What is priapism?
What is priapism?
A medical condition, in which one's penis remains erect without any stimulation, or for a lengthy period of time, even after orgasm.
Definition
Medical condition, in which one maintains an erect penis that exceeds four hours in duration, in which case, it is deemed a medical emergency. The inability of an erect penis, to return to its flaccid state. Anyone experiencing such a condition, is advised to seek professional medical help immediately.
History
The name comes from the ancient Greek God Priapus. He is believed to have been the less than handsome son of the God Aphrodite. His status was one of a minor fertility God, of livestock, gardens, and farms. He was best noted for his diminutive stature, but enormous penis.
His dominance was mostly in rural areas, rather than urban settings. Many myths or stories exist about his existence, in which some claim he was plagued by impotence, or that he was punished for some transgression. Most acclaim that he was thrown out of Olympus, due to some conflict with the more powerful Gods.
History (Legend): The myth being that as a punishment, for his alleged attempted rape of a Goddess, he was given an enormous set of wooden genitalia, which was totally useless.
Some claim that his use of the overly large penis, as a symbol, was due to his actual impotence, or lack of ability to remain erect during intercourse.
About
The actual causes are relatively unknown, or understood. It is associated with many blood disorders, such as sickle cell diseases, leukemia, and other vascular conditions. Can also be attributed to spinal cord problems, and neurological disorders.
Practice (Associated Acts): Medications can also cause this condition, such as those used for erectile dysfunction, however, there are other drugs than can cause it. Drugs used for antihypertensive, antipsychotics, antidepressants (trazadone), and even recreational drugs, such as alcohol and cocaine.
Drugs such as Viagra, are actually less involved in this condition, than many assume. Papaverine and Alprostadil are most commonly associated as opposed to Viagra, Cialis, Levitra which is a PDE5 inhibitor.
Noteworthy: Long after the fall of the Roman Empire, and the rise of Christianity, Priapus was still considered to be a symbol of fertility and growth. Many of the warnings, for those who would consider transgressing on the territory protected by him, involved sexual acts.
Femina si furtum faciet mihi virve puerve,
haec cunnum, caput hic praebeat, ille nates.
If a woman steals from me, or a man, or a boy, let the first give me her cunt, the second his head, the third his buttocks.
Per medios ibit pueros mediasque puellas
mentula, barbatis non nisi summa petet.
My dick will go through the middle of boys and the middle of girls, but with bearded men it will aim only for the top.
(from Craig A. Williams, Roman Homosexuality: Ideologies of Masculinity in Classical Antiquity, p. 21. Oxford University Press US, 1999.
Treatment usually involves aspirating the blood from the penis, under a local, however if that does not work, other methods can be used, including surgical procedures.
Related Terms
Clotting of the blood can occur, resulting in damage to the blood vessels in the penis. This can result in impotency, or the inability to achieve an erection. Can also lead to gangrene, resulting in amputation of the penis itself.