Peyronie’s disease can cause several problems with your penis. One symptom may be that you notice your penis is not as straight as it used to be. If you think the reason is Peyronie’s disease, here are some answers to questions about the condition.
What is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease is a problem that is caused by scar tissue (fibrous plaque) inside the penis. Besides resulting in a curvature of the penis, it sometimes causes pain or erectile dysfunction. Most cases occur in middle-aged men but both older and younger men can develop this problem. The likelihood of developing Peyronie’s disease does increase with age, especially in men over 55.
What Causes Peyronie’s Disease?
Doctors don’t always know the cause of Peyronie’s disease. It is believed that the plaque starts forming after some type of trauma (hitting or bending) that causes bleeding inside the penis. Peyronie’s disease is often caused by a minor injury to the penis or “penile trauma.” The trauma can be a result of vigorous sex that bends the penis during penetration. Sports mishaps or other accidents can also result in trauma that leads to Peyronie’s disease. When Peyronie’s disease develops gradually, it might be due to genetic causes.
Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease?
One of the baffling things about Peyronie’s disease is that symptoms can appear slowly over time or may happen suddenly. When the penis is soft, the condition is not visible. It’s when the penis is erect that the bending and associated pain can happen. This is because the area with hardened plaque becomes scar tissue lacking the ability to stretch, so your penis appears bent and may be painful.
At times, men who have Peyronie’s disease also have scar tissue elsewhere, such as in their hands or feet, which may help signal that the penile problem is Peyronie’s disease.
How Do I Get a Diagnosis for Peyronie’s Disease?
If you think you may have Peyronie’s disease, make an appointment with a qualified urologist. The doctor will manually examine you, looking for hardened tissue, or you may get an injection to cause your penis to get hard to help with diagnosis. Your urologist may order an ultrasound or X-ray of your penis. For cases that occurred rapidly, your urologist may take a biopsy for the lab.
How is Peyronie’s Disease Treated?
In most cases, the pain eases over time and you may not need treatment. But if the bend in your penis gets worse, seek an appointment. Mild cases don’t require treatment. If it doesn’t cause issues with your sex life, you may not need treatment. Your doctor may prescribe an oral medication as the first recourse. Sometimes your doctor can give an injection of collagenase, which reduces curvature and pain.
If pills or injections don’t work and your sex life is greatly impaired, there are surgical recourses that might be recommended. Learn more about Peyronie’s disease and surgical treatment at St Pete Urology’s website. You needn’t suffer alone with Peyronie’s disease.
