Peyronie’s disease is a connective tissue condition in which fibrous scar tissue forms in the soft tissue of the penis, eventually turning into hard plaques. These plaques can affect the shape, flexibility, erectile function, and even the length of the penis.
The urological condition is believed to be caused by abnormal healing of penile trauma or minor injuries that patients may not even be aware of. These injuries usually happen during sex or sports. Autoimmune or connective tissue disorders, age, and genetics (having a family member with Peyronie’s disease) could also have a role in the development of the condition.
What is Peyronie’s Disease?
Knowing the basic anatomy of the penis and how erections work are key to better understanding Peyronie’s disease.
The penis contains erectile tissue formed by a pair of spongy cylinders with many tiny vessels that fill with blood and make the penis stiff. These tubes are called corpora cavernosa and they’re wrapped by an elastic tissue called tunica albuginea, which expands during an erection and constrains the veins of the penis to maintain it.
In Peyronie’s disease, scar tissue develops in the tunica albuginea and keeps it from stretching normally. This causes the disease’s characteristic penile curvatures that are far more serious than normal curvatures.
Signs and Symptoms
The main symptom of Peyronie’s disease is an abnormal curvature of the penis. The plaques that cause it can usually be felt under the skin as little lumps, as well.
Depending on the location of the plaques, the penis can bend in different directions, making it difficult for men to have sexual intercourse. Erections can be weak (erectile dysfunction) and painful, and the penis can shrink, shorten, or lose its shape. This may have an impact on the patient’s mental health.
Treatment Options
Being diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease doesn’t mean that you have to be treated, especially if your symptoms are mild. But the disease rarely fades away on its own and some men may need:
Penile injections. They’re meant to dissolve the scar tissue (collagenase), relieve the pain, and fix the curve (interferon, verapamil).
Traction therapy. The penis is stretched with a penile traction device that you must wear for a given time each day. Eventually, the device corrects penile curvatures, deformities, and reduced length.
Surgery. There are several surgical methods to straighten the penis in severe cases of Peyronie’s disease.
- Plication. The surgeon extracts or folds tissue on the opposite side of the curve to shorten the penis from that side too. The penis ends up smaller, but with no curves.
- Grafting. The urologist cuts or removes the plaque and fills that space with a graft. The penis size is not affected, but it’s a more invasive procedure.
- Penile implant. For patients with erectile dysfunction, there are prosthetic devices (such as inflatable pumps) that straighten the penis to allow for sexual intercourse.
If you have symptoms of Peyronie’s disease, visit your doctor so that you can discuss your options with them. There’s no need to feel embarrassed. Rather, it’s best to seek medical advice and treatment.