A man in his 20s, known as Ahai, experienced a frightening medical condition when he woke up one morning with an unusually persistent and painful erection that lasted over 12 hours without any sexual stimulation. Upon seeking urgent medical attention, doctors diagnosed him with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a form of blood cancer.
Urologist Dr. Chen Yixuan explained that abnormal, prolonged erections—known medically as priapism—can be classified into three types: ischemic, non-ischemic, and intermittent. Priapism is defined as an erection lasting more than four hours without sexual arousal, and ischemic priapism accounts for over 90% of cases. Ahai’s condition fell under this type, which is most commonly linked to blood disorders or certain medications.
Dr. Chen noted that Ahai’s case was particularly rare, as his leukemia caused an overproduction of white blood cells, thickening the blood and obstructing venous return, which triggered the prolonged erection. In some instances, priapism like this can be the first noticeable symptom of serious blood diseases such as leukemia.
He warned that untreated priapism can lead to fibrosis of the erectile tissue, potentially resulting in permanent erectile dysfunction. Men should seek immediate medical attention if they experience an erection lasting over four hours, persistent erections without sexual stimulation, extreme penile hardness with pain, or if they have a history of blood disorders or are taking medications associated with priapism. Prompt treatment not only reduces the risk of irreversible sexual dysfunction but can also help detect underlying serious medical conditions early.
