Priapism is the long-lasting erection that you really don't want. Find out when and why it's a medical emergency.
At first blush, a long-lasting erection might sound like a good problem to have. But be careful what you wish for. When an erection lasts for more than four hours it means the affected person has priapism http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5338, a condition not to take lightly — all jokes aside. In the list of disclaimers for erectile dysfunction ads, mention of erections lasting longer than four hours is always front and center — and when the voiceover tells you to call your doctor if this happens to you, that’s not just a frivolous bit of advice .
"A long-lasting erection http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=30873, one that lasts more than four hours without sexual stimulation, is a medical emergency and could be the last erection you ever have if you don't get help right away," says Michael Feloney, MD, a urologist at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Why the alarm? The reason priapism is so dangerous is because it’s caused by blood trapped inside the penis. When blood can't circulate and carry oxygen to the cells that make up the structures of your penis, those cells start to die, which can result in tissue damage, scar tissue, and in extreme cases, permanent erectile dysfunctionhttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ee/erectiledysfunction.php.
Types of Priapism
"There are two types of priapism — high-flow priapism and low-flow priapism," explains Nelson Bennett, MD, a urologist at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. Both types cause a long-lasting erection, but one is significantly more dangerous than the other.
High-flow priapism is caused by an injury that damages an artery supplying blood to the penis, causing it to be oversupplied with oxygen-rich blood. This type of priapism is rare and is not painful. Although it may require medical treatment, this kind of long-lasting erection is not an emergency.
"Low-flow priapism is the type of long-lasting erection that traps old blood inside the penis blood chambers," explains Dr. Feloney. "This type of priapism in more painful and more dangerous."
Remember that dangerous priapism is a painful, long-lasting erection that is no longer related to any sexual activity. “If you have sexual intercourse over several hours, and your erection goes away between orgasms, that is not the same as priapism," explains Dr. Bennett.
Factors Leading to Low-Flow Priapism
Erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra (natural: http://bit.ly/treatment-for-ed) can cause priapism, but so can many other drugs. Although medication can cause priapism in men between age 20 and 50, boys between age 5 and 10 also get priapism as can newborns. In about a third of all cases of priapism, the cause is never known. The other two-thirds of cases are generally caused by the following:
- Erectile dysfunction medications. There’s good news here. ED drugs you see advertised on television rarely cause priapism. Oral medications and ED treatments that are injected into the penis are responsible for less than 1 percent of priapism cases. But there’s a caveat: "The chances of a long-lasting erection with ED drugs goes up if men who really don't need these drugs are using them recreationally," warns Feloney.
Other drugs. Long-lasting erections have been linked to recreational drugs such as cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. Prescription drugs that may cause priapism include meds for depression, anxiety, and psychosis http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=23828, some blood pressure medications, the male hormone testosterone, and drugs used to prevent clotting.
- Certain health conditions. Diseases that cause blood flow to slow down and lead to an increase in clotting can cause priapism. Among these conditions are sickle cell disease, polycythemia, and some blood cancers.
- Injuries. Injuries that result in damage to blood vessels usually cause high-flow priapism. However, injuries to the spinal cord or damage to the genital area from some types of cancer may cause low-flow priapism. In rare cases, an external injury to the penis may cause priapism — unusual reports point to spider bites and, in at least one notable case, getting a tattoo on the penis.
Priapism Treatments
Treatment of priapism depends on the cause, and the length of time a patient has had the erection. High-flow priapism usually calls for a planned (not emergency) medical or surgical procedure to block the abnormal blood flow to the penis . Low-flow priapism requires emergency treatment, and may involve:
- Ice packs placed on the penis and pain medication
- Drugs injected into the penis to decrease blood flow
- A needle inserted into the penis to drain old blood
If treatment for low-flow priapism is sought within four to six hours, the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent.
Never ignore a long-lasting erection, and don't try to treat it yourself. "After four hours, you should be at your doctor's office or in an emergency room," says Bennett.
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