# Bad effects of prolonged erections? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324 "2005-06-22T06:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/1 "2005-06-22T06:37:13Z")
Is there any possible bad effect that might come with having a boner for an extended period of time? If so, what’s the recommended amount of time to have a hard-on? Without going into details, I’ll say that Mini-donkey was at full mast for at least 3.5 hours tonight. Having a woody for this long isn’t going to kill me, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/2 "2005-06-22T07:49:31Z")
No, but if it turns orange, make sure you check to see whether you were eating Cheetos at around the same time you broke out the lube and the Buttman DVDs. Seriously, though; priapism (won’t go down) and phlebitis (inflammation of blood vessels) are two problems I can think of that could be serious. Priapism in particular can be dangerous, depending on what the problem is that’s causing the uber-stiffie. Check out a medical journal or Wikipedia for a full run-down. If it’s still hard after a few hours, go seek medical help immediately. I am not a doctor, blah, blah, blah, insert standard disclaimer here: \_\_\_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/3 "2005-06-22T07:53:58Z")
I’m no doctor, but my understanding is that run-of-the-mill wood isn’t dangerous, even for long periods of time. It’ll eventually become painful and you’ll naturally detumesce. If it’s drug-induced, or arises from some medical problem (like a blood clot in your business,) things can get messed up if you don’t get medical help pronto. The least of your worries is that it might render you permanently impotent – which is saying something. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/4 "2005-06-22T07:54:40Z")
> [@](#): > > …If it’s still hard after a few hours, go seek medical help immediately… - - - Yea, preferrably _ **really good-looking** _ medical help. But hands off the candy stripers, they’re usually jailbait. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/5 "2005-06-22T12:41:09Z")
[Priapism is nothing to laugh about…](http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3/1680_50136.htm) > [@](#): > > H.A. was a medical professional who had read about the treatment of erectile dysfunction with penile injections. He injected himself with a dose that far exceeded what he needed. He developed a rock-hard penis and enjoyed it for several hours. Unfortunately, he developed priapism. He was so embarrassed by this that he actually went for seven days before seeking medical help. The pain was excruciating, and he tried numerous treatments that he had read about in outdated medical journals including ice water enemas and injecting local anesthetic into the penis. The resulting erection was unsalvageable, and the patient was eventually left with a penis that was less than an inch long. The caveat to this scenario is early treatment for priapism is essential to prevent permanent loss of the penis. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/6 "2005-06-22T13:34:07Z")
If it lasts longer than 4 hours and isn’t disappearing, despite your best efforts, you should seek medical help. If it lasts longer than 6 hours, go to a hospital ASAP. Erections, are caused by blood being able to get, but not able to get out. Eventually, if it’s left sitting around long enough, the blood clots and bad things happen. Unfortunately, in order to make it go away it may be necessary to insert a needle and draw off the blood, but since the alternative might be permanent impotence, it would be a worthwhile procedure. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/7 "2005-06-22T15:43:11Z")
I don’t think candystripers will be an issue here unless they have beards, shaved heads and small-frame glasses. (At least I think I got that combination right!) 'Fess up - were you (ahem) experimenting with little blue pills? If so, you ought to be fine soon. I once helped someone split their supply of little blue pills (a nifty way of getting double the supply for one Rx co-pay) and I absorbed enough of the stuff through my fingertips to develop a bit of a chubby for a couple hours. I’m scared to think how it would be if I’d actually ingested a full pill. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/8 "2005-06-22T16:24:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Having a woody for this long isn’t going to kill me, is it? Kill you, no. But if gangrene sets in and the doctor starts talking amputation (which is a real possibility) you might become suicidal. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/9 "2005-06-22T17:55:39Z")
Ok, then. Experimenting with little blue pills, no. Experimenting with a man, yes. **gotpasswords** , even if they all did, that probably wouldn’t be a good thing if I’m in the hospital having blood taken out of my penis. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/10 "2005-06-22T18:01:58Z")
Also, I’m 18. What do I need viagra for? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/11 "2005-06-22T18:07:45Z")
You’re _18?_ Four-hour erections are totally normal, dude. I wish I was 18 again. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/12 "2005-06-23T02:02:41Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > Also, I’m 18. What do I need viagra for? When I was your age, I don’t remember ever \*\*not \*\*having an erection. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-effects-of-prolonged-erections/309324/13 "2005-06-23T02:47:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > When I was your age, I don’t remember ever \*\*not \*\*having an erection. It happens. No, really, it does.