Prolonged erection is dangerous
MEN who have problems with erections may wish they got one lasting one. But that is a dangerous condition that can lead to total destruction of the penis. It is known as priapism.
By Herbert Mugarura
MEN who have problems with erections may wish they got one lasting one. But that is a dangerous condition that can lead to total destruction of the penis. It is known as priapism.
Priapism is a persistent painful erection, not necessarily associated with stimulation or sexual desire, that can last from several hours up to a few days. It can occur in any age group including newborns. However, it usually affects men between the ages of 5 to 10 years and 20 to 50 years.
This condition was named after Priapus, the Greek god of fertility. He was apparently an ugly, satyr-like man with enormous genitalia. Statues and pictures of Priapus always showed him to be well-endowed and, seemingly, perpetually erect.
For a normal erection to occur, muscles around the arteries within the penis relax, increasing the in-coming blood. The resulting swelling of the muscles compresses the veins in the penis, thus trapping blood within the penis.
After ejaculation, the associated adrenaline surge compresses the arteries and relaxes the pressure on the veins, which allows more blood to leave the penis, thus loss of erection (detumescence).
This situation is not supposed to last for a long time. When it persists for many hours, it causes damage of the penile nervous fibres, blood vessels and vein valves. The veins get sealed (corrupted) by the persistent erection, thereby hindering fresh blood circulation to carry oxygen, hormones and neuro-nutrients to feed the over-stretched and over-expanded nervous fibres and neuro-muscular endings (junctions).
The penile tissues loose their elasticity and become plastically deformed and fatigued. In case of continued sex, the nervous endings become abraded due to the excessive sexual friction. The erection usually draws blood from the groin region which also suffers greatly in case of priapism.
Very few cases of priapism are without an obvious cause. In most cases, priapism results from use of certain drugs or underlying medical conditions. Use of higher doses of drug injections into the penis to treat some degree of impotence, Viagra, alcohol abuse and anti-depressants can cause priapism.
Certain diseases like sickle cell anaemia and leukaemia are the most common conditions that cause priapism. They cause the blood to thicken, or cause red blood cells to lose their flexibility and mobility.
Many cases of priapism resolve spontaneously after repeated ejaculation, physical activity or a brisk walk.
Most men will seek treatment for this painful erection before it goes on for too long, usually within four to six hours.
Some drugs may help if given early enough. In most cases, treatment involves draining blood from the penis with a needle placed in the side of the penis in conjunction with heparin and saline to reduce clotting.
In resistant cases, a reversing agent may be injected into the penis to help shrink blood vessels and thus, decrease blood flow into the penis. Sickle-cell anaemia patients with priapism are usually treated by blood transfusion. Rarely, surgery is required to avoid permanent damage to the penis muscle.
The writer is a medical doctor
mugarrajk@doctor.com
0772444526
MEN who have problems with erections may wish they got one lasting one. But that is a dangerous condition that can lead to total destruction of the penis. It is known as priapism.
Priapism is a persistent painful erection, not necessarily associated with stimulation or sexual desire, that can last from several hours up to a few days. It can occur in any age group including newborns. However, it usually affects men between the ages of 5 to 10 years and 20 to 50 years.
This condition was named after Priapus, the Greek god of fertility. He was apparently an ugly, satyr-like man with enormous genitalia. Statues and pictures of Priapus always showed him to be well-endowed and, seemingly, perpetually erect.
For a normal erection to occur, muscles around the arteries within the penis relax, increasing the in-coming blood. The resulting swelling of the muscles compresses the veins in the penis, thus trapping blood within the penis.
After ejaculation, the associated adrenaline surge compresses the arteries and relaxes the pressure on the veins, which allows more blood to leave the penis, thus loss of erection (detumescence).
This situation is not supposed to last for a long time. When it persists for many hours, it causes damage of the penile nervous fibres, blood vessels and vein valves. The veins get sealed (corrupted) by the persistent erection, thereby hindering fresh blood circulation to carry oxygen, hormones and neuro-nutrients to feed the over-stretched and over-expanded nervous fibres and neuro-muscular endings (junctions).
The penile tissues loose their elasticity and become plastically deformed and fatigued. In case of continued sex, the nervous endings become abraded due to the excessive sexual friction. The erection usually draws blood from the groin region which also suffers greatly in case of priapism.
Very few cases of priapism are without an obvious cause. In most cases, priapism results from use of certain drugs or underlying medical conditions. Use of higher doses of drug injections into the penis to treat some degree of impotence, Viagra, alcohol abuse and anti-depressants can cause priapism.
Certain diseases like sickle cell anaemia and leukaemia are the most common conditions that cause priapism. They cause the blood to thicken, or cause red blood cells to lose their flexibility and mobility.
Many cases of priapism resolve spontaneously after repeated ejaculation, physical activity or a brisk walk.
Most men will seek treatment for this painful erection before it goes on for too long, usually within four to six hours.
Some drugs may help if given early enough. In most cases, treatment involves draining blood from the penis with a needle placed in the side of the penis in conjunction with heparin and saline to reduce clotting.
In resistant cases, a reversing agent may be injected into the penis to help shrink blood vessels and thus, decrease blood flow into the penis. Sickle-cell anaemia patients with priapism are usually treated by blood transfusion. Rarely, surgery is required to avoid permanent damage to the penis muscle.
The writer is a medical doctor
mugarrajk@doctor.com
0772444526