What is a Peyronie's Disease?

The curvature of the penis is also called Peyronie's Disease which is a condition that impacts the penis and causes it to bend in an abnormal way. In some rare cases, it will cause erectile dysfunction which is when a man cannot maintain or achieve a proper erection. The cause of Peyronie's disease is believed to be fibrous scar tissue which develops under the skin of the penis.

Peyronie's Disease in Men After 40

The condition can impact men no matter what age they are but in around six out of 100 men that are between the ages of 40 and 70, it is more common. It's rarer in men that are younger but it can sometimes happen in men that are in their 30s. It's not known if cases are actually higher than the stated numbers because many men simply don't go to see their health care provider when they have this condition because of embarrassment.

The numbers of those that suffer from Peyronie's disease will probably increase because more people are going to see their doctor about sexual matters then they did in the past.

Peyronie's Disease vs. Normal Curvature

The penis tends to curve naturally slightly and this is quite normal. It's called "normal curvature". What is the difference between Peyronie's disease and normal curvature?

If the curve in the penis is quite severe, causes pain, or other problems then it could be the development of Peyronie's disease. A man may have difficulty with sexual intercourse or could develop erectile dysfunction if they suffer from this condition.

It's important to see a healthcare provider if you notice any abnormal bending or pain in the penis as this could be an indication at that you're developing this condition.

Symptoms of Peyronie's disease

The symptoms and signs of Peyronie's disease can develop slowly over time. The penis may bend slightly at first and then become more pronounced over time. It may bend downwards, sideways, upwards, or in other directions depending upon where the plaque is located inside the penis. When the penis is erect at a certain point it may become quite narrow. The curvature can improve over time or it may stay mostly the same. It all depends on the extent of the condition.

Some common symptoms of Peyronie's disease include erectile dysfunction where the man cannot get an erection or maintain an erection. There can also be plaque which develops underneath the penis and this feels like scar tissue. It may feel like a flattened lump or some hard skin. This could be an indication that the condition is present in the penis. In many cases, the pain does go away gradually over time.

The condition can lead to a shortening of the penis or the person that may have pain when they achieve an erection or during their orgasm.

Causes of Peyronie's disease

What causes Peyronie's disease is not understood fully. It said that there is damage to the small blood vessels in the penis. This could be caused by sporting events, sexual intercourse, or an accident. Whenever there is an injury to the penis cells, they might become trapped inside the penis and this leads to the development of scar tissue. This is like what happens when you get a serious cut or another injury and you're left with scar tissue on the skin afterward.

The penis itself has tubes on both sides which are sponge-like and we call this the corpus cavernosum. These tubes have tiny blood vessels inside and when the male is sexually excited and they become engorged with blood and this causes an erection. These cavernosum sit on elastic tissue which is the tunica albuginea.

When the penis is erect this is stretched and if there is an injury to the penis the tissue could become damaged. There could be permanent scar tissue that develops over time and this could lead to Peyronie's disease in men after 40.

The tissue can no longer stretch properly and this leads to curvature or bending of the penis. Many men that have some sort of penis injury will never develop Peyronie's disease as it doesn't occur in each case.

Hereditary may play a role in the condition. If a male in the family has had the condition before, then someone else may develop the condition. It also tends to occur in older individuals because when someone that's older receives an injury they are more likely to scar as the body heals. Some researchers indicate that there may be an immune system disorder in some individuals that causes the condition.

Peyronie's Disease Treatment

There are several treatment options that are available in case of Peyronie's Disease in men after 40. If the individual is still able to have sexual intercourse or their pain is not severe, they may be asked to wait to see if the condition worsens or it gets better.

The patient will usually be asked to wait around 12 months before any sort of surgery options are discussed because in many cases, the condition can get better over time. If the condition is quite severe, the patient may be given medications to deal with pain issues.

