The truth about ‘frozen penis’ injury – from ‘indescribable pain’ to risk of burns and scarring
SWEDISH skier Calle Halfvarsson was left in indescribable pain after his penis froze during a race.
The skier braved icy temperatures of -15°C to complete 20km World Cup event in Ruka, which is inside the Arctic Circle.
But he had to take refuge in the warm-up tent afterwards to thaw his frozen manhood.
Calle told Swedish outlet Expressen: “I have frozen my penis. For real.
“Damn, I had to lie in there [the warm-up tent] for 10 minutes to warm it up. It hurts so damn much. It’s terrible.”
It's not the first time the unlucky Swede has suffered the unusual injury, which also struck down skier Remi Lindholm in 2022.
Read more on frozen penises
And Calle's chilling admission might remind you of a similar one made by a certain member of the royal family - about his own member.
Prince Harry revealed in his autobiography that he was suffering from a frostbitten penis at his brother William’s wedding to Kate Middleton, following an expedition to the North Pole in 2011.
From why men's genitals are susceptible to the cold to the risks of this not-so-rare condition, here's all you need to know about having a frozen penis.
Firstly, what is frostbite?
Frostbite is damage to skin and tissue caused by exposure to freezing temperatures.
Most read in Health
When your body is exposed to the icy cold, it responds by narrowing the blood vessels, which slows down blood flow to the extremities and redirects it to your vital organs.
So as your extremities get less blood, they become colder and fluid in the tissue can freeze into ice crystals, according to NHS guidance.
The ice crystals can cause severe cell and tissue damage in the affected area and low blood flow also deprives the tissues of oxygen.
If blood flow can't be restored, the tissue will eventually die, the NHS went on.
Frostbite can affect any part of the body, but your hands, feet, ears, nose and lips are most vulnerable.
People who take part in winter and high-altitude sports are most at risk of getting it, as well as people stranded in extreme cold weather, people working in harsh outdoor conditions, those with conditions that circulation problems - like diabetes - and smokers, as the habit constricts blood vessels.
How does a penis get frostbite?
Writing in The Conversation, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre at Lancaster University, Adam Taylor, said cross-country skiers typically wear very light clothing to their sporting events, making frostbite a real risk.
As to why the penis is vulnerable to frostbite, Dr Taylor explained that it goes through the same process as other extremities when exposed to frigid conditions.
But it also reduces in size - what you might know as 'winter penis' - to sit closer to the body and prevent it from freezing.
Contrary to popular belief, he explained, men's todgers aren't muscles, but a series of tubes "that are more like a sponge with spaces inside them".
He said the external part of your manhood is most susceptible to damage from the cold.
"When temperatures rise above 50°C and below 0°C, tissue damage occurs, the length and extremity of temperature is linked to the likelihood of lasting damage," Dr Taylor went on.
Now you might say, why not whack on some extra layers down there to prevent things from freezing?
Padding up more can actually make you sweat, trapping moisture and making you colder. The sweat can even freeze, further complicating matters.
Speaking about how he sustained frostbite to this penis during a walk to the North Pole, Harry told told Stephen Colbert in a new interview on The Late Show: “When you’re walking, you’re hot and you’re trying not to sweat, because the sweat freezes, and once it’s numb, you don’t know the pain. It’s just numb.”
What are the symptoms of frostbite?
Symptoms typically begin with affected parts feeling cold and painful, along with pins and needles, throbbing or aching.
Your skin will also be numb and white and this is the stage known as frostnip.
But prolonged exposure to the cold can causes further tissue damage, resulting in what's called superficial frostbite that affects the top layers of skin and tissue.
The affected area can feel hard and frozen but will turn red and blister when it thaws out.
It needs treatment, but it's not as severe as deep frostbite, which can cause damage beneath the skin to the tendons, muscles, nerves and bones.
Your skin will look white, blue or blotchy at this stage, but as it thaws, blood-filled blisters turn into thick black scabs.
It's likely that tissue will die if the frostbite has progressed to this stage and the affected tissue may have to be removed to prevent infection, NHS guidance says.
It's safe to say that whatever the stage of frostbite, it's pretty painful.
When asked to describe the pain of his frozen penis, Calle said: "No [I can't describe it]. Those who know, they know. But here’s a tip from me. Stay away from it, because it is the worst thing you can experience.”
Dr Seth Cohen, a urologist, told Vice News why that is: "Once there’s a return of blood flow, you basically have areas that are now becoming engorged with warm blood in otherwise cold, frostbitten tissue.
"Why does that hurt? Traumatized nerves are sending signals to the brain that they’re not happy."
Allohealth.care said the most common signs of a frozen penis are:
- Numbness
- Loss of colour
- Lack of sensation
Blisters, oozing skin, or a foul odour can also be some symptoms of a frozen penis.
What are the risks of a frozen penis?
Experts warn that a frozen penis can leave permanent damage.
A burns registrar told IFLScience.“If ice burns are deep dermal or full thickness they will take longer to heal and have a greater likelihood of scarring.
“Genital burns also have a higher chance of getting infected which delays healing and increases chance of scar formation.”
The NHS added that people with a history of severe frostbite often report further long-term effects, including:
- increased sensitivity to cold
- numbness in the affected body parts
- reduced sense of touch in the affected body parts
- persistent pain in the affected body parts
How should frostbite be treated?
The recommended treatment for frostbite of in your extremities is to warm them for about 30 minutes at a temperature very close to body temperature, according to Dr Taylor.
Read More on The Sun
According to NHS guidance, it's important to not put pressure on the area or use hot water to thaw the body part.
"Bath of water at 37°C to 39°C is recommended for rewarming, it said, adding that this is best done by a healthcare professional.