# Priapism

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/priapism/  
OnCo record `priapism` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

An erection that will not go down: after four hours it is an emergency, because the tissue starts to be damaged.

## Summary

It is rare, affecting fewer than 1 in 100 men using treatments for erection problems and about 1 in 100 using injections. Prostate Cancer UK says to try walking, squatting, passing urine or a cold pack first, and to go to the nearest accident and emergency department straight away if the erection lasts more than four hours. It also says not to use PDE5 tablets and injections together, because that raises the risk.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-25
- Also known as: painful prolonged erection

## Sources

- Prostate Cancer UK: treatments for erection problems: https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/living-with-prostate-cancer/sex-and-relationships/treatments-for-erection-problems
- NHS: priapism (painful erections): https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/priapism-painful-erections/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Prostate cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/prostate/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/priapism.json