Getting kicked in the crotch may be funny to watch on television, but there's nothing funny about thousands of adults being sent to the hospital every year for genital injuries.
According to a new survey by doctors at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), it's everyday items that are hurting our nether regions β common consumer products like clothing, furniture, tools and toys lead to most genital injuries. The survey found that 142,144 U.S. adults went to hospitals between 2002 and 2010 for genital-related injuries β that's about 16,000 cases a year.
"It shows which groups are at risk and with which products," said urologist Benjamin Breyer, who led the research, in a press release.
Genital injuries can be both temporary or permanent and common symptoms include bleeding, abdominal pain, swelling and painful urination, according to The New York Times. For young children, injuries may come about from bike injuries or straddle injuries (landing on your crotch) for boys, and placing small items in the vagina "during normal exploration of the body" for girls.
The UCSF study also found that 70 per cent of patients were men and a third were young men between the ages of 18 and 28. This age bracket tended to hurt themselves the most with sporting accidents, including mountain biking. For older men, common injuries included slipping into a split or hitting their groins on the edge of a bathtub.
But this doesn't mean women were left out of the picture. According to the study, even though women were overall less likely to suffer genital injuries, there have been cases of cuts and infections from shaving or grooming pubic hair.
My Health Alberta adds that most genital injuries can be easily treated at home (with painkillers or ice packs), but if you see any bruising or rashes, you should seek advice from a health professional right away.
LOOK: Genital, urinary tract and kidney injuries by the numbers according to UCSF:
Skiing And Snowboarding Equipment:
182 injuries annually.
Baseball And Softball Equipment
240 injuries annually.
Basketball Equipment:
309 injuries annually.
Bathroom Falls And Mishaps:
818 injuries annually.
Zipper Injuries:
951 injuries annually.
Razors, Scissors And Clippers
1,089 injuries annually.
Bicycles:
1,212 injuries annually.