Health Tips

Only 1% of men acquire Peyronie’s disease, which is indicated by curvature, pain and distortion of the penis during erection. Although it can be a serious condition with significant implications for one’s sex life, a majority of men can overcome the condition and resume normal sexual activity.

The disease is named after Francois Gigot de La Peyronie, Lois XV’s personal surgeon, who was the first to identify the condition in 1743. It can affect males of all ages (some are born with it), but it is predominant in those aged 45-60. Some cases may be hereditary, or possibly linked to either abnormal collagen levels or pelvic and urologic surgery. However, it is mostly commonly related to penile trauma.

As a result of penile damage – caused, for example, by vigorous sexual activity – scar tissue (plaque) develops within the erectile tissue of the corpora cavernosa. The plaque may first appear as a small bump under the tough elastic sheath that covers the corpora cavernosa. It later grows into a noticeably harder lump that affects circulation and prevents the penis from expanding in the affected area. The consequence is an erection that bends toward the opposite side of the scarred area.

Besides a curved penis, symptoms include penile pain that increases with erection, and difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection (the penis may become erect up to the point of the scar, then remain flaccid after it). In severe occurrences, the penis becomes so distorted that sexual intercourse becomes painful for both parties, if not mechanically impossible.

For obvious reasons the pain, physical changes and emotional distress associated with Peyronie’s disease can lead to decreased sexual activity and impotence. However, there are ways to correct it.

Treatments administered are usually medical or surgical in nature:

* Medical: Vitamin E is often prescribed either orally or topically; vitamin A and certain B-complex vitamins may also ease the condition. An injection of collagenase directly into the lump may help some patients. Radiation and ultra sound therapy, while doing little to reduce the size of the plaque, are usually effective in reducing the pain.

* Surgical: Though there are always inherent risks associated with surgery, it may be the only effective way to treat severe instances. Reconstructive surgery is successful with most patients, but in extreme cases implantation of a penile prosthetic is sometimes necessitated. It’s important to note that most experts suggest waiting a year or two before undergoing corrective surgery because the condition often disappears in patients as a result of natural healing processes in the body.

Peyronie’s disease isn’t easy for many men to deal with emotionally. However, with a positive mental attitude, and hopefully the support of an understanding partner, it can be defeated.