers inhibitions, which can increase fun, but also increases the risk of something going wrong or unlucky.

“If you’re trying something new, make sure you’re comfortable and well prepared.”