Frequent prolonged erections may call for emergency operation

Feb 14, 2011

AN erection that lasts longer than a few hours can be bad news. In the same way, a frequent erection is no prize. <br>A prolonged erection that lasts more than four hours and is unrelated to physical or mental stimulation is referred to as priapism.

By Reste Namuhenge
AN erection that lasts longer than a few hours can be bad news. In the same way, a frequent erection is no prize.
A prolonged erection that lasts more than four hours and is unrelated to physical or mental stimulation is referred to as priapism.

According to Dr. Dan Murokora, a gynaecologist at Mulago Hospital, an inappropriate erection is no cause for celebration, but an invitation to the emergency room. He adds that within an hour or so, the genitals may begin to hurt and within six hours, permanent damage leading to impotence may occur.

“If a man has an erection that lasts longer than a few hours, and it does not go away in the absence of stimulation and hurts, one should not worry about embarrassment, but about his future” he says.

Causes
Ruth Ssenyonyi, a counsellor working with Bank of Uganda, says frequent erections are caused by what one watches and uses in terms of medication, and what one thinks about.

Ssenyonyi says this may come as a result of watching pornographic material such as pictures of nude people. She says this problem is more inclined to self-control that moves one into the sexual direction and letting sex take control of one’s mind.

From a medical perspective, Murokora argues that an erection persists because the veins that carry blood from the genital area are squeezed, trapping blood inside.

“Tissue throughout the body, particularly around the genitals, depends on a steady flow of fresh blood to supply it with nutrients and oxygen. As a result, priapism caused by vein shutdown can be dangerous,” he explains.

Murokora, however, argues that in only half of the cases handled do they get to know the causes of vein induced priapism.

Some drugs such as cocaine and marijuana, anti-depressants, blood thinners, high blood pressure medication and medication for blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia can cause the problem.

Priapism can also be sparked off by a black widow spider bite, carbon monoxide poisoning, extended sexual activity, genes and trauma to the spinal or genital area.

Types of priapism
Murokora adds that there is a less dangerous kind of priapism called arterial priapism which is an injury between the scrotum and anus, and may rapture the arterial vessels carrying blood into the penis, causing it to gorge.

There are two categories of priapism; low flow priapism and high flow priapism.

Low flow priapism is a result of blood being trapped in the erection area while high flow priapism occurs when an artery is ruptured from an injury to the genital area, preventing blood to circulate normally.

Treatment
“I would help such a person by checking what is going on in his mind, what he watches and the medication he takes. If it is medical, I would recommend a medical doctor but if it is psychological, I would deal with it,” Ssenyonyi says.

She adds that some people think about sex all the time. “We advise them to put a limit to watching pornographic material and taking sex stimulating medicine. If they cannot change, we send them for medical treatment,” Ssenyonyi adds.

Murokora advises that in case of an artillery-induced problem, clotting may be encouraged or a relatively simple surgical correction may be done.
“When the veins shut down, the situation is more urgent.

The ‘old’ blood may need to be removed with a needle to allow fresh blood to flow,” he explains.

The first remedy to priapism in sickle cell cases is blood transfusion, not surgical interdiction because these patients have less blood in their bodies.

Drugs which help in opening the veins and arteries may also be used. As long as one who gets a prolonged erection seeks help, the condition is reversible.
Experts advise that one seeks medical help if he suspects priapism, cautioning that it is not wise to administer self-medication.

Priapism can occur in all age groups, including newborns. It is, however, more common among men aged 20 and 50. The female kind of priapsm is called clitorism.

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