Peyronie's Disease

Peyronie's Disease

Peyronie's disease is a non-cancerous scarring condition (plaque formation) resulting from fibrous scar tissue that forms inside the penis that leads to a curved erection, permanent penile shortening and can make sexual intercourse difficult and painful.

Peyronie’s disease can initially present with a lump and pain in the penis. Later the pain disappears but penile shortening, deformity and erectile function can occur. The underlying cause is unclear, but it might be related to minor trauma.

Peyronie’s disease affects up to 10% of men during their lifetime, and is often linked to ‘vascular’ risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is also more common in men with a low testosterone, or those with a history of pelvic surgery including radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

A small proportion of patients may improve spontaneously, but the majority either remain stable or progress to a more severe deformity. Unfortunately, to-date no treatment can get rid of the scar tissue, and treatment is aimed at alleviating symptoms, correcting the deformity and restoring sexual function.

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