What Is Peyronie's Disease?

Characterized by a plaque that forms on the penis, Peyronie's disease causes pain and reduced flexibility, making sexual intercourse difficult. The plaque develops on the upper or lower side of the penis in the layers containing erectile tissue. It begins as a localized inflammation and can develop into a hardened scar.

 

Cause of Peyronie's Disease

At this point in time, the exact cause of Peyronie's disease is unknown. However, many researchers believe that the plaque associated with Peyronie's disease develops following trauma (hitting or bending) that causes localized bleeding inside the penis.

 

Symptoms of Peyronie's Disease

Cases of Peyronie's disease range from mild to severe. Symptoms may develop slowly or appear overnight. In severe cases of Peyronie's disease, the hardened plaque reduces flexibility, causing pain and forcing the penis to bend or arc during erection. In many cases, the pain decreases over time, but the bend in the penis may remain a problem, making sexual intercourse difficult. The sexual problems that result from Peyronie's disease can disrupt a couple's physical and emotional relationship, and lead to lowered self-esteem in the man. In a small percentage of patients with a milder form of Peyronie's disease, the inflammation may resolve without causing significant pain or permanent bending.

 

The plaque itself is benign (noncancerous). A plaque on the top of the shaft (which is the most common) causes the penis to bend upward. A plaque on the underside causes it to bend downward. In some cases, the plaque develops on both the top and bottom, leading to indentation and shortening of the penis. At times, pain, bending, and emotional distress make sexual intercourse difficult or impossible.

 

Statistics on Peyronie's Disease

One research study found Peyronie's disease in 1 percent of men. Although Peyronie's disease occurs mostly in middle-aged men, younger and older men can develop it as well.

 

About 30 percent of men with Peyronie's disease develop fibrosis (hardened cells) in other elastic tissues of the body, such as on the hand or foot. A common example is a condition known as Dupuytren's contracture of the hand.

 

In some cases, men who are related by blood tend to develop Peyronie's disease, which suggests that genetic factors might make a man vulnerable to the condition.

 

Treatment of Peyronie's Disease

Men with Peyronie's disease usually seek medical attention because of painful erections and difficulty with intercourse. Since the cause of Peyronie's disease and its development are not well understood, treatment for Peyronie's disease is usually empirical, meaning that doctors prescribe and continue methods that seem to help.

 

The goal of Peyronie's disease treatment is to keep the patient sexually active. Providing education about Peyronie's disease and its course is often all that's required.

 

No strong evidence shows that any treatment other than surgery for Peyronie's disease is effective. Experts usually recommend surgery only in long-term cases in which the disease has stabilized and the deformity prevents intercourse.

 

History of Peyronie's Disease

A French surgeon, François de la Peyronie, first described the condition in 1743. The problem was noted in print as early as 1687. Early writers classified it as a form of impotence, now called erectile dysfunction (ED). Peyronie's disease can be associated with erection problems like ED; however, experts now recognize ED as only one factor associated with the disease -- a factor that is not always present.