When a man engages in sexual games with himself or his partner, it is safe to say that he is determined to have a good time. But what happens when that good time turns bad? Unfortunately, penile injuries are quite common during prolonged or overzealous play. On the plus side, most of these injuries have clear ways to avoid them, and for those that do happen anyway, excellent attention to penile care can usually help a man through the healing process.

So what are these injuries and how can a man prevent them? Look at them:

1) Severe irritation or chafing. This is often the result of enjoying too much without enough lubrication. Although a little friction is a very good thing, too much can lead to pain in the penis, which is marked with small cuts or abrasions, or irritation throughout the penis that can make the penis look red, swollen, and even bruised. Of course, the best way to avoid this is obvious: use plenty of lube, each and every time.

2) Decreased sensitivity of the penis. Many men are used to dry masturbation, and might be perfectly fine with sex with a partner without enough lube to make things easier. The problem is that over time, this lack of lubrication leads to the aforementioned injuries, which in turn form scar tissue in order to heal. That scar tissue obscures what the delicate nerves in the penis can feel, meaning a man loses a lot of sensation in the penis. This is yet another reason to use lube!

3) Infections of all kinds. A man should know how to wrap his penis when he’s going to have sex with someone, but too many men give up that protection and take their chances. The problem is that it only takes one encounter to give a man a lifetime of woe. Infections can range from serious sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and herpes, to infections that are bothersome in their symptoms, such as yeast infections. Either way, these infections can be avoided with good condom use, each and every time.

4) Fractures of the penis. One of the scariest prospects for penile injury, penile fracture is definitely scary. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid it. Since most penile fractures occur when the penis hits a hard object, a man should remember this when he is becoming overzealous with thrusting from him. One small slip and the penis could hit the partner’s pelvic bone, which could lead to a serious fracture. Simply being a little more careful and aware of the risk can help a man avoid this particularly horrible injury.

5) Don’t stop because of the pain. When the pain calls, it is a signal that it is time to stop. Many penile problems have been exacerbated by a man continuing even though he has a lot of penile pain. When pain comes on the scene, it usually means that an injury to the penis is occurring or has already occurred. It goes without saying that this is a good time to stop and assess the situation.

To help keep the penis as healthy as possible when out of the bedroom, a man can look for a high-quality penis health cream. (Health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven to be gentle and safe on the skin.). Daily application of a good cream will give a man the dose of vitamins and nutrients a healthy penis needs, including vitamin A for odor control, vitamin B5 for tissue health, and vitamins C and D for health. in general. Amino acids like L-carnitine, L-arginine, and alpha lipoic acid can also help. Wrap it all up in a luxurious base of shea butter and vitamin E, and a man can feel good about his steps to improve penis health and prevent injury.