The little-known penis condition that causes four-hour erections and even amputation
The little-known penis condition that causes four-hour erections and even amputation
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Maintaining an erection for a long sex session is often considered a flex, but staying hard for a prolonged period of time is actually pretty dangerous. If it’s been more than four hours and your hard-on isn’t going away, you could be suffering from priapism.
![[Male doctor and testicular cancer patient are discussing about testicular cancer test report. Testicular cancer and prostate cancer concept.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1919724160.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=509)
It’s a serious penis condition and it can be incredible painful, causing some pretty worrying side effects, including necrosis of the penis and even amputation. About one in 2,000 people with a penis will suffer with the priapism each year. Dr Jeff Foster, a committee member of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, tells Metro that priapism is a prolonged partial or full erection.
![[Ripe Banana]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1287103974.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=509)
This means you’re hard for longer than the time of ‘desired use’ – think four hours or longer — and the erection may not have been caused by sex or masturbation. ‘Erections should not last more than four hours, if they do, it’s a medical emergency,’ Dr Jeff Foster, for men’s health website Manual, explains.
![[A bunch of bananas with one banana sticking up, suggestive of an erection]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-164848880_da8630.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=509)
There are two different types of priapism: ischemic and non-ischemic. ‘Ischemic priapism is caused by blood not being able to leave the penis,’ he says. ‘This means the erection is maintained and becomes increasingly painful. ‘It will last for more than four hours and is likely not related to sexual interest. Often, there’s a rigid penile shaft, but the tip is soft, so progressively worsening pain occurs.’.
The non-sichemic type is more rare, according to the doctor. This is when arteries that supply the penis don’t work as they should, meaning the blood flow is damaged. He explains that this is likely to occur in patients who have had past trauma to their penis.
