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us Health & medical scares painful erection • erection lasting hours • erection won’t go down • prolonged erection • priapism • stuck erection • penis pain with erection • erection not from arousal • after viagra erection won’t stop • after cialis erection won’t stop • after penile injection • sickle cell painful erection • trazodone erection won’t go away • new medication erection problem • pelvic injury erection • erection lasting 3 hours • erection lasting 4 hours • painful hard penis • penile swelling with erection

What to do if…
you have a painful erection that has lasted several hours and will not go away

Short answer

Go to the Emergency Room now. An erection lasting 4 hours or more (especially if painful) needs emergency care; if you can’t get there safely, call 911.

Do not do these things

  • Do not keep waiting once it has lasted several hours — time matters.
  • Do not drive yourself if you’re in severe pain, feel dizzy/faint, are intoxicated, or would be unsafe to drive.
  • Do not take more erectile dysfunction medication (sildenafil/Viagra, tadalafil/Cialis, etc.) or use supplements/injections to “undo” it.
  • Do not try risky home measures (extreme cold/heat, forceful manipulation, repeated attempts to make it go down) — and do not let any home attempt delay getting to the ER.
  • Do not let embarrassment delay you — this is a medical emergency, not a moral issue.

What to do now

  1. Go to the nearest ER immediately. If you can’t get there safely (alone, too much pain, faint, no safe ride), call 911 for an ambulance.
  2. Write down (or screenshot) these details for triage:
    • When the erection started (best estimate)
    • Whether it’s painful and how severe
    • Any triggers: ED pills, penile injections, drugs/alcohol, recent injury, new medications (including antidepressants)
    • Any history of sickle cell disease
  3. Bring essentials that speed up care (only if easy to grab):
    • Medication list (or the bottles/packaging), including ED meds or injection therapy
    • Allergies
    • ID and insurance card if you have them — but go now regardless if you don’t.
  4. At check-in, use direct wording: “I have a painful erection that’s lasted several hours and won’t go away — possible priapism.”
    If you have sickle cell disease, say that immediately.
  5. If speaking is hard, show the staff your phone with the sentence above. Ask to speak privately.

What can wait

  • You do not need to diagnose yourself or decide what caused it before going.
  • You do not need to decide right now about follow-up specialists, medication changes, or anything else long-term.
  • You do not need to try multiple home remedies — getting evaluated and treated promptly is the priority.

Important reassurance

ER teams treat this and are used to seeing urgent genital problems. Feeling panicked or embarrassed is normal — but getting care quickly is the most protective move you can make.

Scope note

This guide is only for immediate first steps. After emergency treatment, clinicians may recommend follow-up to reduce the chance it happens again.

Important note

This is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If an erection lasts more than 4 hours, seek emergency care right away.

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