A RECORD number of men are ending up in hospital with painful erections that will not go down, NHS stats reveal.
A total of 471 needed help for the condition — known as priapism — in the year to March.
Climbing use of sex-boosting drugs like Viagra has been blamed for the rise in cases[/caption]The condition is diagnosed when an erection refuses to subside for more than four hours and is unrelated to sexual stimulation.
The average age of todger trouble sufferers was 41, though 46 were over 65 and one unlucky OAP was in their 90s.
Patients spent an average of a day and a half in hospital, covering their diagnosis, treatment and recovery time before going home.
Last year’s figure is 78 more than the previous all-time high set in 2022 when 393 men presented for treatment.
The number is 50 per cent higher than a decade ago with the rise blamed on the climbing use of sex-boosting drugs like Viagra, and recreational substances like cocaine.
Doctors previously warned that both can trigger deadly muscular seizures and reactions.
The excruciating private parts problem, which can lead to scarring, impotence or amputation, is also a reaction to some antidepressants or blood thinners.
It can also be an after-effect of sickle-cell disease, leukaemia and even Covid-19.
Fixes include painkiller injections, surgery or draining built-up blood using a needle while under anaesthetic.
It’s believed shows like Channel 4‘s Botched and Embarrassing Bodies pushed more men to get professional help instead of putting on an ice pack and hoping it goes away.
In 2019 Danny Polaris was diagnosed with the condition after his erection failed to budge for a record-breaking three weeks after taking a “sex-enhancing” injection.
He eventually needed emergency surgery to repair the damage.