Diagnosis and treatment
Formation of fibrous scar tissue inside the penis
Peyronie’s Disease is a disorder in which scar tissue, called a plaque, forms in the penis. The plaque builds up inside the tissues of a thick, elastic membrane called the tunica albuginea. As the plaque builds up, the penis will curve or bend, which can cause painful erections. Curves in the penis can make sexual intercourse painful, difficult, or impossible. Peyronie’s Disease begins with inflammation and may become a hard scar. Peyronie’s Disease is not contagious or caused by any known transmittable disease. Some men with Peyronie’s Disease may have erectile dysfunction.
It is not completely known the exact cause of Peyronie’s Disease. Many specialist believe that Peyronie’s Disease could be either the result of acute injury to the penis or chronic, or repeated, injury to the penis or caused by an autoimmune disease—a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the body’s own cells and organs
However, the actual occurrence of Peyronie’s Disease may be higher due to men’s embarrassment and health care providers’ limited reporting. The disease is rare in young men, although it has been reported in men in their 30s. The chance of developing Peyronie’s Disease increases with age.
Men with small plaques, minimal penile curvature, no pain, and satisfactory sexual function may not need treatment until symptoms get worse. Peyronie’s Disease often resolves on its own without treatment. A urologist may recommend changes in a man’s lifestyle to reduce the risk of Erectile Dysfunction associated with Peyronie’s Disease.
An urologist may treat Peyronie’s disease with nonsurgical treatments or surgery.
Medications and medical therapies
To date, collagenase is the first and only medication specifically approved for Peyronie’s Disease.
A urologist may use medical therapies to break up scar tissue and decrease plaque size and curvature. Therapies to break up scar tissue may include:
Expert urologist recommend surgery for Peyronie’s Disease cases when:
A urologist may recommend the following surgeries:
A urologist performs these surgeries in a hospital.