Experiences with

Priapism (painful erections)

Things you can try yourself to reduce a painful erection

There are things you can try to reduce your erection.

• try to go for a pee

• have a warm bath or shower

• drink lots of water

• go for a gentle walk

• try exercises, such as squats or running on the spot

• take painkillers like paracetamol if you need to

• do not apply ice packs or cold water to your penis – this can make things worse, particularly if you have sickle cell disease

• do not have sex or masturbate – it will not make your erection go away

• do not drink alcohol

• do not smoke

• you have an erection that lasts more than 3 to 4 hours
• you have sickle cell disease and a painful erection that lasts for more than 1 hour

An erection that lasts this long needs to be treated in hospital as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to the penis.

A&E safety messaging

Hospital treatment for priapism

Treatments to help reduce your erection include:

• using a needle to drain blood from your penis, which is done while the area is numbed under local anaesthetic
• tablets or injections directly into your penis
• surgery to drain the blood through a tiny cut, done while you're asleep under general anaesthetic

Causes of priapism

Priapism often affects people with sickle cell disease.

Other causes include:

• blood-thinning medicines, like warfarin
• some antidepressants
• drugs, like cannabis and cocaine
• some medicines for high blood pressure
• other blood disorders, like thalassaemia and leukaemia
• some treatments for erectile dysfunction

Self-careMedical treatmentsCauses

Things you can do to try to reduce a long-lasting or painful erection include having a pee, taking a warm bath or shower and drinking lots of water.

Treatments for a long-lasting or painful erection include tablets, injections, and draining blood from your penis using a needle or surgery.

Priapism often affects people with sickle cell disease. Other causes include blood-thinning medicines and some antidepressants.

Related links

Priapism (painful erections)

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