An Unwelcome Erection - The ironic horror of the penis disorder known as Priapism

Guys wish to stay hard, don’t they? They brag about how often and long they can get and stay erect. There are drugs that sell by the truckloads because they give men erections. But what if that wish came true to the point of an inability to return to a flaccid state? And what if the erection was painful, to boot? It would be ironic, but not impossible. They’d be suffering from the disorder known as Priapism.

The most common type of the condition is called Ischemic priapism. Simply put, it occurs when blood is trapped in the penis. It usually lasts more than four hours and is accompanied by sensations of pain. In order to prevent tissue damage that could result in permanent erectile dysfunction, immediate treatment is needed.
 
Ideally, an erection occurs in response to sexual stimulation; blood vessels expand, blood flows to the spongy tissues, and the penis hardens. After an orgasm, or when the stimulation has subsided, the blood flows out, and the penis returns to its normal state. When the process is interrupted because either the blood, blood vessels or nerves have diverted from their normal blood flow, priapism sets in.
 
Blood disorders like Leukemia and Sickle cell anemia (the most common cause of priapism in boys) can cause the condition, as may chronic alcohol abuse, prescription medications (such as erectile dysfunction drugs) and some illegal drugs (like marijuana or cocaine).

Another type of the disorder, known as Nonischemic priapism, is not caused by blood that can’t get out, but rather excessive blood flow into the penis. It is usually the result of trauma to the penis, testicles, pelvis or perineum. In some rare cases, however, doctors simply cannot pinpoint the cause of the everlasting hardness.
 
Besides the persistent uncomfortable and potentially embarrasing erection, priapism can cause some serious complications. You see, the blood trapped in the penis becomes toxic. When the erection lasts for longer than four hours, the blood is oxygen-deprived and harmful to the surrounding tissues. Untreated priapism may cause erectile dysfunction, or even disfiguration of the penis.