Peyronie's Disease
& Penis Curvature
What
is Peyronie's Disease?
Peyronie's Disease is characterized by severe curvature
of the erect penis, often caused by a plaque or hard lump that forms
on the penis. The lump begins as localized inflammation (with redness
and swelling) and develops on the upper or lower side of the penis,
until it becomes a hardened scar tissue.
In severe Peyronie's Disease cases, the penis can form a corkscrew
or a J-figure, thus making intercourse impossible. Erection can
also be very painful in these instances.
Peyronie's Disease, named after Francois de la Peyronie - a French
surgeon to King Louis XIV, is estimated to afflict roughly 1% to
3% of men, usually between the ages of 45 and 60.
What are the symptoms of Peyronie's Disease?
Some symptoms of this Disease are plaque or lump in the
penis, pain during erection, curvature of the erect penis, and distortion
of the penis (indentation or shortening).
In the majority of Peyronie's Disease, a non-cancerous or benign
plaque that forms on top of the shaft causes the penis to bend upward.
In other forms of the disease, a plaque that forms on the underside
causes the penis to bend downward. In some instances, plaques can
develop on both top and underside of the penis shaft, thus causing
a corkscrew pattern.
The onset of Peyronie's Disease can either be sudden or gradual.
Moreover, in one-third of the cases, the condition gets better by
itself (without any treatment) within 1 to 2 years after the onset.
What causes Peyronie's Disease?
The cause of Peyronie's Disease is not know. Cases with
sudden onset are often caused by trauma to the penis, which can
be caused by injury, invasive surgery, or extremely vigorous sexual
activity.
Peyronie's Disease can also be genetically inherited. Researchers
have noticed that men with an inherited mutation in a particular
gene (the HLA-B7 gene, if you must know) have this disease. Moreover,
about 30% of men with Peyronie's Disease also develop hardened tissue
in other parts of their body, such as on the hand and foot.
Vitamin E deficiency, high blood pressure, and diabetes have been
associated with Peyronie's Disease. In rare instances, medications
for high blood pressure (such as beta blockers), glaucoma, multiple
schlerosis, and seizure have been linked with causing this disease.
Treatments for Peyronie's Disease > Next
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