Untold men dream of possessing a penis which maintains its hardness for hours (if not days) on end, believing that such would render sex god status upon a man. In fact, an erection which lasts for too long a time (as in the condition known as priapism) can be a detriment to penis health; indeed, priapism is generally considered a medical emergency and is not something to wish for at all.  There are basically two forms of priapism, and the one known as non-ischemic priapism, while still serious, is perhaps somewhat less alarming than ischemic priapism.

Non-ischemic priapism, on the other hand, “is most often secondary to traumatic rupture of a branch of the cavernous artery and uncontrolled pooling of blood into the sinusoidal spaces of the corpora cavernosa.” In plain English, the penis experiences a trauma which ruptures an artery or vessel. Blood flows into the penis but isn’t trapped there to the same degree as with ischemic priapism. With non-ischemic priapism, there’s a persistent erection, but it’s usually not as fully rigid as with the ischemic version and usually comes with no pain (other than the initial pain which caused the trauma in the first place).

Sometimes, non-ischemic priapism may not be due to trauma to a vessel or artery; instead, it may come about because the central nervous system has undergone an injury, which interferes with the erectile process. And in some other instances, non-ischemic priapism may be a result of treating ischemic priapism via a process known as shunting.

Is it dangerous?

So if non-ischemic priapism is not as serious as the ischemic kind, does a man still need to be concerned about it?  The answer is yes. One of the problems that can arise with non-ischemic priapism is that a man has a persistent erection – but it’s not a “full” erection. And in some cases, he is unable to attain the “full” hardness, without which, penetration during sex can become difficult (and in some cases, impossible.) In some cases, there may also be a possibility of infection, which can bring about other issues as well.  

Treatment

In the majority of the cases, non-ischemic priapism is self-resolving – meaning that given time the situation heals itself. (Sometimes the application of a cold pack to the penis – wrapped and not directly placed on the skin – can help to hasten a resolution.) Nevertheless, it’s important to bring it to the attention of a doctor and to discuss whether the best course of action is to “wait and see” or whether other steps should be considered.  For example, sometimes a gel might be injected into the penis which can help block the blood flow to the penis so that it can soften. (The gel is later absorbed into the body.)

Although non-ischemic priapism is not a medical emergency, it still requires a doctors’ attention. And since a man wants to present his penis at his best, using a top-shelf penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help maintain penis health. It’s best to seek out a crème that contains L-carnitine, as this ingredient has neuroprotective properties that can help maintain proper penis sensitivity. The creme should also include a combination of moisturizers, such as shea butter and vitamin E, to maintain tone and texture of penis skin.