Peyronie’s Disease
Excessive scar tissue in the penis can lead to an often-painful condition called Peyronie’s disease, which may cause curved erections so severe that they make intercourse impossible. The experts at Urology Group of Florida are experienced in diagnosing and treating Peyronie’s disease and can help restore both the function and the appearance of your penis.
What is Peyronie’s disease?
Peyronie’s disease is a condition that causes the penis to curve abnormally when erect. Many healthy penises curve to some degree, but a significant bend may indicate Peyronie’s disease. Other signs include pain in your penis that may be constant or only occur when your penis is erect, difficulty getting and sustaining an erection, and difficulty having sex as a result of these symptoms.
What causes Peyronie’s disease?
Peyronie’s disease results from a buildup of scar tissue in the penis, which may stem from an accident or an injury that occurs during sex or athletic activity. Scar tissue doesn’t stretch the same way healthy penile tissue does when you get an erection, resulting in pain and a change in the appearance of the penis.
Not all penile injuries lead to Peyronie’s disease, but you’re at greater risk if you’re over 55, have a connective tissue disorder, or if the disease runs in your family.
Should I seek treatment for Peyronie’s disease?
Peyronie’s disease doesn’t always require medical treatment. A lot depends on how serious and long-lasting your condition is, and the best measure of that is how well your penis is functioning. In most cases of Peyronie’s disease, the penis will gradually curve and then stabilize within one to two years; occasionally, the condition even goes away altogether.
If the curvature in your penis isn’t too severe, and if you’re still able to have sex, as usual, you may wait before visiting the doctor. However, if Peyronie’s disease is interfering with your sex life, is causing painful erections or erectile dysfunction, or if your penis is too curved for intercourse, you should seek treatment from a qualified urologist.
How is Peyronie’s disease treated?
If you have a serious or worsening case of Peyronie’s disease, your doctor at Urology Group of Florida typically recommends Xiaflex®, an injectable in-office treatment. Xiaflex helps break down the scar tissue and straighten out the curvature of your penis.
Xiaflex requires up to four treatment cycles, spaced six weeks apart. Each cycle consists of two injections over the course of a week. During your treatment period, you also perform gentle pulling exercises, called “modeling,” every day at home. This helps with the straightening process.