What Is Peyronie's Disease?
Peyronie's disease, or a curved penis, can cause embarrassment or anxiety. But this condition doesn't have to hurt your confidence. At Penn Medicine, our doctors have years of experience treating Peyronie's disease.
Peyronie's disease is a buildup of scar tissue on the penis, causing it to bend or curve during erections. This scar tissue interferes with the flexibility and stretching of the tissues in the penis, which results in a bent penis.
Symptoms of Peyronie's Disease
People who have Peyronie's disease may not notice any symptoms until they have an erection. Symptoms include:
- Curved or bent penis during an erection
- Erectile dysfunction
- Lumps in the penis
- Waist-like or narrowed bottleneck areas during erections
- Pain during erections
These symptoms can cause difficulty with sexual intercourse and may interfere with personal relationships or fertility. Penis curvature can also cause emotional effects like anxiety and stress.
What Causes Peyronie's Disease?
In many cases, people develop Peyronie's disease after penile trauma (injury to the penis). Peyronie's disease happens when there is a problem with the body's healing process.
Penile trauma may happen when the penis:
- Is bent or damaged during sexual activity
- Receives an impact during sports
- Is injured in a car accident
Other possible causes of Peyronie's include:
- Autoimmune conditions: Lupus, Sjögren's syndrome or Behçet's disease may increase the risk of getting Peyronie's.
- Connective tissue disorders: Dupuytren's contractures, scleroderma or tympanosclerosis may cause scar tissue in the penis.
- Genetics: Some people may have genes that cause the scar tissue to form. Peyronie's disease may run in families, as you're more likely to develop the condition if you have a close relative with it.
Diagnosing Peyronie's Disease
A urologist can diagnose Peyronie's disease with:
- Physical exam: An experienced urologist may be able to identify the scar tissue, even without an erection.
- Ultrasound: This noninvasive test uses sound waves to take pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors can view blood flow in the penis and the location of the scar tissue with ultrasound images.
Peyronie's Disease Treatment at Penn
Your treatment depends on the stage of the condition, or when you started having symptoms. Your urologist can explain your options, which may include:
Treatment for acute Peyronie's disease
In the acute (early) stage, the scar tissue is still forming. During this early stage, you may notice pain or the curve gradually getting worse. To treat it, your provider may recommend:
- Penile traction therapy: This treatment uses a special clamp-like device that helps prevent penis curvature from getting worse. It can also help prevent loss of length.
- Injections: Your doctor may inject medicines into the penis to stop scar tissue from getting worse. You may receive numbing medicine first.
Treatment for chronic Peyronie's disease
After the acute phase, Peyronie's disease becomes chronic, or long-term. You will not see any further changes to the curve of the penis. During this phase, doctors may recommend:
- Injections: Injectable medications may be an option for people who don't want to have surgery. These medicines can help break down the scar tissue to reduce the bend or curve.
- Penile traction therapy: Doctors may combine traction therapy with other treatments, such as surgery, during the chronic phase.
- Grafting surgery: Your surgeon removes the scar tissue and replaces it with tissue from another part of your body. This procedure can help reduce the curve of the penis and restore some length. Learn more about our Reconstructive Urology Program.
- Plication: Your urologist removes tissue from the opposite side of the curve. This can help straighten the penis but will not restore lost length.
- Penile prosthesis: Your surgeon places a special device in the penis to help straighten it and help you achieve an erection. Read about our Prosthetic Urology Program.
Make an Appointment
Call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.
Penn Programs & Services for Peyronie's Disease
Our Reconstructive Urology Program provides skilled surgical treatment for genital trauma, cancer, previous surgeries and congenital conditions.