Understanding priapism: Causes, symptoms and treatment of painful prolonged erections
April 29, 2019
Priapism is a medical condition characterized by a persistent and painful erection lasting for more than four hours. Unlike a normal erection, which is typically related to sexual stimulation or excitement, priapism occurs without such triggers.
During this condition, the shaft of the penis becomes rigid and inflexible, while the head of the penis (the glans) remains soft. The penis is also typically painful or tender. Cause Priapism can be caused by several factors. These include medication, such as an overdose of erectile dysfunction medication or anti-hypertensives. Other causes may include blood-related disorders or haematological diseases, such as cancer or sickle cell, and trauma, such as injury to the blood vessel. In some cases, the cause of priapism may be unknown. Treatment If a patient experiences a persistent erection within two to four hours, they can take measures such as a cold shower, drinking more water to hydrate, and walking up and down stairs to divert the blood supply. Ischemic priapism is a medical emergency caused by blood not being able to exit the penis. The first step in treatment is to relieve pain, followed by draining excess blood from the penis through a small needle and syringe (aspiration). A saline solution may be used to flush the penis during this procedure. Medications like phenylephrine may be injected to constrict blood vessels that carry blood into the penis, while opening up blood vessels that carry blood out of the penis to increase blood flow out of the penis. Surgery or other procedures may be necessary if other treatments fail. If you have sickle cell disease, additional treatments may be necessary. Nonischemic priapism, on the other hand, typically goes away on its own without treatment. However, in some cases, surgery may be necessary to insert an absorbable gel that blocks blood flow to the penis or to repair arteries or tissue damage resulting from an injury. Ice packs and pressure on the perineum may help end the erection. Your doctor may suggest a watch-and-wait approach since there is no risk of damage to the penis. |
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