It is a pathology much less widespread than others such as anorgasmia or premature ejaculation. Its cause is unknown but does not go unnoticed by those who suffer from it. Priapism is a disease in which the individual suffers a continuous and painful erection without any sexual arousal. Specifically, the penis is firm but the glans is soft, so the erection is only established in the corpora cavernosa and not in the spongy where the glans is located.
This disease, which causes intense pain, causes the penis to remain firm for even several hours, until it returns to its flaccid state . Some medications (such as antidepressants) and drugs can cause priapism, although in most cases the origin is unknown.
The severity is such that, even if an orgasm occurs, the erection of the penis does not disappear and pain is not relieved since it is a different type of erection than usual.
To avoid this, experts recommend going to the bathroom often, drinking plenty of water and not prolonging sexual activity excessively. If you do not go to the doctor and the erection lasts more than four hours, the tissues of the penis can end up damaged and lead to erectile dysfunction.
The etymology of the word priapism comes from the Greek Πρίαπος, the god Priapus, an entity that was represented with a permanent and excessive erection that embodied the fertilizing force of nature, that is, the god of fertility.
Priapism in women also exists but it is called clitoral priapism or clitoris and refers to the continuous and painful erection of the clitoris.
