Priapism

Priapism can have various causes:

- **Medications**: Medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (such as PDE-5 inhibitors) or certain antidepressants and antipsychotics can cause priapism.

- **Blood diseases**: Conditions such as sickle cell anemia or leukemia, which affect blood circulation, are common causes of priapism.

- **Injuries**: Trauma in the pelvic or spinal area can impair blood flow in the penis.

- **Drug and alcohol abuse**: The abuse of substances such as alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana can increase the risk of priapism.

• An erection lasting longer than 4 hours and not associated with sexual arousal
• Pain in the penis that becomes more intense over time
• The shaft of the penis remains rigid while the glans may stay soft
• Difficulty urinating

The diagnosis is made through a physical examination in which the doctor checks the penis for signs of hardening and pain. Blood tests may be conducted to rule out underlying blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia or leukemia. A Doppler ultrasound examination is often used to assess blood flow in the penis and determine the type of priapism (ischemic or non-ischemic).

• Medication therapy: In many cases, medication is injected directly into the penis to relax the blood vessels and normalize blood flow.
• Blood drainage: If medication does not work, excess blood can be drained from the penis with a needle.
• Surgical interventions: In severe cases, especially with ischemic priapism, surgical intervention may be necessary to permanently regulate blood flow.

For patients at risk, especially those with sickle cell anemia or blood disorders, it is important to work closely with the treating physician. The abuse of drugs and alcohol should be avoided. When taking medications that could cause priapism, careful medical supervision is required.