

It can be due to nerve damage or a side effect of some medicines, such as those for erectile dysfunction (impotence). Therefore, it's important that priapism is treated quickly. Priapism can cause severe pain.Ī prolonged erection can damage the penis and could cause permanent problems in getting an erection. It happens when the blood that fills the penis to make it erect gets trapped and cannot flow back out again. The medical name for having an erection that will not go down is priapism.

However, if these steps do not help and you've had an erection for more than 4 hours, go to A&E, as this is an emergency.
