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Frequently Asked Questions On Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease is a condition where scar tissue causes the penis to curve or lose length or girth. In some cases, it can cause pain and prevent the man from having sex.

There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments that can manage it and it doesn’t cause any harm to the rest of the body.

The information below is intended to provide responses to many of the common questions men have about Peyronie’s disease when they contact the Kelowna Precision Sexual Health Clinic for men for information or assessment.

About Peyronie’s Disease

What is Peyronie's disease?

Peyronie’s is a disease where scar tissue in your penis causes it to bend, curve or lose length or girth. You may be able to feel the scar tissue (plaque) through the skin or you may have pain in a specific part of your penis as the scar tissue forms. During an erection, your penis can bend up, down, or to the side depending on the location of the scar. Some men with this condition don’t have a curve, but might have an area of indentation or “hourglass” appearance.

Most men don’t have perfectly straight erections. Just because there is a little curve in your penis, that doesn’t mean you have Peyronie’s disease. Men who have had a curvature their whole lives do not have Peyronie’s disease.

In most cases, the scar forms on the top of the penis, causing it to curve upwards when it becomes erect. Your penis will bend downward if the scar is on the bottom, and sideways if the scar is on the side. In some cases, the scar develops on both the top and bottom of the shaft, which can cause the penis to become “dented” or shorter. Sometimes the scar will go all the way around the penis, making it narrow like the neck of a bottle or the center of an hourglass. About one in three men with this condition may have calcium in the scar tissue that can make it feel like bone.

crooked Peyronie's curve image

Is Peyronie’s dangerous?

Peyronie;s is not life-threatening and cannot lead to a serious illness. It may, however, lead to erectile dysfunction which means that it is not possible to get or maintain an erection if left untreated.

Could I have something else?

Depending on the type of lumps on the penis, it could be genital warts or genital herpes which are both superficial and visible, and sexually transmitted. Sores can also be a sign of syphilis. In Peyronie’s disease, the nodule is under the skin and does not present as a sore or blister.

Is Peyronie’s disease painful?

Peyronie’s disease can be painful. This is most common in the early phase of the disease. However, pain may continue with erections even in the later, chronic phase. The severity of it varies depending on the person.

Does Peyronie’s disease make the penis smaller?

Peyronie’s disease can shorten your penis. Treatments for Peyronie’s disease can attempt to restore length.

Does Peyronie’s disease cause erectile dysfunction (ED)?

Peyronie’s disease can cause erectile dysfunction by interfering with the normal blood trapping valves that are important for getting or maintaining an erection.

Is Peyronie’s disease contagious?

No. Peyronie’s is not contagious or caused by any other disease.
make more straight with Peyronie's treatments

Will Peyronie’s disease keep me from having sex?

You can have sex, but it might be painful or difficult for you or your partner. The greater the curve, the more difficult it is to have sex. Some men with Peyronie’s disease may suffer from erectile dysfunction, which is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Not all men with Peyronie’s disease suffer from erectile dysfunction, but many do, either temporarily or permanently. Most men with Peyronie’s disease do find some ways to keep intimacy alive in their relationships.

Could it be penile cancer?

Cancer of the penis is quite rare, but lumps on the penis should be examined by a doctor, so that cancer can be ruled out.

Can a relatively young man have Peyronie’s?

Yes if you are displaying the symptoms you could. Although Peyronie’s disease is more common in older men it does happen to younger men too. If you have symptoms, make an appointment for an evaluation.

What are the stages of Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease has two stages: acute and chronic.

Acute phase: This stage lasts between six and 12 months. During this period the scar forms under the skin of your penis, causing a curvature or other change in its shape. You may feel pain when your penis is erect or when it is soft.

Chronic phase: The scar has stopped growing in this phase, so the curvature in the penis doesn’t get worse. The pain will usually be gone by this time, but sometimes it can continue, especially with erections. Also, erectile dysfunction (ED) or problems getting or keeping the penis hard may develop.

How common is Peyronie’s disease?

Experts estimate that about 6% to 10% of men between ages 40 and 70 have Peyronie’s disease. It’s been observed in other ages, but it’s less common. There’s a theory that the actual number may be higher since some men choose not to talk about the disease with their healthcare provider, and others may not be bothered enough to seek medical care. If you have concerns about your sexual health, be sure to report your symptoms to a healthcare provider.

Causes & Transmission

Peyronie’s disease is likely caused by minor injury to the penis. This type of damage is most often caused by vigorous sex (such as bending the penis during penetration or pressure from a partner’s pubic bone), though it can also be caused by sports or other accidents.
It cannot be passed on through physical or intimate contact. It is possible that it can be passed on genetically from father to son, but there is no evidence for this.

Several risk factors might increase your chances of getting Peyronie’s disease:

Age. Peyronie’s disease is more likely to happen as you get older. It occurs in about 10-15% of middle-aged men.

Genetics. If you have a close relative (brother or father, for example) with the disease, you’re at a higher risk.

Connective tissue disorders. Those with a connective tissue disorder are at a greater risk. Examples of those disorders include Dupuytren’s disease, plantar fasciitis and scleroderma.

Erectile dysfunction. Men who have diabetes-associated erectile dysfunction (ED) (impotence/difficulty getting and keeping an erection) are four to five times more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease. Sometimes erectile dysfunction can be caused by having Peyronie’s.

Prostate cancer. Men who have had surgery for prostate cancer are at an increased risk.
Autoimmune disorders. If you have an autoimmune disorder like lupus, you’re more likely to get Peyronie’s disease.

Generally the cause is thought to be some damage to the penis, either during sex or masturbation. For some people this heals up normally, but in other people there is a genetic predisposition to scar tissue forming. This scar tissue gathers up on one side of your penis, making it curved
While low testosterone itself cannot cause Peyronie’s disease (PD), hormone levels can affect penile rigidity, which can cause injury to the penis during sexual intercourse. Low testosterone levels can impact a man’s ability to maintain an erection firm enough for sex.
There is no evidence to suggest that what you eat or drink affects Peyronie’s disease.

It is recommended to go to the doctor for a diagnosis. It is normal to feel embarrassed but doctors are used to dealing with problems such as this. The sooner you get diagnosed, the sooner you can get treatment. Most professionals recommend starting some form of Peyronie’s treatment during the acute phase and ideally within 6 months of noticing the first symptoms.

It is estimated that Peyronie’s disease improves or resolves without any treatment in only 5 – 15% of cases.

peyronie's disease treatment in Kelowna to straighten the shaft

What are the Treatment Options?

There are a number of treatment options. Some work well for some men but not for others. Starting a non-surgical treatment as soon as possible is a good idea, as well as combining several treatments.

The sooner you start your treatment, the more options you have and the better results you are likely to get. The aim of most treatments is to stop the disease progressing further, maintain or improve sexual function, relieve any penile pain and to straighten the bend as much as possible.

Many modalities have been tested in Peyronie’s disease and have found to be effective. These include intralesional therapies (penile injections), oral therapies, topical therapies, penile traction devices, low-intensity acoustic shockwave, and surgical procedures.

Please see the treatments offered at our Kelowna clinic.

Because sexual wellness is an integral part of your health and happiness.

Contact us for more information

Kelowna Erectile Dysfunction Clinic for Men

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Kelowna Precision Sexual Health Clinic for Men

3477 Lakeshore Road
Suite 202 (2nd Floor)
Kelowna, BC
V1W 0A7

(236) 766 0583
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