What Is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease is a tissue disorder in which scar tissue causes a noticeable curve or bend in the penis. For many people, it can also make erections painful.
While Peyronie’s disease isn’t dangerous, it can affect your quality of life. In addition to causing stress and anxiety, it can make penetrative sex difficult due to the shape of the penis. Some people may also experience erectile dysfunction, which can cause the penis to get shorter over time.
Peyronie’s disease is thought to be caused by abnormal healing when the penis is injured during sexual activity. Sometimes, this could be due to a single significant trauma. At the same time, in other cases, it may be caused by a minor stress or injury that gets repeated over time. Some people don’t recall a specific injury or event that triggered their symptoms.
Factors that increase the risk for Peyronie’s disease include:
- Genetics. You’re more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease if other family members also have the condition.
- Connective tissue disorders. Certain connective tissue disorders can increase risk, including Dupuytren’s contracture, which causes a cordlike thickening in the palm.
- Age. People are more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease in their 50s and 60s.
When to Seek a Specialist
If you notice signs of Peyronie’s disease, including a new, significant curve in the penis, scar tissue you can feel under the skin, or pain during erections, talk with your doctor immediately. Treatment is most effective in the early stages of this condition.
Even if you’ve been living with Peyronie’s disease for months or years, treatment can still help. If symptoms affect your quality of life, such as making sex difficult or causing pain, make an appointment with a specialist.
Why Fox Chase-Temple Urologic Institute for Peyronie’s Disease
Fox Chase-Temple Urologic Institute's multidisciplinary team of specialists is experienced in treating Peyronie’s disease. With one of the region's largest and most advanced urology programs, our team includes nationally and internationally recognized experts who can work with you to diagnose Peyronie’s disease and recommend treatment to reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease include:
- A curved penis. The most common sign of Peyronie’s disease is a penis with a significant bend. It might bend to one side, upwards, or downwards.
- Plaque. You may be able to feel hard, flat lumps or bands of scar tissue under the skin of the penis. This tissue is called plaque (although it differs from the plaque found in blood vessels).
- Pain. Some people feel pain in their penis, with or without an erection.
- Erectile dysfunction. You may have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection. This issue sometimes precedes other symptoms of Peyronie’s disease.
- Penile shortening. Peyronie’s disease can reduce the length of the penis.
- Misshapen penis. Some people may see other changes to their penis shape, such as narrowing or indentations.
Symptoms may come on suddenly, or they develop gradually and get worse over time. The condition will stabilize for most people after several months to a year. Penile pain may improve after a year or two.
Treatment Options
Treatment for Peyronie’s disease depends on what stage the condition is in. Treatment options include:
- Traction therapy. This involves using a mechanical device at home to stretch the penis during the early stages of Peyronie’s disease, improving the length and minimizing bending or curvature.
- Surgery. Once your condition has stabilized, surgery may be recommended to correct severe curvature or deformity. This can work either by suturing the unaffected side of the penis to balance out the shape or by making incisions into the scar tissue and grafting new tissue to allow it to straighten.
- Medications. Oral and injected medications may be combined with other therapies to treat pain and other symptoms.
- Implants. In some cases, penile implants can be surgically inserted to treat erectile dysfunction and improve curvature.
Fox Chase-Temple Urologic Institute's providers are experienced in various treatments, including advanced treatment options that may not be available at other hospitals. Your physician can work with you to recommend the best approach for your situation.
Ready for an Appointment?
If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of Peyronie’s disease, schedule an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.
Learn more about our doctors and care team who diagnose and treat Peyronie’s disease.