Peyronies Disease

Peyronie’s Disease is considered to be a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissues are tissues that are used to bring structure and support to the body of the penis. There are many different types of connective tissue disorders. Peyronie’s Disease affects the soft tissue of the penis. The medical term for Peyronie’s Disease is Induratio Penis Plastica, or IPP. Peyronie’s Disease affects anywhere from one to four out of every hundred men.

Some men are born with their penises slightly curved. This is a natural condition and is called congenital curvature. The penis will remain straight, but may not point straight. Peyronie’s Disease is when a penis that was not curved, suddenly becomes curved when erect. There may be hard lesions that are painful, and the penis may become either narrower or shorter. Peyronie’s Disease can make intercourse extremely painful or impossible.

At the current time, physicians are not sure exactly what causes Peyronie’s Disease. Some theories are that a trauma to the penis can cause tears in the tissue. Others believe that it is an autoimmune disorder, while still others think that it is a collagen abnormality. A doctor will diagnose Peyronie’s Disease by feeling the penis. Doctors are sometimes able to feel the hard plaque without an erection, but sometimes it is necessary to induce one using a medication in order to get a proper evaluation.

When it comes to treatment, there are a few options. To begin with, most physicians take the “wait and see” approach, checking the penis after a certain amount of time to see if the deposits have gone down or if they are still present. If they are still there after the check, a doctor may use an injection to break down the scar tissue. The process involves having numerous injections over a period of about three months or so, in order to get the body to create tissue normally again. There are a number of other treatment options that may be recommended by a physician, including doses of Vitamin E or Colchicine.

The use of a penis extender as a physical treatment for Peyronie’s Disease is another alternative treatment option that may be considered by men who are affected by this condition. It is believed that, in much the same way as a splint is used to hold a broken bone straight while healing, a penis stretcher can be used to gradually straighten a curved penis.

Surgery is the final treatment option, since it involves some risk of injury to the patient. This option should only be considered after other treatments have been unsuccessful and even then, only if a man experiences significant discomfort as a result of the curvature. Surgery for Peyronie’s Disease can be conducted to take the plaque out of the penis, but the risk of injury or infection is a real possibility. A vein may have to be grafted if the damage is severe enough. At worst a penile prosthetic is implanted in order to get the penis straight and rigid once again. Any man that has a sudden curvature of the penis and pain during sex should seek a consult with his doctor in order to rule out Peyronie’s Disease.