Here at Moorgate Andrology, we are being met with increasing instances of men suffering a torn frenulum, or as it’s more commonly referred to as a snapped banjo string.
But what is a frenulum and why does it tear?
Our GMC-registered urologist specialists tell you all you need to know if you happen to have frenulum tears, and what you should do next.
The frenulum is a small fold of skin tissue that is found on the underside of the penis, that connects the foreskin to the shaft. It is recognisable thanks to the small V shape that sits just below the head of the penis and can be very sensitive if touched or manipulated.
The frenulum can remain on circumcised men, unless surgically removed because of previous frenulum tears or as part of circumcision but serves more of a purpose on uncircumcised men because of the role it plays with the foreskin.
In uncircumcised men, the frenulum should be supple enough to allow for manual retraction over the glans, to help retract the foreskin when erect, or to narrow the foreskin opening when flaccid.
The causes of a torn frenulum are pretty common and can happen to almost anyone who:
A snapped banjo can easily happen during intercourse – especially if the sex is particularly enthusiastic or rough!
If snapped, the frenulum can be the site of pain and light bleeding, which can be distressing for the individual concerned. However, it is important not to panic, as most frenulum tears will resolve themselves with rest and, generally, no long-term effects are noted.
Interestingly, most men are able to exactly identify the moment that the frenulum tear occurred, which can make diagnosing the reason for the tear much easier for medical professionals.
If you experience a torn frenulum, any bleeding should quickly subside, and the tissue will start to repair itself over time.
Unfortunately, you may experience some aching pain for the next few days, depending on the severity of the tear, but this is normally perfectly manageable with over-the-counter pain medications.
As long as you avoid any vigorous activity, including sexual intercourse, masturbation, and exercise, and keep it dressed in a fresh bandage that you change regularly – the injury should heal itself within a week for less severe tears, or over a series of weeks for a more serious tear.
If you have a snapped penile frenulum you should avoid sexual activity until you feel confident your frenulum has completely healed.
Taking up sexual activity or vigorous exercise too soon in the healing process can cause another tear, causing further pain and increasing the healing period once more.
If you experience reoccurring tears to the frenulum, white scar tissue can form, which is less mobile – causing the problems to worsen.
In some cases, you may find that your tear isn’t healing or that repeat tears are becoming more and more frequent.
If this is the case, we recommend discussing the benefits of a surgical procedure called Frenuloplasty with our experts here at Moorgate Andrology.
A Frenuloplasty involves our team of surgeons loosening the frenulum, in a surgical procedure that can take as little as half an hour. This procedure makes it easier to pull back the foreskin and eliminates any pain, discomfort, and the chance of repeat injuries.
Moorgate Andrology is proud to have some of the best andrologists in the country who have performed frenuloplasty for many years.
We treat every patient with dignity and respect and all medical care is private and confidential.
If you would to arrange a consultation with one of our experts then be sure to fill out our online form to book an initial telephone discussion. Alternatively, you can give us a call on 03308 081 968 or email us at info@moorgateandrology.co.uk and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.