Types of Genital Injuries

• Most are bruises (with swelling) or minor cuts that heal quickly in 3 to 4 days.
• Minor injuries can cause lots of bleeding because of the rich blood supply.

Straddle Injuries

• An injury to the groin from falling on an object that is being straddled.
• Examples are playground equipment, crossbars of a bike, or a fence.
• Girls usually get a bruise or small cut of the outer labia. The vagina and urethra are protected by the labia and not harmed.
• In boys with a straddle injury, the urethra can be bruised or torn. The urethra allows urine to pass from the bladder to the outside.
• A symptom of a damaged urethra is blood at the penis opening.  Other findings are bloody urine, trouble starting the stream or pain when passing urine.

1. Bleeding:
   • For any bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound. Use a gauze pad or clean cloth. Press for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped.
   • Note: Minor cuts in the genital area can bleed a lot. This is because of the rich blood supply.  
   • For the same reason, the cut heals quickly.
2. Cut or Scrape Treatment:
   • Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes.
   • For any dirt, scrub gently with a wash cloth.
   • Put on an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin. No prescription is needed. Use 2 times per day.
3. Cold Pack:  
   • For bruises or swelling, put a cold wet washcloth on the skin.
   • Use once for 20 minutes if tolerated.
   • Reason: Helps reduce the bleeding and pain.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed. See Dose Table.
5. What to Expect:
   • Cuts and other minor injuries in the genital area heal quickly. Most often, they heal in 3 or 4 days.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Pain becomes severe
   • Passing urine becomes painful or hard to do
   • Your child becomes worse