A dangerous erection condition called priapism
Priapism is a painful erection that lasts more than four hours. It is considered a surgical emergency and requires immediate medical attention. Our North Austin urologists advise patients that without proper medical treatment, permanent damage can result.
Three types of long-lasting erections
There are three types of this condition: ischemic, recurrent and non-ischemic.
Ischemic (or low flow). The most common type, ischemic priapism is a condition in which blood is trapped in the penis.
Recurrent (or stuttering). This subset of ischemic priapism is characterized by repeated episodes of ischemic priapism. The erections come and go, often with increasing duration. While the erections may not last for hours initially, they do indicate a medical problem.
Nonischemic (or high flow). Less common than ischemic, nonischemic priapism is often the result of trauma to the penis. In this type, there is some blood flow to the penis, but the arteries are not controlling blood flow properly.
There are two key symptoms for all types of long-lasting erections.
- Erection lasting more than four hours
- Erection unrelated to stimulation or sexual arousal
Ischemic involves a painful erection that worsens over time, and a penis with an erect shaft, but a soft tip. Nonischemic is painless, with a shaft that is not fully erect.
What’s causing this painful erection?
Although a third of cases do not have an identified cause, there are some known causes. Blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease, leukemia and multiple myeloma, are associated with it. The use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines can cause these painful erections.
Other risk factors include trauma to the pelvic region or spinal cord, as well as taking certain medications, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, alpha-blockers and erectile dysfunction medications.
Diagnosing priapism and the specific erection disorder
The doctor will first take your medical history and perform a physical exam, but to determine the type of long-lasting erection, the physician will run additional tests.
- Blood oxygen level in the penis
- Ultrasound to show blood flow in the penis
- Blood tests to check for undiagnosed blood disorders
- Drug tests to identify substances in the patient’s system
Immediate medical treatment is key to preventing permanent damage
Prompt medical treatment is important to prevent damage to the penis tissue. Do not attempt to reduce the erection yourself.
If you have an erection that is painful or has lasted more than four hours, call our office immediately for medical direction. If your symptoms occur outside of regular business hours, go to the emergency room.
If you have recurrent erections or have had a previous episode of priapism, see a urologist to determine the cause and whether there is a need for ongoing treatment. Contact North Austin Urology for an appointment with one of our specialists.