Peyronie Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which fibrotic scar tissue forms on the penis. This causes the shape of the penis to become bent and painful during erection.
The size and shape of the penis can vary, and having a crooked penis is not a sign of a problem. However, Peyronie’s disease can cause significant crookedness or pain for some men.
This can make it more difficult for a man to engage in sexual activity or increase the difficulty of having an erection and maintaining an erection. For most men, Peyronie’s disease can also cause stress and anxiety.
Peyronie disease may go away on its own. However, in most cases, this condition persists or gets worse. Treatment may be needed if the curvature of the penis is severe enough to prevent sexual intercourse.
Peyronie Disease Symptom
Signs and symptoms of Peyronie’s disease may appear suddenly or increase slowly. The most commonly observed signs and symptoms are:
- The appearance of scar tissue. The scar tissue associated with Peyronie’s disease can be felt under the skin of the penis as a lump or hard tissue.
- Significant penile curvature. The penis can curve up, down, or to one side. In some cases, when erect, you can see a change in the shape of the penis with a narrowing in the middle of the penis, which is accompanied by an indentation or hourglass shape.
- Erectile disorders. Peyronie’s disease can cause problems getting or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction).
- Change in penis size. The penis can appear shorter as a result of Peyronie’s disease.
- Painful. The penis can be painful, with or without an erection.
Penile curvature associated with Peyronie’s disease may improve with time. However, after reaching a certain point, this curvature may settle.
Erectile pain may improve in one to two years, but scarring and curvature may persist. In some cases, both the curvature and pain associated with Peyronie’s disease get better without treatment.
Peyronie Disease Reason
The cause of Peyronie’s disease is not known with certainty. However, several factors are associated with the occurrence of this disease.
It is thought that Peyronie’s disease results from repeated injury to the penis. For example, the penis can be injured during sexual intercourse, athletic activity, or as a result of certain accidents. However, often individuals who experience Peyronie’s disease deny any history of certain injuries to the penis.
As healing progresses, scar tissue may form in an irregular pattern, which may result in a palpable nodule or curvature of the penis. In Peyronie’s disease, when an erection occurs, the part of the skin that has scar tissue does not stretch, and the penis will appear bent or curved, accompanied by pain.
In some men, Peyronie’s disease develops slowly and seems unrelated to any particular injury. Experts are investigating whether there is a link between Peyronie’s disease and certain genetic or health conditions.
Several factors are thought to be associated with Peyronie’s disease, including:
- Descendants. If a man’s father or brother has Peyronie’s disease, the man has an increased risk of also developing the disease.
- Connective tissue disorders. Men with connective tissue disorders have an increased risk of developing Peyronie’s disease. For example, some men with Peyronie’s disease also have a thickening of the palms that causes the fingers to take an inward shape (Dupuytren’s contracture).
- Other factors, including certain health conditions, smoking, and some types of prostate surgery, may also be associated with Peyronie’s disease.
Peyronie Disease Diagnosis
The diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease is generally established based on a medical interview and direct physical examination. A physical examination is carried out to observe the presence of scar tissue on the penis.
Several types of tests are performed to diagnose Peyronie’s disease and understand what is causing the signs and symptoms you are experiencing:
- Physical examination. The doctor can observe the condition of the penis when it is not erect, to identify the location and amount of scar tissue. Then, the doctor can also measure the length of the penis.
If the condition gets worse, this initial measurement can help determine if there is a change in the size of the penis or not. In erection conditions, it can be observed the degree of curvature, location of scar tissue, and other things that can help determine the most appropriate treatment approach.
- Supporting investigation. Doctors can carry out supporting examinations such as ultrasound or other examinations to check the condition of the penis when it is erect.
Ultrasound is often used as a supporting examination for penile abnormalities. This exam uses sound waves to create soft tissue images. The results of this exam can show scar tissue, blood flow to the penis, and other abnormalities.
Peyronie Disease Treatment
If the curvature of the penis experienced by Peyronie’s sufferers is not severe and is not increasing, there are no erectile disorders, and there is no pain during sexual intercourse, the doctor may suggest monitoring complaints regularly.
However, if there is a worsening of symptoms over time, several treatment options that can be done are:
- Treatment. Several types of oral medication can be given to treat Peyronie’s disease, which are aimed at reducing the amount of scar tissue, reducing curvature, and reducing pain in the penis.
- Surgery. Doctors may suggest surgery if the deformity that occurs in the penis is categorized as severe, or prevents good sexual intercourse.
Several types of surgical techniques can be performed, that aim to correct the curvature of the penis. The type of surgery performed depends on the location of the scar tissue, the severity of symptoms, and other factors.
Peyronie Disease Prevention
Because the cause of Peyronie’s disease is not known for certain, there is no known way to prevent this disease. However, several things that can be done to detect this condition early are to observe for abnormalities in the curvature of the penis or pain during an erection, and seek immediate treatment if you experience this.