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Priapism is a prolonged and usually painful erection that persists for hours after badual stimulation, or appears even without badual stimulation.
This is not a joke, in fact, those who suffer from it should seek emergency medical help.
The name of the condition comes from the god of fertility in Greek mythology, Priapus which was still depicted in paintings and sculptures with a large erect phallus.
Priapism affects men more frequently in their thirties according to information from the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
Although in general terms it is a rare condition it is common in some groups of patients with other underlying diseases, and may also appear as a side effect of certain drugs and drug abuse, such as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and other drugs.
According to a 2013 study published in the journal Journal of Urology it is estimated that each year affects 5 out of 100,000 men in the United States
But this Long and painful erection may also affect women, albeit with a lower incidence, in what is known as priapism of the clitoris .
Why is this a medical emergency? [19659010] Priapism is not caused by badual stimulation, but by a circulation problem of blood, which remains stuck in the penis.
Normally, the erection occurs when blood flows to the penis. spongy tissue of the penis before physical or psychological stimulation. After the stimulation, the blood flows and the penis returns to its non-rigid state (flaccid).
But in the case of priapism, normal blood flow is impaired, and that is why erection persists. And if it's not treated, it can be dangerous.
"If you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours you need urgent medical care," says Mayo Clinic.
If blood does not circulate clots can form and the erectile tissue can be damaged or die from a lack of oxygen in the cells, which could potentially lead to permanent erectile dysfunction.
One type more dangerous than another
There are two different types of priapism, which requires a different medical intervention.
Ischemic priapism should be treated as soon as possible: it is usually progressively painful, because the blood can no longer leave the penis and needs immediate medical intervention, which is usually done with drainage penile blood and medications are administered, until the erection is complete.
In these cases, the body of the penis is usually rigid, but the tip of the penis is soft.
Non-ischemic priapism also known as "high-throughput priapism", usually does not cause pain and often disappears without treatment. In this case, there is no immediate risk of damaging the penile tissues and the doctor may recommend waiting to see if he resolves on his own.
In these cases, the body of the penis can be erected but not completely rigid. "Placing ice packs and putting pressure on the perineum (the area between the base of the penis and the anus) could help at the end of the erection," says the Mayo Clinic
in both case, if the conventional treatments do not do it. A surgery may be necessary to redirect blood flow and pbad blood into the penis normally or to introduce a material, such as an absorbable gel, which temporarily blocks the flow of blood to the penis .
Surgery may also be necessary to repair damage to arteries or tissues that occur by injury
Recurrent or intermittent priapism which is a form of priapism ischemic, is a rare condition for the general population, but common in men with sickle cell disease a group of hereditary disorders of red blood cells.
In these cases, the condition It begins with unwanted and painful erections of short duration, but may develop over time in more frequent and longer erections, so if you experience persistent recurrent erections, even if they resolve, you should consult a doctor
] Ischemic priapism is also badociated with diseases such as leukemia, thalbademia and other blood disorders.
And according to the Mayo Clinic, this may be a consequence of drug abuse or the use of these drugs:
- antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutrin ) and sertraline
- Alpha-blockers, such as prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin and tamsulosin
- Anxiety or psychotic disorders, such as hydroxyzine, risperidone (Risperdal) , olanzapine (Zyprexa), lithium, clozapine, chlorpromazine and thioridazine [19] 659029] Anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin
- Hormones such as testosterone or gonadotropin-releasing hormone
- Drugs for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), such as Atomoxetine (Strattera)
Priapism Affects Women
Clitoral Priapism Is a rare condition that is not usually quoted e in the medical literature.
It is a phenomenon similar to that affecting the penis, and also It results from the inability of the blood to circulate normally through the erectile tissues, which generates a swelling of the clitoris and a inflammation which tends to be very painful.
However, in contrast to ischemic priapism, priapism of the clitoris is not considered a dangerous medical emergency because the risk of blood clots is lower because in this bad area there are more blood vessels [19659003Howeverwomenwhosufferfromitneedmedicalhelptorelievepain
Clitoral priapism is usually badociated with the use of drugs that block adrenergic receptors and inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. , as is the case of certain drugs antidepressants .
In a 2014 study published in the journal Journal of Sexual Medicine the case of a 29-year-old woman is described. went to the emergency department with pain due to a severe case of priapism that was already 5 days old, and which appeared after the start of treatment with bupropion and trazodone-based antidepressants . Analgesic and pseudoephedrine, a drug that narrows blood vessels and is normally prescribed to treat nasal congestion and sinuses, until symptoms subside.
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