Painful and persistent erection, scientifically known as priapism, is an emergency situation that can present as a complication in the use of certain medications or blood disorders, such as blood clots, sickle cell anemia or leukemia, for example.
Because this change causes an erection that does not pass, injuries to the penis from excess blood can occur and therefore treatment should be done as soon as possible in the hospital.
- Generally.
- Humans can make a full recovery without having sequelae.
- However.
- It is important to go to the emergency room as soon as possible to avoid the occurrence of injuries.
Symptoms may vary depending on the type of priapism, being ischemic priapism, which is the most dangerous, causing:
In the case of non-ischemic priapism, symptoms are similar, but there is no pain. However, both situations can cause permanent damage to the penis, which can lead to erectile dysfunction, it is recommended to go to the hospital when the erection causes pain and takes more than an hour to disappear after the end of the stimulus.
Erection is a natural process that occurs when there is a physical or psychological stimulus, due to increased blood flow to the penis, causing an increase in size. Normally, the erection disappears within a few minutes of sexual pleasure or at the end of the stimulus, as the veins relax and blood flows from the penis, allowing it to decrease in size.
However, certain diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, or other blood disorders, can affect circulation in the intimate area, preventing the erection from disappearing.
In addition, the use of medications, strokes in the intimate area and the use of certain medications, such as sexual stimulants, antidepressants or anticoagulants, can also lead to this problem.
The most commonly used treatments for priapism include
In more severe cases, where it is not possible to solve the problem with these techniques, your doctor may also recommend surgery to block the artery that leads blood to the penis or to drain all blood from the organ.
Generally, humans can make a full recovery without having sequelae, however, it is important to go to the emergency room as soon as possible to avoid the occurrence of injuries.
Blood trapped inside the penis contains less oxygen and, as a result, small lesions from lack of oxygen appear. When the erection lasts a long time, the lesions worsen, which can lead to erectile dysfunction.