What is peyronie's disease?

Peyronie's disease is an abnormal curvature of the penis caused by scar tissue in the lining of the penis. Because the scar tissue prevents straightening of the penis, the curvature is most obvious during an erection. The curvature may cause pain for the person or their partner, or it may be so severe that it prevents penetration during intercourse.

Peyronie's disease usually affects people who are 50 and older.

Symptoms of Peyronie's disease may develop slowly or suddenly. Common symptoms include:

• A lump or thickening along the shaft of the penis that is most noticeable when the penis is soft (flaccid).
• A bent or curved appearance of the penis that is most noticeable when the penis is erect.
• A narrowing of the erect penis that causes an hourglass shape to the penis.
• A painful erection. Some people do not have pain with an erection but have tenderness when the lump along the side of the penis is touched.
• An inability to keep an erection or problems with the entire penis being erect. Some parts of the penis may be more rigid, usually nearest the body, while the areas closer to the tip of the penis may be less rigid.
• An inability to achieve penetration during intercourse.

Peyronie's disease is usually diagnosed using a medical history and physical exam. Your doctor will ask you questions about when you first noticed your symptoms and whether the symptoms were gradual or sudden. This will help determine which stage of Peyronie's disease you are experiencing.

Because symptoms of Peyronie's disease are usually most noticeable when the penis is erect, your doctor will likely ask that you use your cell phone to take a photo of your erect penis. Or your doctor may inject a drug into your penis to make it erect. This will help your doctor see where the curve is and how severe it is. Other tests that may be ordered include:

• An X-ray or ultrasound, to produce a picture of the structures within the penis.
• Doppler flow studies, which use sound waves to monitor blood-flow patterns.

• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can help treat pain.
• Surgery may help. But it is usually only used if you can't have intercourse. Experts usually suggest that before trying surgery, you wait at least a year.
• Counseling or sexual therapy may be useful for problems with sexual intimacy caused by the disease.