Priapism is a long-lasting painful erection. It can cause permanent damage to your penis if not treated quickly.

There are things you can try to reduce your erection.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

Treatments to help reduce your erection include:

• using a needle to drain blood from your penis, which is done while the area is numbed under local anaesthetic
• tablets or injections directly into your penis
• surgery to drain the blood through a tiny cut, done while you're asleep under general anaesthetic

Priapism often affects people with sickle cell disease.

Other causes include:

• blood-thinning medicines, like warfarin
• some antidepressants
• drugs, like cannabis and cocaine
• some medicines for high blood pressure
• other blood disorders, like thalassaemia and leukaemia
• some treatments for erectile dysfunction