5 Encouraging Facts About Peyronie’s Disease

No penis is perfectly straight, but when a significant bend appears and gradually intensifies, you may be dealing with Peyronie’s disease. This condition occurs when scar tissue known as plaque builds up in your penis, causing a curve that’s especially noticeable during erections. You can also experience painful erections, sexual difficulties, and emotional stress.

Thankfully, there is hope. At Gulf Coast Urology in Houston and Nassau Bay, Texas, Dr. John Bertini and Dr. James Harris offer comprehensive treatments for Peyronie’s disease to minimize pain and help you regain sexual functioning. Here, they share some encouraging facts about Peryonie’s disease, including ways we can help.

1. Peyronie’s disease is common

It’s easy to feel alone when you’re struggling with the pain or curvature of Peyronie’s disease, but that’s far from the case. In a large study that looked at medical data for 11,400 men in the United States, 13% reported having this condition. While Peyronie’s disease isn’t something to wish for another person to experience, knowing how common it is may help take away from any sense of stress or isolation.

2. Peyronie’s disease is treatable

Because Peyronie’s disease is common, numerous treatments have been sought out over the years. During the acute, or early stage, of the disease, your treatment plan may include:

• Injection therapy
• Penile traction therapy
• Oral medication

Once the disease becomes chronic, or within 3-12 months of the onset of your symptoms, your treatment may involve one or more of the above treatments, watchful waiting, or surgery. All of these treatment options aim to straighten the penis and alleviate pain.

3. Early treatment can go far

The earlier you start treatment for Peyronie’s disease, the more likely you can avoid potentially severe complications, such as:

• Chronic penile pain
• Difficulty achieving a desired pregnancy
• Erectile dysfunction
• Heightened anxiety and stress
• Loss of ability to have sexual intercourse
• Reduced penis length or girth
• Relationship strife

Regardless, it’s important to know that Peyronie’s disease can be treated at any stage.

4. You can regain sexual function

It’s not uncommon for Peyronie’s disease to greatly impact your sex life. Research shows, however, that people who’ve had penile traction therapy for this condition are a lot more likely to report improvements in curvature, penile shortening, and the ability to engage in penetrative sex than those who haven’t.

The same often goes for other nonsurgical treatments for Peyronie’s disease. Studies also show that sex therapy can help reduce related intimacy challenges.

5. Treatment isn’t as daunting as you might think

The thought of having an injection into or traction device around your penis may not sound appealing. But while you’ll feel a brief pinch when your injection process begins, you receive an anesthetic that prevents lasting pain. And penile traction devices aren’t typically painful. You might notice some discomfort as you adjust to wearing it for indicated amounts of time, but as your penis gradually straightens, you’ll feel less Peyronie’s disease pain as well as a sense of relief.

Surgery to remove plaque is reserved for severe cases or when conservative treatments fail to suffice. While undergoing surgery means you face some recovery time, the prognosis after surgery tends to be very positive.

Diagnosis for Peyronie’s disease starts with a comprehensive exam, where you can discuss your symptoms with one of our qualified providers. Once you’ve been diagnosed, we can establish your ideal treatment plan.

We encourage you to talk to us about this condition. To learn more or to get the care you need, call Gulf Coast Urology, or request an appointment through our website.