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Dr. Green
Peyronie's disease is a condition in which plaques form under the skin of the penis, causing it to bend or become indented during erections. Dr. Patel, can you tell us more about Peyronie's disease?
Dr. Patel
Sure, Dr. Green. Although the specific cause of Peyronie's disease is not always known, minor injury can cause scar tissue to form in the cells of the tough layer of connective tissue, called the tunica albuginea, under the skin of the penis. This type of injury is most often caused by vigorous sex, but it can also be caused by sports or other accidents. The scar tissue from an injury then forms the plaques that cause the penis to bend or become indented during an erection.
In most cases, Peyronie's disease plaques form on the top of the penis. The plaques make the tunica albuginea less flexible and cause the penis to bend upwards when it stiffens. Sometimes plaques form all the way around the penis, which cause the shaft of the penis to narrow like the neck of a bottle.
Other symptoms of Peyronie's disease can include:
- Lumps in the penis
- Painful erections
- Soft erections, and
- Problems having sex due to penis bending or curvature
When the plaques are small, they may not cause much curving, pain, or problems with sex. In these cases, treatment may not be necessary. However, when Peyronie's disease causes significant problems, there are several treatment options, including:
- Oral medications
- Penile injections, and
- In severe cases, surgery