Painful Erection in Men with Sickle Cell Disease
Males with sickle cell disease may experience a pain crisis in the penis, called priapism. A sustained, painful erection should be managed by:
- drinking fluids
- application of heat
- pain medicines as necessary
If an erection lasts longer than 2 hours, please contact your medical provider immediately; long-term damage of the penis may occur for priapism lasting longer than 4 hours.