An erection, usually painful, that lasts for more than four hours and is not necessarily the result of sexual arousal, is known as priapism. Priapism occurs because the veins in the penis that should normally narrow during an erection get bigger. This results in the blood becoming trapped and unable to drain.
Men and boys in the age range of 5-10 years and 20-50 years are most at risk. Up to one third of cases have no specific cause, but priapism is known to be associated with sickle cell anemia. Up to 42% of men with sickle cell will develop priapism. Other known causes are alcohol and cocaine misuse, spinal trauma, and some medications such as Desyrel for depression and Thorazine used to treat certain mental illnesses. Priapism is not self correcting and therefore needs to be treated immediately.
During a medical examination the doctor may want to run some tests, possibly an ultrasound or angiogram and blood tests. Treatment is aimed at first making the erection subside and then treating the underlying cause. In order to reduce the erection an injection of decongestant medication is given, followed by the draining of a small amount of blood from the penis to relieve pressure. A local anesthetic is usually given prior to the procedure.
Some men experience semi-erect and sustained painless erections. This is usually a result of trauma where too much blood flows into the penis, rather than narrowed veins. This can be treated via surgery or with a catheter threaded through blood vessels in the groin.
Priapism gets its name from the Greek God of fertility, Priapus.
