Peyronie’s Disease Symptoms and How They Affect Sexual Health

It is estimated that Peyronie’s disease affects at least 6% to 10% of people with penises between 40 and 70 years of age. Most of them are embarrassed to speak out, which may explain why the prevalence may be higher than estimated.

Reach out to medical experts at Urogen Barrie and speak with them in confidence about your sexual health.

About Peyronie’s disease

When the scar tissue or plaque in your penis causes it to bend, curve or lose girth or length, you may have a condition called Peyronie’s disease. You could feel pain in a particular part of your penis as the scar tissue develops, or you could feel its presence through the skin. The penis bends up or curves when you have an erection or may have an hourglass appearance with an indentation. Erections are never really perfectly straight. But when you have a penis with a curve, it means you could have Peyronie’s disease.

Phases of Peyronie’s disease

Essentially, the disease has acute and chronic stages. In its acute phase, it can last between six and 12 months, and during this time, a scar may form under your penis’s skin. This curves or changes the shape of the organ. Sometimes it can be painful, whether flaccid or erect.

In its acute phase, the scar stops growing, and the curvature doesn’t get any worse. The pain tends to subside at this stage, but it could continue whenever you have an erection.

Symptoms and Signs of Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease can appear or develop suddenly. Some common signs of the disease include:

• Feeling bands of hard tissue or flat lumps under the skin. These are called plaques.
• During erections, the penis curves downward, upward or to the side due to the presence of scar tissue.
• Penile pain is common, particularly appearing during erections, although it can improve over time.
• You can develop erectile dysfunction (ED) due to Peyronie’s disease because you cannot maintain an erection.
• Due to the condition, the penis may appear shorter, resulting in penile shortening.

Consult with medical professionals at Urogen ED Barrie for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Must read: Treat penile bend near Barrie, Ontario.

Causes of Peyronie’s Disease

Several factors contribute to the development of Peyronie’s disease. However, its cause is not always clear. Some aspects include:

1. Genetics

Studies indicate that predisposed genetic characteristics may contribute to the development of the disease.

2. Injury

A form of trauma or penile injury, such as hitting or bending, could lead to the subsequent development of scar tissue and Peyronie’s disease. For instance, it could be due to certain sports, accidents or rough sexual activity.

3. Aging

Although it can occur at any age, Peyronie’s disease is more evident in men over 50 years.

4. Connective Tissue Disorders

If you have Dupuytren’s contracture, which primarily affects the hands, then you are at a higher risk of developing Peyronie’s disease.

5. Others

Certain health conditions like diabetes, habits such as smoking and intake of specific medications increase the likelihood of Peyronie’s disease.

Decrease your chances of developing the disease or worsening existing symptoms by understanding these risk factors. 

Must read: How to overcome erectile dysfunction naturally. 

Diagnosis

At Urogen ED, Barrie, medical experts diagnose Peyronie’s disease after they have collected the following:

1. Medical History

Always the first information to be gathered when diagnosing a patient, the doctor checks with you about your symptoms and when you first noticed the curve. They will ask you about your pain during erections or if you have difficulty with sexual activity.

2. PE

The physical exam is an important part of the diagnosis. Typically, the penis is checked when flaccid or during an erection to check the curvature or deformity, its location and intensity. Eval also includes checking for the formation of lumps and plaques under the skin.

3. MRI

Imaging, such as X-rays or MRI, may be performed to provide a more detailed assessment of the extent of disease.

4. Ultrasound

This helps evaluate the location, size and volume of the plaque, as well as the blood flow to the penis.

5. Erectile Function Assessment

The doctors may ask questions associated with erectile dysfunction and perform tests to evaluate the blood flow to the penis and whether you are able to maintain an erection. This is primarily because Peyronie’s disease can also cause erectile dysfunction.

6. Inducting An Erection

Sometimes, to assess the impact of the disease, the nature of the curvature or erectile dysfunction may be assessed by inducing an erection using medications such as prostaglandin E1 in a controlled setting.

Treatment Options

Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the disease’s stage, doctors may recommend specific treatment options.

1. Medications

Oral meds such as pentoxifylline or colchicine may be administered to reduce inflammation. This will slow the progression of scar tissue and plaque size and improve curvature. Other meds may include interferon or verapamil.

2. Surgery

Severe cases of Peyronie’s disease invite surgery, especially when the patient does not respond to regular treatment. Grafts and implants, or a prosthetic, may be implanted to straighten the penis and help with erections.

3. Techniques

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy uses sound waves, or iontophoresis uses an electric current delivered through the skin to help break down scar tissue.

4. Penile Traction

The penis is gently stretched over a period of time to reduce the curvature and improve length. When consistently administered, this non-invasive method can be extremely useful.

5. Waiting

Watchful waiting is advised if the symptoms are mild, meaning the doctor will monitor your condition over time. It could improve on its own.

Urogen Wave Therapy

A unique and innovative technique, Urogen’s Wave Therapy is the most effective and results-oriented approach to Peyronie’s disease. With no pills, no medication and no surgery, the treatment restores your sexual health, making your performance stronger. The outcomes are highly natural and conducted in a professional, discreet manner. Depending on your individual needs and goals, the doctor determines the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

FAQs

About the Author

Mike Wood

Mike began his lifelong passion to help increase health and performance with a Kinesiology degree from Laurentian University in 1988. For most of his career he was in electronic manufacturing, but he always remained true to his physiology educational roots. While working in the corporate world, he trained and worked as an Emergency Medical Responder. He also spent several years teaching First Aid and CPR in both full and part-time roles.

Mike's introduction to UrogenED's Pulse Acoustic Wave technology happened at the end of 2023 when he was treated to alleviate his Peyronie's Disease. In early 2024 his entrepreneurial spirit was then married with his positive treatment outcome from UrogenED and he opened the Whitby Clinic. Towards the end of 2024 Mike was given the opportunity to open the Barrie UrogenED Clinic to complement the success story that began in Whitby. It is Mike's greatest pleasure to hear the success stories of clients from both clinics.

Mike is dedicating his career to Men's Health concerns not only limited to ED. A self-diagnosed fitness and sports junkie, Mike can be found running the roads around his house and exercising in the gym. During his downtime you will find him on the golf links in the summer or snowboarding with his family in the winter.