Peyronie's disease is a condition in which scar tissue builds up on one side of the penis, forming a tough plaque that resembles a scar. This band of tissue can lead to penile deformity, resulting in significant bending of the penis, which can cause the penis to become shorter, and can result in significant penile pain. Peyronie's can also make it difficult or impossible to achieve an erection. There are several different ways in which this condition can be treated.
Step 1
Take oral medications. A 2002 article in "Nature," titled "Oral therapy for Peyronie's" reviewed several different clinical studies that examined the ability of several different oral medications for the treatment of Peyronie's. Vitamin E and potaba, two of the substances examined in the article, are also recommended by the Peyronie's.org website, which is run by the Urology Associates Medical Group in California. Other medications mentioned in the "Nature" article include colchicine and tamoxifen. There is still not enough data to fully support the use of these medications for the treatment of Peyronie's, though the "Nature" article found that some of these compounds did produce benefits in some patients.
Step 2
Request penile injections. There are a number of compounds that can be injected into the penis to help relieve some of the penile curvature and pain associated with Peyronie's, the Mayo Clinic reports. These medications are designed to affect collagen, which is a protein that is present in high levels in Peyronie's lesions. Verapamil, which is normally used to treat high blood pressure, inhibits collagen formation. Interferon and collagenase, two other injectable medications, break down collagen. Typically, multiple injections must be given over a series of months for the treatment to be effective.
Step 3
Straighten your penis surgically. There are three different surgical procedures that have been found to improve surgery in men affected with Peyronie's, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders notes. Surgeons can shorten the unaffected side of the penis, which will improve curvature, but results in a loss of penile length. Surgeons can also cut into the plaque and attempt to straighten out the penis, and often a tissue graft will have to be placed over the surgical cuts. This can straighten the penis and restore some length, but may also result in penile numbness and erectile dysfunction. Penile implants, which can be inflated with a pump placed in the scrotum or in the groin can be used to allow the penis to become rigid and erect. Surgery is generally only recommended for men who have severe enough penile curvature that it makes normal sexual function impossible.
