Contents:
- Medical Video: Prolonged Erections Can Be a Health Issue - Coping With Priapism
- Overview of priapism, erectile problems are too long
- Who is at risk of experiencing priapism?
- 1. Men who experience impaired blood flow
- 2. Men who take certain drugs
- 3. Men with certain conditions
- Treatment options for treating priapismus
Medical Video: Prolonged Erections Can Be a Health Issue - Coping With Priapism
Almost most men must shudder once they imagine their penis cannot "stand" or impotence. Erectile dysfunction must be watched out, but you also should not be happy if the penis is erect for too long for 4 hours or more - even without sexual stimulation. This condition is called priapism. Not all men can experience this, so read further to find out various risk factors.
Overview of priapism, erectile problems are too long
Prolonged erection due to priapism is not caused by hypersensitivity to sexual stimulation, but due to a disruption of blood vessel function and nerves in the body.
Normally, erection occurs when the penis is drained of fresh blood from the heart so that it expands and stiffens "standing" before finally orgasm and ejaculation. The penis returns to limp afterwards because the blood returns to return to the heart.
If you experience priapism, blood will continue to be trapped in the penis shaft and slowly the oxygen in it will evaporate. The clotted blood will then turn sour and stiff, making it difficult to get out of the penis.
In addition to stiff penis because the erection is too long without any sexual stimulation, priapism can also cause pain that continues to increase. In ischemic priapism, this condition can occur repeatedly which is characterized by a stiff penis border, but the tip (head) of the penis feels soft.
Blood that lacks oxygen in the penis can damage penile tissue. If not treated promptly this condition can result in penile tissue damage and permanent erectile dysfunction.
Who is at risk of experiencing 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 an erection too long 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 erection that is painful in a short duration and continues and recurs to become more frequent and longer erections.
In addition to sickle cell anemia, some of these blood disorders can also cause a man to experience an erection too long due to a disturbance in the blood flow in and out of the penis:
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Thalassemia
2. Men who take certain drugs
Priapism can also occur as a possible side effect after using certain drugs that can affect blood flow to the penis. These drugs include:
- Drugs that are injected directly into the penis to treat erectile dysfunction, such as alprostadil, papaverine, phentolamine, and others.
- Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutrin), and sertraline.
- Alpha blockers such as prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin, and tamsulosin.
- Drugs used to treat anxiety disorders or psychotic disorders, such as hydroxyzine, risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), lithium, clozapine, chlorpromazine and thioridazine.
- Blood thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin.
- Hormone therapy, for example gonadotropin.
- Hormones such as testosterone-releasing hormone or gonadotropin.
- Drugs used to treat ADHD, such as atomoxetine (Strattera).
3. Men with certain conditions
The various conditions below can increase a man's risk of prolonged erection, namely:
- Metabolic disorders
- Neurogenic disorders
- Cancer involving the penis
- Bite spiders, scorpion stings, and other toxic infections
- Alcohol and drug abuse
Treatment options for treating priapismus
Priapism treatment is tailored to the underlying cause. The most common prolonged erectile treatment option is the use of prescription drugs such as phenylephrine, physical therapy by removing blood that clots and rinsing the penis using a saline solution to reduce pain, until surgery is the 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.
