# 4 hour erections **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584 "2008-06-03T03:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@Greta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greta)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/1 "2008-06-03T03:39:38Z")
I see those ads on tv for a pill which helps erectile disfuction. It always says, “If you experience an erection lasting more than 4 hours, call a dr.” Why? What happens after 4 hours? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/2 "2008-06-03T03:51:37Z")
[Priapism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priapism). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/3 "2008-06-03T03:54:50Z")
Your penis explodes. Actually, it can cause permanent damage to the erectile tissues. [QUOTE=Yahoo Answers] Erections lasting longer than 4-6 hours are associated with permanent erection problems. It has been estimated that priapism of 24 hours duration is associated with an approximately 50% incidence of permanent erectile dysfunction. [/QUOTE] Not anything I’d want to happen. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/4 "2008-06-03T12:17:43Z")
[QUOTE=Greta] I see those ads on tv for a pill which helps erectile disfuction. It always says, “If you experience an erection lasting more than 4 hours, call a dr.” Why? What happens after 4 hours? [/QUOTE] In general, untreated priapism means it’s the last boner the guy will ever have. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/5 "2008-06-03T12:32:59Z")
So what do they do when you go to the emergency room with a 4 hour old boner? Yes, there’s a lots of jokes here (give you a handjob, show you a picture of Bea Arthur naked, etc), but what to they actually do to subside it? Drain the blood with a syringe? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/6 "2008-06-03T12:54:24Z")
A local anesthetic is administered to Mr. Sticky and the blood is drained from the corpus cavernosum. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/7 "2008-06-03T19:23:24Z")
[QUOTE=Greta] What happens after 4 hours? [/QUOTE] The sheep dies. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/8 "2008-06-03T20:07:02Z")
[QUOTE=Scumpup] A local anesthetic is administered to Mr. Sticky and the blood is drained from the corpus cavernosum. [/QUOTE] I was under the impression that saline was injected in. Maybe that’s just a different treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/9 "2008-06-03T20:45:40Z")
Four hours seems an awful long time. I’d think I’d go to the ER before that…(not that I’m a guy). How long do guys normally sustain an erection…that is, if they are aroused and not in a position to have sex or masturbate? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/10 "2008-06-03T22:04:48Z")
[QUOTE=Freudian Slit] How long do guys normally sustain an erection…that is, if they are aroused and not in a position to have sex or masturbate? [/QUOTE] But we’re not talking about normal circumstances, we’re talking bout being under the influence of an erection-inducing drug. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/11 "2008-06-03T22:30:18Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] But we’re not talking about normal circumstances, we’re talking bout being under the influence of an erection-inducing drug. [/QUOTE] Okay, that’s true. I’m just wondering for comparison sake…like, I’d assume a normal erection would go away in about five or ten minutes, if you weren’t on medication. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/12 "2008-06-03T22:39:35Z")
Priapisms ain’t pretty, folks. I’ve a number of sickle cell patients that get 'em, and these guys live in terror of them. Basically penile blood outflow gets blocked (in the sicklers by jamups of the abnormal red blood cells, in others usually by clotted blood), arterial pressure keeps pumping more in, the whole organ gets tight and painful, then the oxygen in the blood gets depleted, and the erectile tissue begins to die. Ejaculation won’t cure it. The best bet is cold compresses, at least at first. Sudafed or phenylephrine pills make a good preventive, and sometimes helps during an attack if given by injection into the penis. 19 gauge needles into the erectile tissue to help drain blood may be used too. If that’s not doing it, it’s time to call the urologic surgeon. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/13 "2008-06-03T23:15:20Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Sudafed or phenylephrine pills make a good preventive, and sometimes helps during an attack if given by injection into the penis. 19 gauge needles into the erectile tissue to help drain blood may be used too. If that’s not doing it, it’s time to call the urologic surgeon. [/QUOTE] :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/14 "2008-06-03T23:27:37Z")
I believe just the _thought_ of a 19 gauge needle in the dong would do the trick for me. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/15 "2008-06-03T23:43:57Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] 19 gauge needles into the erectile tissue to help drain blood may be used too. [/QUOTE] a.k.a. “Prince Albert & a can” ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/16 "2008-06-03T23:57:18Z")
\*“If you experience an erection lasting more than 4 hours, call a porn video producer immediately.” \* That’s what I think whenever I hear that ad. It’s like an Earworm, now–I can’t stop from thinking it and it’s very silly (at best). ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/17 "2008-06-04T01:20:47Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] 19 gauge needles into the erectile tissue to help drain blood may be used too. If that’s not doing it, it’s time to call the urologic surgeon. [/QUOTE] I’m not even a guy and this made me curl up like a boiled shrimp. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/18 "2008-06-04T01:31:48Z")
Is a 4+hour boner cause for concern in the absence of erectile dysfunction meds (or, apparently, sickle-cell anemia)? I ask because, kidding aside, I would have night-long stiffies as a young lad of 12-13 as a matter of course. I never thought anything of it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-hour-erections/451584/19 "2008-06-04T14:19:45Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I believe just the _thought_ of a 19 gauge needle in the dong would do the trick for me. [/QUOTE] No kidding. Having this image in my head, I may never get another boner, ever again.