WOMAN SUFFERS 'FIVE-DAY CLITORIS ERECTION'

Men are not the only ones who can suffer from painful, long-lasting erections – in rare cases, women can experience symptoms in their clitoris. According to a journal report, a 29-year-old woman had a five-day "erection" – known in men as priapism – in her clitoris after taking daily antidepressants to improve her libido.

After a few months, she increased the dose, which caused her labia to swell and her clitoris to feel painful.

She stopped taking the medication when she saw the changes, but the pain and swelling worsened over five days.

"The pain had become debilitating, as she was unable to walk, sit, or stand without significant worsening of the pain," the US researchers wrote in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

The doctors found her clitoris had swollen to 2cm x 0.7cm and had turned purple.

Strangely, taking the over-the-counter decongestant Sudafed for three days was enough to cure the pain and swelling.

Priapism occurs when an erect penis will not go flaccid. It usually occurs when the vessels that drain blood become blocked or the "relaxation system" of the penis fails. It results in engorgement, swelling and can lead to blood clots and excess scar tissue.

Priapism in women is not life-threatening because the blood vessels are less likely to clot because of the abundant supply of blood to the female genitalia.

"Female priapism is a very rare condition," the researchers said.

"It can be very embarrassing as well as painful, and must be treated urgently to alleviate symptoms."

Antidepressants and sedatives can cause the condition because they block the alpha-adrenergic receptors