Peyronie’s Disease

Men with Peyronie’s disease experience a curve in their erect penis due to fibrous scar tissue. The bend may be only slightly noticeable or severe enough to interfere with sexual intercourse.

About 1 percent of men are diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. But experts estimate that the condition actually affects more than 10 percent of men over age 40.

If you’ve developed a curve in your penis, you may feel self-conscious in front of your partner. You may even be embarrassed to seek help. At Henry Ford Men’s Health Center, our urologists expertly treat this condition in a comfortable and confidential setting.

What causes Peyronie’s disease?

Scar tissue in the penis causes a curve to develop during erections. Scar tissue may be the result of:

• Trauma: Injury, usually from intercourse, can result in scar tissue, causing the penis to curve as it heals. Even mild trauma over time can also result in scar tissue that eventually causes a curvature.
• Genetics: Peyronie’s disease may run in families. If your father or brother has the condition, you could be at higher risk for developing it.

How Peyronie’s disease develops

Peyronie’s disease has two phases: acute and chronic.

• The acute phase includes the period when the curvature develops. The acute phase can last a few months to a couple of years. Men often feel pain as the curve worsens. 
• The chronic phase refers to the time after the curvature has stopped progressing. Some men notice their penis has become shorter when erect because scar tissue prevents fibers in the penis from stretching.

Peyronie’s disease treatment

Your doctor will recommend the type of treatment based on the severity of your curvature. Our experts offer several advanced medical and surgical therapies to effectively repair most curvatures and restore full sexual function. Treatment options include:

• Injection therapy: We use a fine-gauge needle to inject medication directly into scar tissue in the penis. A series of injections over six months helps break up scar tissue, allowing the penis to become straighter. You can expect mild pain, swelling or bruising after each injection. This treatment is best for men with mild to moderate curvature. The most effective medication provides up to a 35 percent improvement. 
• Surgery: Our highly skilled urologic surgeons perform several types of surgery to treat Peyronie’s disease. Your surgeon’s recommendation depends on your condition and treatment goals. 
  • Penile plication: We use this technique in milder cases of Peyronie’s disease, especially for men without significant loss of length. The surgeon places a few stitches in the penile tissue to help straighten the curve in the penis. 
  • Penile grafting: The surgeon divides the scar tissue (plaque) that has built up in the penis and inserts tissue to lengthen the scarred area.
  • Penile implant: If you have Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction, an implant can help you regain erectile function and a straight penis.

Our urologists at the Henry Ford Men’s Health Center expertly treat Peyronie’s disease. We take a compassionate, personalized approach to your needs and use advanced techniques to achieve your goals.