Doctors extracted a 10cm superglue block after a man tried a DIY fix for bladder leaks

What began as an attempt to stop bladder leaks ended with surgeons removing a solid 10cm mass from inside a man's penis. The 41-year-old had used household superglue as a home remedy, only for it to harden and leave him unable to urinate at all.

A blockage doctors could actually detect

By the time he reached an outpatient clinic, the problem had moved far beyond a failed home treatment. Doctors examining the 41-year-old found his penis was erect, and they could feel a hard foreign object beneath the skin. Brittle pieces of dried glue were also visible at the opening.

The man had been living with urinary incontinence for around a month. According to a clinical report published in the Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine, he tried to deal with the involuntary leakage by dripping superglue into his urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. He reportedly did this over a period of two weeks, hoping the glue would physically seal the leak.

For a short time, it appeared to do exactly that. The leakage stopped. But the fix only worked until the glue fully hardened.

Within four days of stopping the applications, the superglue had cured into what doctors described as a dense plug. His urine stream became weaker, dropping to a trickle, and then turned into complete urinary retention, meaning he could not pass urine at all.

He also spent a full week dealing with constant pain above the pubic bone and in the lower abdomen. That combination, blocked urine flow and ongoing pain, finally brought him to medical care.

The case took place in Iran and was unusual enough to be written up in medical literature. The report said this was only the fourth recorded case involving superglue in the urethra. The authors noted that inserting foreign bodies into the urinary tract is relatively rare, in part because it is painful. They also said that while many such cases are associated with sexual gratification, substance abuse or psychological distress, this patient had no history of psychiatric disorders. Doctors concluded he acted out of misinformed desperation rather than for any of those other reasons.

Why doctors could not simply dissolve it

Urologists first attempted a cystoscopy, which involves inserting a small camera into the urethra. That did not solve the problem because the passage was completely blocked.

A substance like acetone can sometimes be used to dissolve superglue in other parts of the body, including the ear or nose, but that was not considered suitable here. The urethra is delicate tissue, and introducing chemicals or instruments into such a sensitive area carries a risk of damage and serious infection.

With the route blocked and chemical removal off the table, surgeons had to operate. They made an incision at the head of the penis and then flushed the area with saline for 15 minutes in order to loosen the glue. Using forceps, they removed the blockage in one piece.

What came out was described as a 10 cm rod-shaped solid block, almost four inches long.

How the case ended

After the blockage was removed and the incision stitched, the man's normal urine flow returned immediately. The report said he went on to make a full recovery six weeks later.

The case stands out partly because the original aim was simple: stop a leak. Instead, the material hardened into a cast-like obstruction that shut the urinary channel altogether and required surgery to reverse.

For doctors, it became a rare example of how an attempted home solution to a medical problem can create a much more serious one. For everyone else, it is a reminder that even something as ordinary as household superglue can become dangerous very quickly when used in a way it was never meant to be used.

Why household glue is dangerous inside the body

Household superglue is designed to bond surfaces fast, especially when it meets moisture. That is why it can set quickly on skin and even faster on delicate internal tissue. Inside the urinary tract, glue can harden into a solid mass, stick to the lining, block the flow of urine, and make removal difficult.

Medical skin glues do exist, but they are made and used differently, and they are not a DIY treatment for problems involving the bladder, urethra, or genitals. Putting any non-medical substance into the urinary tract can cause injury, pain, infection, bleeding, and urinary retention.

If glue gets on external skin, gentle washing and soaking can help. If it gets in the eye, mouth, genitals, or inside the body, urgent medical advice is the safest step. Do not try to scrape, cut, or dissolve it yourself.

What bladder leaks can mean

Bladder leakage, also called urinary incontinence, is a symptom rather than a single disease. It can happen when pressure on the bladder causes leaks, when the bladder contracts without warning, when the bladder does not empty properly, or when a temporary problem irritates the urinary tract.

Common triggers include pelvic floor weakness, constipation, urinary infection, prostate problems, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause-related changes, some medicines, and nerve or mobility issues. Drinking habits can matter too. Caffeine and alcohol can worsen symptoms for some people.

Because the causes vary, the right fix depends on what is driving the leaks. Self-treating without knowing the cause can make things worse or delay care for a blockage, infection, or another underlying problem.

What to do instead

Bladder leaks are often treatable, and a clinician can usually suggest a plan after asking about symptoms and checking for common causes. Useful first steps often include pelvic floor exercises, timed toilet trips, treating constipation, reviewing fluids, and checking whether medicines could be contributing.

Use pads or protective underwear if needed, but do not put plugs, glues, or other objects into the urethra. Seek prompt medical help if leakage starts suddenly, if you cannot pass urine, or if symptoms come with pain, fever, blood in the urine, swelling, or weakness.

A practical way to prepare for an appointment is to note when leaks happen, what you were doing, how often you pass urine, and any drinks, medicines, or bowel symptoms that seem linked. That kind of pattern can help point to the cause quickly.