Peyronie’s disease occurs when scar tissue forms inside the penis. While the scar tissue itself is not dangerous, it can cause painful erections and lead to difficulty having sex due to the angulation. During an erection, the area with the scar tissue isn’t able to stretch, straighten and stiffen. As a result, the penis may bend or curve towards that side, which can cause pain.
Having Peyronie’s disease can affect your mental health, as dealing with the symptoms can be challenging. The good news is that there are supports and treatment options available.
Peyronie’s disease is uncommon and is thought to affect around 4 in 100 people. The disease usually occurs in those aged 45 to 60.
Specific causes of Peyronie’s disease are not yet known, and often there isn’t a clear cause. Researchers are still investigating whether it could be genetic or linked to a specific health condition. Associations exist with connective tissue disorders such as Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand and Ledderhose disease of the sole of the feet.
Other theories suggest Peyronie’s disease may occur when the penis gets damaged repeatedly during sex, or after an accident. Conditions that result in poor wound healing and scar tissue build-up may bring on the disease. In some cases, the disease occurs slowly over time.
Risk factors that may be linked to Peyronie’s disease include:
If you have Peyronie’s disease, you may notice the following signs and symptoms:
It’s normal to feel stressed or anxious about your relationship if you are not able to have sex or worried about how your penis looks. If you are struggling to cope with some of these symptoms and side effects, speak to your healthcare professional about a referral to a counsellor.
Your health care professional can diagnose Peyronie’s disease through a combination of tests and physical examinations.
If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of Peyronie’s disease, your health care professional will examine your penis for scar tissue. Measuring the penis can also help determine if the condition is getting worse, as more scar tissue will shorten the penis. You may also need an ultrasound or MRI, which can identify scar tissue and any issues to do with blood flow to the penis.
Your health care professional may request tests when your penis is both erect and not erect. To test the penis when it is erect, you’ll be given an injection into the penis that causes an erection.
Often photo documentation of the erect penis angulation or deviation is beneficial to evaluate the disease severity as well as to monitor any treatment response.
When your health care professional has the results of your tests, they can determine whether you have Peyronie’s disease and develop a suitable treatment plan.
There are several different treatment options for Peyronie’s disease. Your treatment depends on how long you have been experiencing symptoms and the seriousness of the disease.
If you have only recently noticed symptoms, treatment can include medications and penile traction therapy, an approach that may help increase penis length and decrease the curve of the penis. The aim of treatment in the early stage is to prevent shortening and minimise any curving while the active, painful phase of the disease is monitored until any progression has stabilised.
If you have had symptoms for 6 or more months, you may need further definitive treatment with a combination of injections, penile traction therapy or surgery.
If you have strong erections, the treatments to consider are:
If you have poor erections, then a penile implant may help to straighten the penis and provide good erections.
If the disease is in the early stages, you may notice mild pain during an erection and you may still be able to have sex as usual.
If you have a moderate or severe form of Peyronie’s disease, your penis may change shape, you may struggle to have an erection and you may find penetrative sex difficult or even impossible.
It’s normal to feel stressed or anxious about your relationship if you are not able to have sex or you’re worried about how your penis looks. If you are struggling to cope with some of these symptoms and side effects, speak to your health care professional about a referral to a counsellor.
If you have received a Peyronie’s disease diagnosis, your medical team will give you a personalised treatment plan. It’s important to take the time to learn about your condition, treatments and future plan. Connecting with other men who have Peyronie’s disease can help you to feel supported and not alone.
Your St Vincent’s men’s health teams will support you every step of the way.
