3 Ways to Treat Peyronie's Disease

1. Wait and See

With Peyronie's disease, scar tissue forms in the erectile tissue of the penis. This causes a curvature of the penis that is most obvious during erection. Depending on the severity of the disease, this curvature can cause a lump on the shaft of the penis, painful erections, erectile dysfunction or prevent penetration during sexual intercourse. Not all of the cases of Peyronie's disease have such significant symptoms. In some cases, there is no pain or interruption in normal sexual activity. If you have a curvature of the penis that does not cause significant discomfort, most doctors would advise you to wait and see if it corrects itself. In some cases the curvature can straighten without any medical intervention. Your doctor will probably monitor any progression of the disease over the course of 9 months to a year. If the curvature worsens, becomes painful or causes sexual dysfunction, you may need treatment.

2. Oral and Injectable Medications

While there is no universally accepted course of treatment for Peyronie's disease, there are some medications that have improved sexual function and minimized pain for some sufferers. Colchicine and potassium aminobenzoate (Potaba) are oral drugs commonly used to treat Peyronie's disease. These medications have anti-inflammatory properties, but the efficacy of these medications has not been extensively studied, and they both cause digestive problems. You also use vitamin E therapy to treat this disease, but its efficacy is also under-researched.

Injectable medications, such as collagenase, verapamil and interferons, are used to treat Peyronie's disease. These medications are injected directly into the scar tissue within your penis to break up the tissue and return your penis to normal functioning. This therapy is administered over several months. Results are mixed, and these injections may not work for everyone.

3. Corrective Surgery as a Final Option

Several surgical methods are used to treat Peyronie's disease, but they are invasive and can produce serious complications. Which surgical method is right for you depends in part on the length of your penis and the degree of your curvature. If you have a longer penis with a curvature of less than 45 degrees, the Nesbit plication surgery may be your best bet. This surgery involves removing tissue on the side of the penis opposite the scar tissue to straighten the penis. If you have a shorter penis with more than a 45-degree curvature, surgery in which the scar tissue is cut and covered with a grafted vein may be recommended. If erectile dysfunction is an issue, you might also consider having a penis implant surgery. This surgery can make it possible to achieve and maintain an erection.