Peyronie's disease causes a curve or bend in the penis that may result in pain during an erection and difficulty during sexual intercourse. It may cause erectile problems. Some men have a mild form of the disease that causes no major problems. There is no absolute cure, but medical procedures and experimental treatments have shown some success. There are times when the condition improves without medical treatment for some men. The symptoms vary among individuals, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC).
Development
Scar tissue develops under the skin of the penis to produce the bend, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The scar may appear as a ridge or tiny bumps. The curve may get worse over time and is noticeable during an erection. It usually stops getting worse, but the problem remains for many men. It is not known what causes the disorder, although in some cases men have received a penis injury that leads to Peyronie's disease.
Symptoms
The most common deformity is when the penis bends or curves upward, the Mayo Clinic explains. It may also bend down or toward one side. It some cases the penis may be tight or narrow around the shaft of the erection. In other cases, the penis bends downward at the base during an erection.
Effects
Pain may occur during an erection or only during an orgasm, the Mayo Clinic says. For some men, pain can also occur when touching the penis when it is not erect. There may be difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Shortening of the penis may occur.
Evaluation
Men should see a doctor if they notice any symptoms. A physical examination is performed to determine the severity of the disorder, the NKUDIC explains. Ultrasound scanning is used to evaluate blood flow into and out of the penis when there is concern about erectile dysfunction.
Treatment
Medical treatments have not been studied enough to evaluate effectiveness, but different treatments have been successful, according to the NKUDIC. Vitamin E therapy has shown improvement in some patients with Peyronie's disease. Chemical agents, such as verapamil or interferon alpha-2b, have been shown to reduce the curvature. Radiation therapy may get rid of the pain, but it can cause erectile dysfunction.
Surgery
Surgery is a last resort for patients with Peyronie's disease. Men are recommended to wait a year or longer before considering surgery because the problem has been known to diminish on its own in a minority of cases, the NKUDIC says. Surgery has been able to produce positive results. In some procedures, plaque or scar tissue is removed to repair the bend. Implant devices are an option. Complications from surgery may include numbness or erectile dysfunction. Many doctors only perform the surgery if the disorder is severe enough to prevent sexual intercourse.
