Today, many farmers place a straw-stuffed scarecrow in their fields to guard their crops. But in ancient Rome, the figure of choice was Priapus, the god of virility and animal and vegetable fertility. He was represented as a misshapen character of a man—a gnomelike frame with an enormous phallus. It’s after this figure that priapism, a condition involving an erection lasting at least 4 hours and up to a few days, is named. But unlike the comical deity, priapism is no laughing matter: The condition is painful and, if not treated promptly, can lead to permanent scarring or erectile dysfunction.

During a normal erection, the penis fills with blood, which drains back into the body after orgasm. But in priapism, which isn’t associated with sexual desire or orgasm, blood becomes trapped in the erectile tissue of the penis. (The tip of the penis remains soft.) In many cases, narcotics, such as cocaine, or prescription drugs, such as antidepressants, antianxiety pills, blood thinners, and erectile dysfunction treatments, are the culprit. Other causes include sickle-cell disease, blood clots, tumors, or spinal cord injuries. And in a few instances, there is simply no discernible reason.

There are two types of priapism. The most common is ischemic, or low flow, in which bloodflow is impaired or obstructed. This form usually goes away on its own; ice packs and compression can help alleviate it. But in about 10 percent of cases, the erection is triggered by a ruptured artery or an injury to the penis, called nonischemic, or high-flow, priapism. A medical emergency, this type of priapism is treated by draining the blood, injecting the penis with an agent that reduces bloodflow, or performing surgery.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Priapism most often affects males between the ages of 5 and 10, and 20 and 50.
  2. More than 40 percent of men with sickle-cell disease experience priapism at some point.
  3. In rare cases, black widow spider bites and carbon monoxide poisoning can also cause priapism.