Penile curvature is often referred to as Peyronie’s Disease which causes pain inside the penis and forces it to bend or arc when erect.
Who’s suffering from Peyronie’s Disease?
Although it mostly happens in middle-aged men, younger and older men can get it.
It becomes more common as a man gets older. But it’s not a normal part of aging.
What are the symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease?
Symptoms may develop slowly or appear overnight. When the penis is soft, you can’t see a problem. But in severe cases, the hardened plaque hampers flexibility, causing pain and forcing the penis to bend or arc when erect.
In most cases, the pain eases over time, but the bend in the penis can worsen.
Some men with the condition develop scar tissue elsewhere in the body, such as on the hand or foot. Men with Dupuytren’s contractures — scarring in the hand that affects fingers — seem to be more likely to get Peyronie’s.
How do doctors diagnose Peyronie’s Disease?
Tell a doctor about anything, such as an injury, that happened before the symptoms started.
You’ll get an exam in which a doctor will feel the hardened tissue caused by the disease during an exam. It’s not always necessary, but if the penis has to be erect for the exam, the doctor would inject a medicine to make that happen.
There’s a chance you may need to get an X-ray or ultrasound of the penis.
It’s rare, but in some cases where the doctor’s exam does not confirm Peyronie’s disease, or if the condition develops rapidly, a doctor may do a biopsy. That involves removing a little bit of tissue from the affected area for lab tests.
What treatments are available?
If you need treatment, a doctor will consider surgery or medicine. We also offer PRP shots and Shock Wave therapy for Peyronie’s Disease treatment.
First, a doctor will probably prescribe a pill, such as pentoxifylline or potassium para-aminobenzoate (Potaba).
If those don’t work, you may get a shot of verapamil or collagenase (Xiaflex) into the scar tissue of the penis. If nothing else works, a doctor may consider surgery, but usually only for men who can’t have sex because of their Peyronie’s disease.
The two most common operations are:
- Remove the plaque and get a tissue graft in its place.
- Remove or alter the tissue on the side of the penis opposite the plaque, which counters the disease’s bending effect.
In some cases, it may be an option to get a penile prosthesis implanted. This treatment is only for men who have both Peyronie’s disease and ED (erectile dysfunction). Read more about the treatment of penile curvature here.
Most types of surgery help. But because of the possibility of complications that can’t be corrected, most doctors prefer to operate only on the small number of men with curvature so severe that it prevents sex.
For any additional concerns don’t hesitate to get in touch with us now.