Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Priapism caused by ‘Tribulus terrestris’

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 28, pages 39–40 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

A 36-year-old Caucasian man was diagnosed with a 72-h-lasting priapism that occurred after the assumption of a Herbal supplement based on Tribulus terrestris, which is becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. The patient underwent a cavernoglandular shunt (Ebbehoj shunt) in order to obtain complete detumescence, from which derived negative post-episode outcomes on sexual function. All patients consuming non-FDA-approved alternative supplements such as Tribulus terrestris should be warned about the possible serious side effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

References

  1. Chhatre S, Nesari T, Somani G, Kanchan D, Sathaye S . Phytopharmacological overview of Tribulus terrestris. Pharmacogn Rev 2014; 8: 45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Miocinovic R, Zafar S, Sferra J, Wainstein M . Priapism caused by 'All Nite Long'. Int J Impot Res 2005; 17: 469–470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Do J, Choi S, Choi J, Hyun JS . Effects and mechanism of action of a Tribulus terrestris extract on penile erection. Korean J Urol 2013; 54: 183–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Singh S, Nair V, Gupta YK . Evaluation of the aphrodisiac activity of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in sexually sluggish male albino rats. J Pharmacol Pharmacother 2012; 3: 43–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitary Department of Urology, SS. Annunziata Hospital, Chieti, Italy

    M Campanelli, R De Thomasis & R L Tenaglia

Authors
  1. M Campanelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R De Thomasis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R L Tenaglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Campanelli.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Campanelli, M., De Thomasis, R. & Tenaglia, R. Priapism caused by ‘Tribulus terrestris’. Int J Impot Res 28, 39–40 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2015.30

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2015.30

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links