Priapism (painful erections)
Priapism is a long-lasting painful erection. It can cause permanent damage to your penis if not treated quickly.
There are things you can try to reduce your erection.
Do
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try to go for a pee
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have a warm bath or shower
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drink lots of water
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go for a gentle walk
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try exercises, such as squats or running on the spot
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take painkillers like paracetamol if you need to
Don’t
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do not apply ice packs or cold water to your penis – this can make things worse, particularly if you have sickle cell disease
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do not have sex or masturbate – it will not make your erection go away
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do not drink alcohol
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do not smoke
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have an erection that lasts more than 3 to 4 hours
- you have sickle cell disease and a painful erection that lasts for more than 1 hour
An erection that lasts this long needs to be treated in hospital as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to the penis.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
Treatments to help reduce your erection include:
- using a needle to drain blood from your penis, which is done while the area is numbed under local anaesthetic
- tablets or injections directly into your penis
- surgery to drain the blood through a tiny cut, done while you’re asleep under general anaesthetic
Priapism often affects people with sickle cell disease.
Other causes include:
- blood-thinning medicines, like warfarin
- some antidepressants
- drugs, like cannabis and cocaine
- some medicines for high blood pressure
- other blood disorders, like thalassaemia and leukaemia
- some treatments for erectile dysfunction
14 June 2024
