What Is Peyronie’s Disease & is Surgery Always Necessary?

Peyronie’s Disease is usually something you’ve never heard of, until you have it.

It’s a disorder that affects men and manifests mainly in the form of curved, unusual or painful erections and can range from being mildly annoying to debilitating for men.

In this article, we will take a look what Peyronie’s Disease is, its symptoms, treatment options and more – so you can get your sex life back to its peak.

Let’s do it.

What is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease is a disorder that affects men and manifests mainly in the form of curved, unusual or painful erections. It occurs when scar tissue builds up in the penis, stopping it from enlarging normally during an erection – which can lead to bent erections measuring anywhere between 10 and 90 degrees. 

Photo credit Fairbanks Urology.

Sometimes it can even cause pain for those poor souls suffering with it. This means that when it comes to day-to-day living, these guys get none of the perks associated with having an impressive member (sorry fellas). 

All jokes aside though, Peyronie’s disease is no laughing matter and has been known to incur severe emotional distress if left untreated. It’s definitely something worth getting checked out!

How many men have Peyronie’s Disease?

It’s funny, we think we know a lot about the male body and manhood, yet the amount of men that are affected by Peyronie’s Disease remains largely unknown. 

Estimates range widely and vary in accuracy. On one end of the spectrum, only 5% of men may have Peyronie’s Disease – a staggering figure that is hard to believe when you consider that around 25% of men will experience some degree of penile dysfunction in their lifetime. 

One study of 7,711 men reported that 57 (0.7%) had definitive Peyronie’s Disease while 850 (11.0%) had probable Peyronie’s Disease.

On the other hand, some sources claim as high as 20-50% of all men could be living with a bent or curved penis due to Peyronie’s. 

This has been suggested by various studies, including one published in the International Journal of Impotence Research (2007), which found that 19% of males aged 40-80 years were affected by Peyronie’s Disease. 

Other studies have suggested even higher prevalence figures, such as a 2006 study conducted at the Department of Urology at Genoa University Hospital in Italy, which estimated that between 20 and 50 percent of men may suffer from this condition. 

Additionally, an article published in the American Family Physician (2010) stated that “up to 30 percent of men experience Peyronie’s disease”. 

It is clear that this condition can affect a significant portion of men, and it is important to be aware of the facts surrounding it. So if you’re worried you might be in trouble down there, don’t worry… you’re probably not alone! And there’s lots you can do.

Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s Disease is an uncomfortable condition, but not uncommon; symptoms have been around for centuries, long before people knew what it was. 

Many develop painful, firm deformities along the shaft of their penis, resulting in a curved appearance. In some cases, the curvature can be so severe that erections become uncomfortable or even impossible. 

Other common symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease might include inflammation, lumps on the penis, unpleasant burning sensations during intercourse, and difficulty getting or maintaining an erection due to pain. 

Fortunately, there are treatments available to help those suffering from this condition attain relief.

A Small Proportion of Men with Peyronie’s Disease Will Get Better by Themselves

Although sources differ, there are a small number of men who experience a cessation of Peyronie’s Disease (PD) symptoms and are later considered as no longer living with the disease.

Though exact numbers are few and far between, according to the American Urology Care Foundation, 13% of men diagnosed with PD will find that the condition goes away without treatment.

However, Cambridge University Hospital state that spontaneous improvement in the disease is seen in 60- 70% of patients.

This initially sounds promising, but they do not clearly define if improvement means the condition completely goes away or merely becomes easier to live with. The same research then suggests that these men seek further treatment- suggesting the condition remains to some extent.

If you are one of the lucky ones, you may find that your Peyronie’s Disease goes away without treatment- rendering Peyronie’s Disease surgery unnecessary.

Some with Peyronie’s Disease Experience no Worsening Symptoms

The next level of Peyronie’s Disease, if you want to think of it that way, includes men whose symptoms plateau and don’t worsen any further.

Each case will be different but will include a range of symptoms, each felt and displayed to a different level of severity- that importantly, does not worsen over time.

Again, symptoms include:

• Scar tissue- also called plaques
• A significant bend to the penis
• Erection problems, including erectile dysfunction
• Shortening of the penis
• Pain
• Other penile deformities

If your symptoms develop but do not continue to worsen, you may find that you can adapt and do not need Peyronie’s Disease surgery.

Others will find it too difficult to cope with symptoms that interfere with their sex lives, including erectile dysfunction and bending of the penis, and will therefore seek Peyronie’s Disease surgery from trusted urology hospitals to restore the intimacy they miss.

Peyronie’s Disease Can Become Life-Limiting

For some men, Peyronie’s Disease can turn their lives upside down and severely limit the enjoyment they can glean from their day-to-day lives.

These men experience the same symptoms explored above, but to a worse extent, leading to:

• Extreme penile curvature and deformities
• Complete erectile dysfunction, including the inability to gain or maintain an erection
• Debilitating pain and discomfort
• Inability to engage in any form of sexual intimacy

As you would expect then, these men almost always seek Peyronie’s Disease surgery to correct the long-term symptoms and allow them to live life comfortably and happily once more.

If you do opt for surgery, it obviously goes without saying that you should find a reputable doctor to assist you in your needs.

If you find yourself living a shadow of the life you once enjoyed because of Peyronie’s Disease and have exhausted all natural and non-surgical remedies – consider caring, professional, expert Peyronie’s Disease surgery from an experienced practitioner.

Not only will you be free to live life to the fullest once more, but you will find a range of treatment options that can preserve penile length while straightening symptomatic curvature associated with Peyronie’s Disease.

Natural Treatment For Peyronie’s Disease

Before you run to the doctor, I recommend exhausting all natural treatment options for Peyronie’s Disease as surgery is to me, a last resort.

Cooking oils, exercises, supplements, and even vines can all be used as home-made alternatives to help heal painful penis curvature. Talk about DIY-doctoring!

The most common form of home treatment is manual exercises. Very similar to penis enlargement exercises, these can be used to breakdown scar tissue and stretch the penis back to straightness. One of the best articles I’ve read on manual exercises for Peyronie’s Disease is this one.

This is one project that anyone isn’t looking forward to trying out, so if treatments are unsuccessful, it might be time to take a trip to your local physician.

In Conclusion

Treatments for Peyronie’s Disease may seem daunting, but you can feel relieved that there are a variety of options available. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an alternative to surgery or something more natural, you’ll find something suited to your needs. 

In fact, there could be so much choice that it might turn into a shopping spree rather than an unpleasant experience! 

Working with your doctor is the best way to decide which method is most appropriate for you and then you can go about finding the perfect fit in terms of treatments. Waste no time and pick up the pieces today – everyone deserves to be comfortable in their own skin!

Sources:

Stuntz M, Perlaky A, des Vignes F, Kyriakides T, Glass D. The Prevalence of Peyronie’s Disease in the United States: A Population-Based Study. PLoS One. 2016 Feb 23;11(2):e0150157. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150157. PMID: 26907743; PMCID: PMC4764365.