Peyronie’s disease

What is Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease, or a curved penis, can cause embarrassment or anxiety. But this condition doesn’t have to hurt your confidence. At Penn Medicine, our doctors have years of experience treating Peyronie’s disease.

Peyronie’s disease is a buildup of scar tissue on the penis, causing it to bend or curve during erections. This scar tissue interferes with the flexibility and stretching of the tissues in the penis, which results in a bent penis.

Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease

People who have Peyronie’s disease may not notice any symptoms until they have an erection. Symptoms include:

  • Curved or bent penis during an erection
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Lumps in the penis
  • Waist-like or narrowed bottleneck areas during erections
  • Pain during erections

These symptoms can cause difficulty with sexual intercourse and may interfere with personal relationships or fertility. Penis curvature can also cause emotional effects like anxiety and stress.

What causes Peyronie’s disease?

In many cases, people develop Peyronie’s disease after penile trauma (injury to the penis). Peyronie’s disease happens when there is a problem with the body’s healing process.

Penile trauma may happen when the penis:

  • Is bent or damaged during sexual activity
  • Receives an impact during sports
  • Is injured in a car accident

Other possible causes of Peyronie’s include:

  • Autoimmune conditions: Lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome or Behçet’s disease may increase the risk of getting Peyronie’s.
  • Connective tissue disorders: Dupuytren’s contractures, scleroderma or tympanosclerosis may cause scar tissue in the penis.
  • Genetics: Some people may have genes that cause the scar tissue to form. Peyronie’s disease may run in families, as you’re more likely to develop the condition if you have a close relative with it.

Diagnosing Peyronie’s disease

A urologist can diagnose Peyronie’s disease with:

  • Physical exam: An experienced urologist may be able to identify the scar tissue, even without an erection.
  • Ultrasound: This noninvasive test uses sound waves to take pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors can view blood flow in the penis and the location of the scar tissue with ultrasound images.

Peyronie’s disease treatment at Penn Medicine

Your treatment depends on the stage of the condition, or when you started having symptoms. Your urologist can explain your options, which may include:

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