Table of contents:
- At first glance priapism, erection problems take too long
- Who is at risk for priapism?
- 1. Men who experience impaired blood flow
- 2. Men who consume certain drugs
- 3. Men with certain conditions
- Treatment options for treating priapism
Most men would shudder at the thought of his penis not being able to "stand up" aka impotence. Erectile dysfunction is something to be aware of, but you also shouldn't be happy just yet if the penis is erect for too long for 4 hours or more - even without sexual stimulation. This condition is known as priapism. Not all men can experience this, so read on to find out the various risk factors.
At first glance priapism, erection problems take too long
Long erection due to priapism is not caused by hypersensitivity to sexual stimulation, but due to impaired function of blood vessels and nerves in the body.
Normally, an erection occurs when the penis is drained with fresh blood from the heart so that it expands and stiffens "standing up" before finally orgasm and ejaculation. The penis is limp again afterwards as the blood returns to the heart.
If you have priapism, the blood will continue to get trapped in the shaft of the penis and the oxygen in it will slowly evaporate. The clot will then turn sour and stiff, making it difficult to get out of the penis.
Apart from a stiff penis due to prolonged erections without sexual stimulation, priapism can also cause increased pain. In ischemic type priapism, this condition can occur repeatedly characterized by the border of the penis that feels stiff, but the tip (head) of the penis feels soft.
Blood that lacks oxygen in the penis can damage the penile tissue. If not treated promptly, this condition can lead to tissue damage in the penis and permanent erectile dysfunction.
Who is at risk for priapism?
Priapismus is a rare condition, but usually affects men in their 30s. There are several types of men who are most at risk of having prolonged erections due to priapism. They are:
1. Men who experience impaired blood flow
Recurrent priapism (ischemic priapism) is usually more common in men who have sickle cell anemia. In some cases, the condition begins with a sudden, painful erection of short duration and continues and recurs into more frequent and longer erections.
Apart from sickle cell anemia, some of these blood disorders can also cause men to experience erections for too long due to disruption in the flow of blood into and out of the penis:
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Thalassemia
2. Men who consume certain drugs
Priapismus can also occur as a possible side effect after using certain medications that can affect blood flow to the penis. These medications include:
- Medicines that are injected directly into the penis to treat erectile dysfunction, such as alprostadil, papaverine, phentolamine, etc.
- Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutrin), and sertraline.
- Alpha blockers such as prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin, and tamsulosin.
- Medicines used to treat anxiety disorders or psychotic disorders, such as hydroxyzine, risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), lithium, clozapine, chlorpromazine and thioridazine.
- Blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin.
- Hormone therapy, eg gonadotropins.
- Hormones such as testosterone or gonadotropin releasing hormones.
- Medicines used to treat ADHD, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
3. Men with certain conditions
The various conditions below can increase a man's risk of having a prolonged erection, namely:
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurogenic disorders
- Cancer involving the penis
- Spider bites, scorpion stings, and other poisonous infections
- Alcohol and drug abuse
Treatment options for treating priapism
Priapism treatment is tailored to the underlying cause. The most common treatment options for prolonged erections are the use of prescription drugs such as phenylephrine, physical therapy with clotting blood and rinsing the penis using a salt solution to reduce pain, to surgery as a doctor's last resort to improve blood flow in the penis. Talk to your doctor further about the type of treatment that is most appropriate for your condition.
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