Peyronie’s disease is a rare type of erectile dysfunction, marked by a curvature of the penis, caused by the development of scar tissue.
What is Peyronie’s disease?
If you have Peyronie’s disease, scar tissue may form on the bottom, top or side of the penis which can cause it to curve when erect. It can also become shorter, appear to have an indentation or be shaped like an hourglass.
Many men’s erections are not perfectly straight, and noticing a slight curve in your penis does not mean that you have Peyronie’s disease.
What are the symptoms of Peyronie’s disease?
Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease may appear suddenly or they may develop over time. The most common symptoms of Peyronie’s disease include:
- The development of scar tissue – it’s possible that you will be able to feel it underneath the skin
- A curve in the penis – this may be downwards, upwards or to the side
- A shortened penis
- Deformity of the penis – it might appear to be shaped like an hourglass or have an indentation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pain in the penis
What causes Peyronie’s disease?
The exact cause of Peyronie’s disease is unknown, but it is thought that it can be related to repeated trauma to the penis (e.g. from sexual intercourse, injury during sport, etc.)
In some cases, you may develop Peyronie’s disease without having experienced any trauma.
How is Peyronie’s disease diagnosed?
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, you should speak to your consultant.
Your consultant will conduct a physical examination of your penis to determine whether scar tissue is present. They may also measure your penis.
If further investigation is needed, your consultant might also recommend that you undergo an ultrasound.
How is Peyronie’s disease treated?
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments for Peyronie’s disease. The treatment you receive depends upon the severity and how long you have been experiencing symptoms of Peyronie’s disease
Non-surgical treatments include:
- Medication
- Traction therapy – using a mechanical device to stretch the penis
If you are experiencing severe symptoms and Peyronie’s disease is preventing you from having sexual intercourse, your consultant may recommend that you undergo surgery to correct the shape of your penis.
You and your consultant can discuss which treatment type would be best for you.
If you’re unsure what treatment you should go for, or the above treatments don’t work for you, our team of expert specialists are here to help.
