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Priapism

Priapismus · Priapismus

male only

What it is

An erection lasting over four hours without desire — from sickle cell disease, drugs or injections; after six hours the tissue starts to die.

Symptoms & signs

  • Painful rigid erection over 4 hours
  • soft glans with a rigid shaft
  • no sexual stimulation

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Painful erection lasting over 2 hours
  • call 112 / 911 now Any erection over 4 hours without desire
  • see a doctor soon Erection problems after an injury to the groin

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Emergency: blood gas from the penis
  • aspiration and phenylephrine injection
  • shunt surgery if that fails
  • treat a sickle-cell crisis

Natural & lifestyle

  • No excess erection drugs, cocaine or cannabis
  • hydration in sickle cell disease

Emerging & experimental

  • PDE5 inhibitors to prevent recurrent sickle-cell priapism
  • hydroxyurea in sickle cell disease (case series)

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Cold showers and waiting — the window closes before tissue dies not confirmed in trials
  • Climbing stairs — a folk remedy; may help mild cases, and delays care anecdotal / traditional
  • Herbal remedies — anecdotal anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes