# Erections lasting longer that four hours?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 12, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823 "2004-03-12T02:11:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823/1 "2004-03-12T02:11:00Z")

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I heard this on a commercial for Cialis. They said that erections lasting this long could be a medical emergency, and require immediate medical attention.  
Why, exactly? Would the erection itself be in jeopardy, or is the sustained erection symptomatic of something else?  
I can’t believe this hasn’t been asked before, but I searched and found nothing (on the SDMB).

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823/2 "2004-03-12T02:21:04Z")

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One of the possible effects of sustained [priapism](http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1133.html) is permanent impotence. Don’t know about you, but I’d sure call that serious!

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823/3 "2004-03-12T02:24:31Z")

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I only searched IMHO and GQ. Never thunk of MPSIMS. I should have known better. 😉  
Anyway, here you [go](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242424&highlight=erections).  
MPSIMS. Unbelieveable, I swan.  
😛

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823/4 "2004-03-12T02:33:33Z")

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> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> One of the possible effects of sustained [priapism](http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1133.html) is permanent impotence. Don’t know about you, but I’d sure call that serious!

Serious for sure.  
Seriously good or seriously bad, now that depends. 😉

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**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823/5 "2004-03-12T04:17:19Z")

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> [@mangeorge](#):
>
> …but I searched and found nothing (on the SDMB).

Did you purposely sidestep the opportunity to use the phrase “I searched long and hard”?

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erections-lasting-longer-that-four-hours/233823/6 "2004-03-12T04:48:44Z")

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> [@Casey1505](#):
>
> Did you purposely sidestep the opportunity to use the phrase “I searched long and hard”?

Damn!