Seven Week Erection

A cyclist needed medical intervention at an Irish hospital because an injury he suffered caused his penis to remain erect for nearly two months.

The unnamed bicyclist sustained an injury on the crossbar of his mountain bike that interfered with the blood flow to his penis.

A medical report quoted in the Irish Examiner said the biker’s pain and bruising settled within days, but that he sustained ongoing “high-flow” priapism “with rigid erection”.

Priapism is a potentially painful medical condition in which the erect penis does not return to its flaccid state, despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation, within four hours. 

Priapism is considered a medical emergency, which should receive proper treatment by a qualified medical practitioner.

There are two types of priapism: low-flow and high-flow; 80% to 90% of clinically presented priapisms are low flow disorders. Low-flow involves the blood not adequately returning to the body from the organ. High-flow involves a short-circuit of the vascular system partway along the organ. 

Treatment is different for each type. Early treatment can be beneficial for a functional recovery.

Not all sources give four hours as the guideline for priapism occurring: 

"The duration time of a normal erection before it is classifiable as priapism is still controversial. 

Ongoing penile erections for more than 6 hours can be classified as priapism."

The name comes from the Greek god Priapus, a fertility god often represented with a disproportionately large and permanent erection.

After suffering in silence for five weeks, he finally sought medical attention.

A hospital report said the initial examination “revealed no signs of injury, but penis was erect”.

Doctors first tried “manual compression” which would work for a short time, but then the penis would become erect again.

Then they applied a pressure dressing that was in place for two weeks. But once the pressure was removed there was an immediate return of the erection.

Finally doctors inserted gel foam and four tiny platinum coils at an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein that supplied blood to the man’s penis.

This successfully reduced the blood supply to the penis, ending the erection.  One of the medical technicians said, “We were very happy with the outcome.”

The CDC notes that bicycle parts manufacturers are developing saddles that ease pressure on the genitals.