What is Peyronie's Disease?

Many men are born with naturally curved penises, but Peyronie’s disease is a condition that develops over time. As men age, they may experience curvature of the penis, this is called Peyronie’s disease. Peyronie’s is thought to be caused by tiny tears in the penile tissue that may occur as the penis bends during sexual activity. If the curvature does not interfere with sexual activity or cause any discomfort, it is not a cause for concern. But for some men, Peyronie’s can cause penis pain, erectile dysfunction and sexual difficulties. If a curved penis causes any of these issues, it may be beneficial to seek help from your doctor. A doctor may recommend medication or surgery to treat Peyronie’s if it is causing significant pain, discomfort or anxiety or if it is interfering with sexual activity.

Medical Treatments for Peyronie’s Disease:

Collagenase may be prescribed for Peyronie’s disease. It works by breaking down excess collagen in the penis, and has been found to be an effective means to reduce the curvature of the penis.

Verapamil is a high blood pressure drug, but may also be involved in the production of collagen. Disrupting collagen may reduce the formation of the scar tissue associated with Peyronie’s disease. Verapamil may also have pain reducing qualities.

Surgical Treatments for Peyronie’s Disease:

Surgical treatment will only be suggested in severe cases, and once the curvature has settled and is no longer progressing. Severity will be measured by how much the curvature interferes with sexual activity and how much pain is experienced.

Mild curvature may be treated with suturing of the unaffected (longer) side of the penis. In this procedure, the longer side will be reduced to straighten the penis.

In more severe cases, a combination of the following procedures may be done: incisions may be made into the scar tissue, to allow the tissue to stretch again and the penis to straighten; some of the scar tissue may be removed (excision); tissue may be grafted to cover any holes in the existing penile tissue. Penile implants may be used to give rigidity during an erection.