Priapism It is a concept that comes from Latin priapismus, but whose farthest etymological antecedents are found in the Greek language. The mythology of the Ancient Greece had a God of the fertility , represented with a large penis in an erection state: that god was called Priapus .
Priapism is a disorder of Health that may suffer mens and that consists of a persistent and usually painful erection of the penis , without sexual stimulation.
Due to priapism, the penis is erect and does not recover the flaccidity what should you have in state of rest. Although the penis is hard, the glans remains soft, which implies that the erection involves the corpora cavernosa and not the spongy tissues.
Medicine has described two kinds of priapism. On the one hand, the venous priapism which is caused by a deficiency in the blood drainage of the corpora cavernosa, caused by hematological problems. He arterial priapism Instead, it occurs when there is an excess of arterial blood in these bodies , caused by trauma. In either case, priapism requires urgent medical attention as it can lead to complete and irreversible sexual dysfunction.
In the case of arterial priapism, also called low flow and which is the most frequent, the most frequent symptoms are an erection of more than four hours, pain and stiffness of the body of the penis. On the other hand, in venous priapism or high flow, the man has to face other consequences, such as an erection of a maximum of four hours and that the body of the penis is erect but not rigid.
In addition to all of the above, it is worth knowing other interesting facts about this male health disorder:
-It can originate because of blood diseases such as leukemia or anemia.
-It is the side effect of the intake of several medications that are used to treat erectile dysfunction, antidepressants, antipsychotics and even anticoagulants.
-It usually occurs in children between 5 to 10 years old as well as among men aged 20 to 50 years.
-Among the adverse consequences that priapism can bring, if it is not treated properly, there is impotence, gangrene, a notable disfigurement of the virile member or even penectomy. This, which involves the removal of the penis through surgery, is what happens in the worst cases.
-Has a female “version”. In the case of women, it responds to the name of clitoralism and consists of a continuous and painful erection of the clitoris.
-Among the tools that exist to prevent this disorder, depending on the cause that can cause it, are muscle relaxants and avoid the use of drugs or alcohol.
In many cases, the origin of priapism cannot be determined. It is likely to be a rare effect of a tumor, an inflammation in the urethra or a disorder in the spinal cord . The medical treatment of priapism can include from the application of ice in the area to the supply of drugs, through prostate massages.
