What is the treatment for ischiocavernosus muscle retraction?

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Last updated: March 26, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The treatment for ischiocavernosus muscle retraction is not explicitly stated in the provided guideline, but for prolonged erections, intracavernosal phenylephrine injection is a highly effective primary treatment option, especially for erections lasting less than 4 hours 1. When managing prolonged erections, it's crucial to differentiate between conditions that require therapy and those that may be reasonably observed.

  • Men with partial erections are less likely to progress to acute ischemic priapism compared to those with fully rigid erections.
  • The medication used to achieve the erection is also an important factor, with alprostadil alone being less prone to progress to ischemic priapism compared to papaverine and phentolamine 1. Other potential conservative treatments include:
  • Applying ice to the penis
  • Ejaculation
  • Exercise
  • Laying supine
  • Penile compresses However, these therapies have no high-level evidence and are based on clinician experience and physiologic mechanism 1. Intracavernosal phenylephrine injection should be considered as a primary treatment option for prolonged erections, and patients should be instructed to return to the office if they have an erection lasting more than 4 hours 1.

From the Research

Treatment for Ischiocavernosus Muscle Retraction

  • The provided studies do not directly address the treatment for ischiocavernosus muscle retraction.
  • However, some studies discuss the treatment of related conditions, such as spasticity and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction:
    • Intrathecal baclofen infusion is used to treat spasticity in patients who are unresponsive or cannot tolerate oral baclofen 2.
    • Physical therapy is used to treat pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, including overactivity, underactivity, or a combination of both 3.
    • Various physiotherapy methods can facilitate pelvic floor muscle contraction, including instruction, vaginal palpation, biofeedback, and hypopressive exercise 4.
  • There is limited information available on the specific treatment for ischiocavernosus muscle retraction, and more research is needed to determine the most effective treatment options.

Related Conditions and Treatments

  • Spasticity: treated with intrathecal baclofen infusion 2
  • Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction: treated with physical therapy 3 and various physiotherapy methods 4
  • Muscle spindles in the human bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles: presence and involvement in the superficial perineal muscles is not well understood 5

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Intrathecal baclofen pump for spasticity: an evidence-based analysis.

Ontario health technology assessment series, 2005

Research

Physical Therapy Treatment of Pelvic Pain.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America, 2017

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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