Treatment Medications

Here is a list of FDA-approved Peyronie's disease treatment medications:

• Xiaflex. Xiaflex or Clostridium hystolyticum is a drug that will be given to patients if they have more than 30° curvature in their penis when erect.
• Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is a medication that is sometimes given as it can reduce curvature, pain, and the lumps inside of the penis for some patients.
• Collagenase. This is an enzyme that can reduce the size of penis plaque and sometimes remove this plaque altogether.

Injections

To reduce penis curvature, injections are sometimes given into the penis. This treatment will usually take several months. The tissue inside of the penis can be broken down so that the curvature is reduced.

There have only been small studies done on the success rate for penile injections. Some doctors indicate that perforating the skin of the penis could cause lesions and this might encourage development of plaque growth.

Surgery

If someone suffering from Peyronie's disease is unable to have sexual intercourse then their urologist might recommend surgery options. An individual must be free of pain for several months before surgical intervention is going to be considered. The curvature of their penis also has to stop getting worse before surgery will be attempted.

There are 3 major types of Peyronie's disease surgery:

1. Shortening

The side of the penis that doesn't have any plaque will be shortened. This can stop the bend when the individual has an erection. If the curvature is not too severe and the man has a long enough penis, this procedure can take place. The penis length will be shortened when is surgery is completed.

2. Lengthening

In several places, the scar tissue is cut and this allows it to stretch again. If the sheets are able to stretch in an adequate fashion then the man will have a straight penis. Some scar tissue is usually removed during the procedure. The tissue will be grafted onto the penis. This procedure is usually done for individuals that have a shorter penis or that their curvature is more severe. Lengthening one side does increase the risk of impotence and is riskier than the shortening method.

3. Implants

Implants may be inserted into the penis. Some of these are permanent and other ones are inflated with a pump-action which would be located in the scrotum area. A permanent implant gives a man penis which is semi-rigid which is a wrecked enough for them to have sexual intercourse. If they use the pump activated implant then they will achieve a better erection. To reduce the curvature some of the scar tissue may be removed prior to inserting the implant.

Peyronie's Disease Natural Treatment

There are some natural options when it comes to treating Peyronie's disease. Some individuals use vacuum devices or they may use penile traction device therapy to help reduce the plaque. Shock wave therapy is sometimes used to help break up scar tissue.

Penile traction devices

Penile traction devices are considered to be a new therapeutic option for men suffering from Peyronie's disease. However, these devices have a long history of use in other fields of medicine including bone, skin, skeletal muscle, etc.

Constant expansion of tissue of penis using these devices leads to the creation of new collagen tissue by cellular proliferation, and, ultimately, to fibrous plaque softening and extension.

This idea has been supported by recent well-designed experimental studies.

Peyronie's Disease Home Treatment and Lifestyle Changes

Finally, symptoms can be reduced with home treatments and some changes to a person's lifestyle. Those that suffer from the condition are encouraged to reduce the consumption of alcohol, Illicit drugs and to stop smoking. The patient is encouraged to take care of themselves with a proper diet and to get plenty of exercise.

Complications from Peyronie's disease

The main complication from this condition is that the man cannot have satisfactory sexual intercourse because of pain or they could develop erectile dysfunction. Stress and anxiety are also two of the other common problems that happen when a man has this condition.

Summary

Peyronie's disease can be treated and it is more common in men over the age of 40. Speak to your health care provider if you suffer from this condition or you think that you may be developing it.

Treatment can help you so you can lead a normal a life. Penile traction device therapy is considered to be the best option to treat Peyronie's disease in men after 40. According to a few clinical studies, the use of penile traction device significantly increases penile lengths in both flaccid and erect states; and causes a significant improvement of penile curvature in most patients when compared to baseline.

Studies also confirm that penile traction device is a minimally invasive method of treating Peyronie's disease that can produce effective and permanent straightening of the bent penis in men after 40 or younger.

Learn more about penile curvature correction 


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