Why do I have persistent involuntary erections (about 2 hours) when I am not sexually stimulated? Is this normal?

Question

Hello, for some time now I have noticed that I have involuntary erections that last about 1-2 hours and this, in a random way (it happened to me once while I was mowing the lawn!). Sometimes I even have pain. What medications are available for this condition?

Thi Lan Thi Duong · Accepted Answer

Hello, an involuntary and persistent erection in the absence of sexual stimulation can be characterized by what is called "priapism." The priapism is a prolonged, painful, abnormal erection and can be caused by several factors. Ischemic priapism is the most common form of priapism, which can result in erectile dysfunction or death of penile tissue if the erection is very prolonged. A common cause of priapism includes certain medications for erectile dysfunction (e.g. viagra, cialis, alprostadil injection), antidepressants, alcohol use or smoking. More rarely, in some cases, priapism can be caused by sickle cell anemia or prostate cancer . Whatever the cause, I recommend that you see your doctor as soon as possible so that he or she can investigate further and rule out causative factors. It should be noted that you should seek emergency care if the erection lasts longer than 4 hours, if there is the presence of severe pain, penile damage, fever or night sweats. Some steps you can take include applying ice to the penis and climbing stairs when you observe an involuntary erection. The doctor may prescribe painkillers to relieve the pain when it is very intense. For ischemic priapism, the doctor may inject adrenaline to reduce blood flow to the penis to reduce swelling. Surgery may be necessary in some cases. Happy day! Lan Thi Duong, pharmacy student (supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist)