Living with Peyronie’s Disease: Know Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Peyronie’s disease is a noncancerous condition in which fibrous scar tissue that develops inside the penis, causing curved, painful erections.
It can result from repeated injury or trauma during sex or physical activity.
Common symptoms include penile curvature, pain, and difficulty with intercourse.
Treatments range from oral medications and injections to surgery in severe cases.
Living with Peyronie’s disease can be physically and emotionally challenging, but help is available.
In this blog, we’ll explore the causes, symptoms, and complications associated with Peyronie's disease.
Also, explore proven treatments to manage symptoms, ease discomfort, and improve your sexual health.
What is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease is a noncancerous condition where fibrous scar tissue forms inside the penis, causing it to bend or curve during erection.
This can lead to pain, difficulty with erections, and discomfort during sex.
While the exact cause is unclear, it’s often linked to injury or trauma.
In some cases, it also leads to stress and anxiety.
The condition rarely improves on its own and may worsen over time.
Early treatment is more effective and can help manage or reduce symptoms.
Discover how stress like factor can lead to sexual problem
What are the Symptoms of Peyronie's disease?
The signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease may appear suddenly or develop gradually.
Some common signs and symptoms can help detect this condition. It includes:
A Significant curve or bend to the penis- The penis may form a curve upward or downward or bend to one side.
Scar tissue
The scar tissue formed due to Peyronie's disease is also called plaque.
But it is quite different from plaque, which builds up in blood vessels.
It can be easily felt under the skin of the penis as a complex and flat lump.
Pain or discomfort during erection may cause penile pain, especially with erection.
Some men may experience pain without having an erection.
Shortening of the penis
Due to Peyronie's disease, the penis might get shorter than it was.
Erection problems
The condition may also contribute to a sexual fault like Erectile dysfunction.
But most men report ED before symptoms associated with Peyronie's begin.
Peyronie’s disease can cause worsening penile curvature and shortening over time.
The condition may stabilize within 3 to 12 months, but pain during erections can take up to two years to improve.
While some men see improvements without treatment, scar tissue, curvature, and shortening often persist.
What are the Risk Factors for Peyronie’s Disease?
Several factors can increase the risk of developing Peyronie’s disease.
These risk factors often by impairing wound healing and promoting scar tissue buildup in the penis, leading to complications:
Heredity:
A family history of Peyronie’s disease raises your risk of developing it.
Age:
The condition becomes more common with age, especially in men in their 50s and 60s.
While younger men may have slight curvature, it’s usually due to congenital causes and is often harmless.
Connective Tissue Disorders:
Men with conditions like Dupuytren’s contracture are more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease.
The condition involves signs like thickening in the palm, causing finger curling.
Other Risk Factors:
These include smoking, certain health conditions, and previous prostate surgery.
The following factors may contribute to tissue damage and poor healing.
Also injury or trauma during physical activtiy can also lead to Peyronie's disease as per studies.
Find out how prostate surgery can lead to sexual problems
What are the Complications due to Peyronie's disease?
These are some complications that you may have to deal with if you have Peyronie's disease-
- Difficulty getting or keeping an erection(Erectile dysfunction)
- Unable to have sexual intercourse
- Anxiety or stress due to your sexual inabilities or the appearance of your penis
- Reduction in your penis length
- Penile pain
- Difficulty becoming a father of a child because it makes intercourse difficult or impossible
- Relationship problems with your sexual partner and stress in your relationship.
How Is Peyronie’s Disease Diagnosed?
Peyronie’s disease is usually diagnosed through:
- Physical exam: A doctor feels for hardened plaques in the penis with a physical examination.
- Erection check: Your doctor can give you medicine to cause an erection to help you check for the bend or curve.
- Ultrasound: Imaging can help doctors measure scar tissue and check blood flow.
These steps help determine the severity and best treatment options.
What are the Treatments for Peyronie's disease?
In mild cases, the symptoms of Peyronie's disease may resolve independently over time.
For severe cases, A doctor may advise treatment options such as:
Oral Medications
These oral medications help relieve pain and plaque size.
It includes medicines like vitamin E, pentoxifylline, or colchicine.
Injection
Injections are directly given into the plaque to reduce scar tissue on the penis.
Surgery
A doctor may advise surgery if other treatments are ineffective in severe cases.
It may include plaque excision, grafting, or penile implant surgery.
Note that it's essential to consult a doctor if you find such signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease.
This condition may significantly impact a person's life.
So, it is essential to seek medical care before the condition worsens and gets out of hand.
Summary:
Peyronie’s disease is a noncancerous condition led by scar tissue forming in the penis that leads to painful, curved erections.
Diagnosis typically involves a physical exam and imaging, like ultrasound or MRI, to assess plaque size and location.
Treatment depends on severity and may include medication, injections, or surgery.
Early medical attention is key to managing symptoms and preventing the condition from worsening.
Checkout Cart: ED Medicines & Peyronie’s Disease
If you’re diagnosed with Peyronie’s Disease, using ED medicines like Sildenafil or Tadalafil may still be safe — but only under a doctor’s prescription.
These medications can improve erection quality, but due to penile curvature and tissue sensitivity, proper dosage and monitoring are essential.
Peyronie’s disease can cause the erect penis to appear narrow, indented, or even shaped like an hourglass due to scar tissue. In simple terms, it leads to a noticeable bend or curve—upward, downward, or to one side—often making erections painful or difficult.
Peyronie's disease is generally categorized into 2 stages, the acute phase and the chronic phase. In both phases, the curved/bend penis may cause difficulty during sex. It can also lead to sexual problems like Erectile dysfunction (ED). In Peyronie's disease, the acute phase typically lasts 5 to 7 months, but in some rare cases, it can last up to 18 months.
Having surgery is one of the most effective treatments for Peyronie's disease. Surgery can help correct the curvature of your penis and structure back into a straight position. However, it is only recommended in severe cases of Peyronoie's who fail to respond to non-surgical treatments. Or for a man who has been dealing with curvature for longer than 12 months.
Viagra, a prescription medicine, has shown no evidence of improving the penile deformity caused by Peyronie's disease. Viagra is generally known for its vasodilation effects that help improve blood flow into the penis. Therefore, it may only improve erections in men with Peyronie's disease. But make sure to consult with a doctor before you use it, in case you are suffering from Peyronie's disease.
To reduce or stop Peyronie's pain, you can use OTC medications, mind-body techniques, and a heating pad. Moreover, you can visit a doctor to seek medical treatment like shockwave therapy if it's effective.