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Beranda / Health

What Is Priapismus, A Rare Disease That Affects Men?

Priapism

Definition of priapism

What is priapism?

Priapism or priapism is a condition of prolonged involuntary erection of the penis for several hours. Moment normal erection, the penis will be filled with blood and will settle until orgasm occurs.

If a man has priapism, the blood flow in the penis is blocked and cannot flow out. As a result, men can experience continuous erections lasting four or more hours, even in the absence of sexual stimulation.

Quoted via Mayo Clinic, priapism is divided into two types that most commonly occur, namely ischemic and non-ischemic.

1. Ischemic priapismus

Ischemic priapism or low blood flow is a condition caused by blood trapped in the erection chambers of the penis. This often occurs without cause in healthy men, but also affects men with sickle cell anemia (sickle cell anemia), leukemia (blood cancer), or malaria.

2. Non-ischemic priapism

High flow or non-ischemic priapism is less common when compared to low flow. The disturbance caused is usually painless. This condition is caused by rupturing of an artery due to injury to the penis or perineum – the area between the scrotum and anus, preventing blood in the penis from flowing normally.

How common is this condition?

Priapismus is a rare disease and cases are rare. This disease can affect boys aged 5 to 10 years, and adult men aged 20 to 50 years.

Men who have special conditions, such as sickle cell anemia (sickle cell anemia) also have a high risk of developing priapism. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Priapism signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of priapism?

You can experience repeated and prolonged priapism. When relapsing, the erection is repeated continuously and lasts approximately 4 hours causing it pain in the penis.

Although in most cases the priapism will end after a few hours, it can also recur after a few days, months, or years, so it can also be classified as a prolonged condition.

Based on the type, this disease condition has its own special symptoms. Some of the signs and symptoms that you experience if you have ischemic priapism, such as:

  • Penile erection that lasts more than four hours and is not associated with sexual arousal or arousal.
  • The shaft of the penis feels stiff, but the tip or head of the penis feels soft.
  • There is a prolonged pain in the penis.

Meanwhile, if you experience non-ischemic priapism, some signs and symptoms that may occur, such as:

  • Penile erection that lasts more than four hours and is not associated with sexual arousal or arousal.
  • The shaft of the penis looks erect, but not completely stiff.
  • The pain sensation is not too painful.

Some of the other symptoms or signs may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

When should you see a doctor?

You need to call your doctor immediately and get emergency treatment if you have a persistent and painful erection of the penis that lasts more than four hours. Every body acts differently from one another. Talk to your doctor about the best solution for your situation.

Causes of priapism

What are the causes of priapism?

To date there is no accurate cause for priapism. Quoted from NetDoctor, approximately 35% of cases experienced by sufferers were idiopathic – no known cause – and 21% related to drug therapy or alcohol abuse. In addition, 21% of cases occurred due to trauma and another 8% due to blood disorders.

But widely, priapism generally occurs due to injury and damage to the system that functions to restore the condition of the penis “withered” after ejaculation.

There are several damages that can cause priapism, including:

  • Blood disorders, especially sickle cell anemia (sickle cell anemia), myeloma, thalassemia, and leukemia.
  • Trauma or penile injury, either accidentally or after surgery.
  • Nervous system damage, such as injury to the bones – especially the spine, but rarely results multiple sclerosis or diabetes – usually involves an element of overstimulation, resulting in high blood flow to the penis accompanied by deterioration of the penile descent after ejaculation.
  • Impotence drugs – especially those given by injection into the penis, such as:
    • Papaverine.
    • Phentolamine.
    • Prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil), which causes increased blood flow by dilating blood vessels in the penis.
    • Sildenafil (Viagra), it is almost unknown except for concurrent administration of other drugs, such as injectable prostaglandins.
  • Other drugs – especially in overdose, such as:
    • Psychiatric drugs: trazodone and chlorpromazine.
    • Blood pressure drugs: prazosin and nifedipine.
    • Anticoagulants: warfarin and heparin.
    • Other medicines: omeprazole, metoclopramide, and tamoxifen.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse.
  • Other causes, such as spider and scorpion bites, metabolic disorders – including gout or amyloidosis, neurogenic disorders – spinal cord injury or syphilis, and cancer involving the penis.

Priapism risk factors

What increases the risk of getting priapism?

Several risk factors that increase the occurrence of priapism, include:

  • Diseases that cause circulatory disorders in the blood vessels.
  • Take addictive illegal drugs.
  • Drink too much alcohol or products containing steroid androgens – substances that increase muscle size.

Priapism medication & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for priapism?

Priapismus can cause serious complications if not treated promptly. Conditions that last more than four hours can cause blood oxygen levels to decrease. This can damage the tissue in the penis, putting it at risk erectile dysfunction and defects in the penis.

Treatment for priapism is based on the type experienced. In general, ischemic priapism requires further treatment than non-ischemic priapism.

Treatment of ischemic priapism

This disease condition is an emergency so it requires immediate treatment. The doctor will combine a procedure to remove blood from the penis and drugs to treat ischemic priapism.

  • The doctor can inject phenylephrine on the spongy tissue of the penis to stimulate open blood vessels and increase blood flow out of the penis.
  • In addition, the doctor can also drain the blood out of the penis using an anesthetic and a small needle to stop an erection.
  • If treatment doesn’t work, your doctor may perform a surgical procedure to correct and reroute the blood flow so that blood can move through the penis normally.

Treatment of non-ischemic priapism

This condition can go away on its own without treatment and is generally not at risk of damage to the penis. You can place ice pack and pressure on the perineum – the area between the scrotum and anus – to stop an erection.

In addition, you can drink lots of water and urinate when the penis is stiff. Hot showers and exercise also help reduce the frequency of recurrences.

However, if the erection time of the penis does not decrease within four hours, you will need to go to the hospital for immediate treatment.

What are the common tests for the diagnosis of this condition?

The doctor must immediately diagnose to determine the type of priapism that is experienced. To determine the correct diagnosis, several tests will be carried out, including:

  • History and medical examination, to determine the symptoms experienced by the patient.
  • Blood test, to measure the number of red blood cells and platelets, as well as determine the condition of sickle cell anemia, other blood disorders, or cancer.
  • Blood gas analysis (AGD), to measure the amount of gas in the blood that can determine the type of priapism in the patient.
  • Doppler ultrasound, to measure blood flow in the penis which can detect injury or other abnormalities of the penis.
  • Toxicology tests, to check for drugs that can cause priapism in the urine.

Home remedies for priapism

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat priapism?

Some of the lifestyle changes and home remedies below may help treat your priapism, including:

  • Treat your medical condition, especially if you have sickle cell anemia or other blood disorders.
  • Changing or stopping the use of drugs that can trigger this condition.
  • Always urinate when the bladder is full to prevent urine build-up.
  • Avoid dehydration with drink water regularly.
  • Prevent prolonged sex.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Priapism – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. (2019). Retrieved 17 February 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/priapism/symptoms-causes/syc-20352005.

Hackett, G. (2014). Priapism. Netdoctor. Retrieved 17 February 2021, from https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/sexual-health/a12000/priapism/.

Balentine, J., & Davis, C. (2021). Priapism: Treatment, Definition, Causes, Stuttering, Ischemic. MedicineNet. Retrieved 17 February 2021, from https://www.medicinenet.com/priapism_penis_disorder/article.htm.

Ferri, Fred. Ferri’s Netter Patient Advisor. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders / Elsevier, 2012. Download Version.

Porter, Robert. Kaplan Justin. Homeier Barbara. The Merck manual for home health handbook. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2009. Print. Page 1470