THE number of men hospitalised with painful erections lasting for hours has soared by 41 per cent in a decade.
There were 363 admissions to hospitals in England last year – with almost one man a day treated for the horror sex organ ailment.
GettySome 41 per cent more men were hospitalised for painful erections than ten years ago[/caption]
It’s up by more than 100 from 257 ten years ago in 2013.
The average age of todger trouble sufferers was 39, NHS Digital figures reveal.
But six unlucky fellas were over the age of 75 – including one man between 80 and 84 years old.
And in 2021 one other sufferer was even in his 90s.
Patients spent an average of 1.4 days in hospital, covering their diagnosis, treatment and recovery time.
Last year’s figure is a shade below the all-time high set in 2021/22 – when 393 men were sent for treatment.
Doctors said the rise in the awkward condition, known as priapism, could be triggered by drugs such as Viagra and cocaine.
It can also be a reaction to some antidepressants or blood thinners.
The muscular response is also a rare side effect of serious ailments like sickle-cell disease and leukaemia.
Potential patients are told to seek help if their erection lasts more than four hours and is unrelated to “sexual stimulation”.
In one case an unlucky lad was left with an erection for two weeks, sparking a race against time to save his penis.
Unless treated promptly priapism can lead to scarring, impotence or amputation.
Fixes include direct injections, penile surgery or draining blood using a needle.
We first revealed the dramatic rise of the horror condition in 2021.
At the time, Dr Shalini Andrews, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: “This increase is unlikely to be related to increased use of medication.
“It’s possible that it’s related to worsening presentations of pre-existing conditions or increase in recreational drug use.”
Erection risk – four key warning signs
By Thomas Godfrey
THERE are four key red flags that mean you should see a doctor if your erection won’t go away.
Erection lasting more than four hours
If an erection lasts for more than four hours without going down, it could be a sign of priapism.
Cases have previously lasted two weeks, and failing to seek medical attention can lead to amputation in severe cases.
Rigid penile shaft, but the tip of the penis is soft
This is because priapism can stiffen the shaft as blood becomes trapped in the groin area and struggles to get out.
Doctors will often use local anaesthetic to draw blood and reduce swelling if medication fails to relieve the pressure.
Worsening penis pain
If the penis becomes increasingly painful after getting an erection, it could be a sign blood is trapped in the area, causing priapism.
An unexpected erection without sexual stimulation
If an erection is random and occurs without sexual stimulation, it may be the first warning sign of priapism.
Doctors say masturbating or having sex won’t help the erection go away – and could end up causing more damage.
Even after treatment the penis can remain swollen and painful, but will no longer be rigid.