Sex should be a fun and satisfying time – not something that puts you in the emergency room. And yet, it happens more often than you think.

Emergency rooms see it all – including what happens when sex goes sideways. From objects that disappear to injuries that require surgery, doctors say the biggest problem isn’t curiosity or experimentation. It’s waiting too long to get help because you feel ashamed.

“Most sex-related injuries are preventable, and none of them should be a source of shame,” Dr. Martina Ambardjieva, a urologist and ER physician, told HuffPost.

“What does cause problems is waiting too long to seek care because of embarrassment. If something feels wrong, pain, bleeding, swelling, or an object that refuses to come out, just come in. Trust me, we’ve seen it all.”

Two emergency physicians shared some of the most common – and most alarming – sex-related injuries they’ve treated, along with what people should know if something goes wrong.

Ambardjieva said the “classic penile fracture” is one of the most urgent sex-related emergencies she sees.

“It’s exactly as dramatic as it sounds – a loud ‘crack,’ immediate swelling, and a lot of panic,” she explains. It most often happens when the penis slips out during thrusting and forcefully hits a partner’s pelvis.

“A penile fracture occurs when the tunica albuginea, the tough fibrous sheath surrounding the erectile tissue, tears,” she explains. “When the penis is erect, that tissue becomes thin and stretched, making it vulnerable to sudden bending or impact – even though there’s no bone inside.”

If someone delays seeking care, the torn tissue can heal improperly. “That can lead to permanent curvature, painful erections, or long-term erectile dysfunction,” Ambardjieva said. “This is the one sexual injury where time really matters.”

Ambardjieva said foreign objects getting “lost” in the body are a routine part of ER and gynaecology work.

“I’ve removed all kinds of items that weren’t designed to go inside the body – cucumbers, carrots, sprays – and I’ve also seen objects in the male urethra, like a pencil,” she said. “People are usually terrified and embarrassed, but it’s more common than they think.”

The problem often comes down to using objects without a flared base, smooth shape, or any kind of safety stop. That’s why you might run into this phrase: “If it has no flare, it shouldn’t go up there.”

Where something is inserted also matters. The vaginal canal is a closed space, so objects can get stuck but won’t travel deeper into the body. “The rectum, however, has no anatomical stop and creates suction, meaning objects can be pulled further inside,” Ambardjieva explains. “The urethra is narrow and delicate, making insertions particularly dangerous.”

If you’re embarrassed to come into the hospital because you’ve inserted something that’s become stuck, Ambardjieva hopes you’ll reconsider and not let the stigma keep you from getting care.

“It’s important to normalise this. We remove lost objects every week in the emergency and urology practice,” Ambardjieva said. “It’s a common medical issue – not something to be ashamed of.”

Small vaginal tears are another frequent reason for ER visits, especially among postmenopausal women or anyone dealing with vaginal dryness.

“Even a small tear can bleed more than people expect, which really scares them,” Ambardjieva said.

Friction, insufficient lubrication, or a tense pelvic floor can all cause micro-tears. She notes that water-based lubricants can dry out quickly, increasing friction, while silicone-based lubes stay slippery longer and can reduce tearing.

Bleeding, Ambardjieva said, becomes more concerning if it doesn’t slow, comes with large clots, severe pain, lightheadedness or difficulty urinating. In other words, head to the emergency room as soon as possible.

While less common, Ambardjieva has seen testicular torsion triggered during intercourse. “It’s sudden, sharp testicular pain – and it’s an emergency until proven otherwise,” she said.

Torsion happens when the spermatic cord twists, cutting off blood flow. Without treatment within about four to six hours, the testicle can be permanently damaged or lost. Some men are more vulnerable because of anatomical variations that allow the testicle to rotate more freely inside the scrotum.

“Circulation is blocked due to the twisting of the spermatic cord,” Ambardjieva explains. “Without rapid treatment, usually within four to six hours, there is a real risk of permanently losing the testicle, because of lost lasting ischemia (insufficient blood flow).”

Broken condoms or condoms that get stuck inside are another source of anxious ER visits.

“These are usually very easy for us to remove safely,” Ambardjieva said, adding that problems tend to come from incorrect sizing, not enough lubrication, expired condoms, heat exposure, or using oil-based products that weaken latex.

Not all sex injuries come from penetration.

“I’ve seen bruising and swelling just from overly enthusiastic suction,” Ambardjieva said. “It’s usually harmless, but if the swelling is severe or the penis starts bending, get checked.”

Broken capillaries can leave marks that look alarming but usually fade within days. However, spreading bruising, significant pain, fever, difficulty urinating, or a bent penis should be checked out, which may indicate infection or deeper tissue injury.

Dr. Jared L. Ross, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri, has seen some extreme cases.

Several years ago in St. Louis, he said he treated a patient who inserted his pet gerbil into his rectum with lubrication: “He ended up in the ER with rectal bleeding. We were able to get the gerbil out, but unfortunately, the gerbil wasn’t so lucky; he had already suffocated.”

In December 2024, Ross said he treated two patients on the same Christmas shift whose wives were out of town.

“One had inserted a full-sized LED lightbulb into his rectum. It required anaesthesia and surgical removal,” he said. “Shortly after, another patient arrived with his wife’s vibrator lodged inside. Both myself and the other ER doc on shift tried again, but no luck, we had to call the surgeon back. I remember he remarked it was a pretty fancy one, rechargeable batteries. I can’t imagine how those conversations went when their wives got back in town.”

So it’s unsurprising that Ross encourages people to come to the ER if they run into an issue like this (or a less extreme one), but also to be more proactive about safety when it comes to the rear end. “If you’re into inserting things into your rectum, use devices designed for that so they don’t get lost,” he said.

Both doctors stress that shame is what causes the real harm, wacky hijinks aside.

“Sexual injuries and accidents are far more common than people realise,” Ambardjieva said. “Emergency clinicians truly aren’t judging. We’ve seen it all.”

Pain, bleeding, swelling, or an object that won’t come out are all signs to seek care – sooner rather than later.

“Bodies are vulnerable, sex is physical, and sometimes things go wrong,” she adds. “Getting help early is always the right, responsible thing to do.”