Peyronie’s Disease is an abnormal bend or curvature of the penis caused by plaque buildup, scar tissue, and inflammation. Having Peyronie’s Disease can make it difficult to get and maintain an erection and can prevent you from being able to have sex.
An estimated 5-10 percent of the male population suffer from Peyronie’s Disease, although it is speculated that the number is higher. Many men are reluctant to talk about their symptoms, and so the condition goes undiagnosed.
Signs and Symptoms
Peyronie’s disease signs symptoms can either manifest suddenly or appear gradually. The most common symptoms include:
Scar tissue – Scar tissue, also known as plaques can be felt under the skin as a band of hard tissue or flat lumps.
A significant bend in the penis – The penis often curves upward, downward or can be bent to one side. Problems with erections. Peyronie’s disease often causes problems getting or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction).
Penis shortening – . Your penis could develop shortening due to the condition.
Pain – Your penis may hurt and be painful both with and without being erect.
The curvature associated with Peyronie’s disease may slowly worsen. At some point, however, it typically stabilizes.
Treatment
In a very few numbers of cases, about 13 out of 100, Peyronie’s disease goes away without being treated. If treatment is required, many health care experts suggest treating the disease without surgery for the first 12 months. For men with mild symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. However, treatment might be needed if the curvature is severe enough that it prevents successful sexual intercourse and causes discomfort and pain.
There is a range of treatment options available to treat Peyronie’s Disease (PD) from injections to oral medications to surgery, including:
Non-surgical Treatments
· Intralesional injection therapy with Xiaflex® or verapamil
· Oral medication
· Vacuum erection devices
· Traction devices
Surgical Treatments
· Scar removal and allograft
· Surgical plication and grafting
· Penile prosthesis
Seek Help Sonner Rather than Later
For many men, having Peyronie’s Disease causes embarrassment, and so they do not seek advice or treatment. But it is important that you don’t wait. Treatments will vary depending on the severity of the curvature, the person, and their symptoms, but you should always seek medical help as soon as possible. It may be embarrassing, but your quality of life is more important than anything, and treatment can restore your sexual function, relive your pain and improve your relationship with your loved one.
To learn more about Peyronie’s disease, call Dr. Avila today at (480) 961-2323 to schedule a consultation, or request one online. Dr. Avila and the caring staff at Ironwood Urology make your privacy, comfort, and most importantly your health, their number one priority.
