Peyronie’s Disease – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Peyronie disease affects the penis. It involves the growth of fibrous scar tissue in the deeper layers beneath the skin. This scarring leads to curved, painful erections and can make the penis appear shorter when erect.
While some natural curvature in an erection is normal and varies from person to person, Peyronie disease causes significant bending that may interfere with sexual activity.
Many men with this condition experience difficulty with sexual intercourse. Some develop erectile dysfunction, struggling to achieve or maintain an erection. The physical symptoms often bring emotional challenges too, as many men feel anxiety or stress about their condition.
Without treatment, Peyronie disease typically persists. In most cases, the condition either stays the same or worsens slightly during the early stages.
Seeking medical help soon after noticing symptoms may prevent progression and possibly improve the condition. Even for those who have had Peyronie disease for a while, treatment options exist that can help reduce pain, curvature, and shortening.
Signs and Symptoms
Peyronie’s disease can appear quickly or develop slowly over time. People with this condition often notice:
- Hard tissue under the skin – You might feel flat lumps or a band of hard tissue under the skin of the penis. This area may be tender to touch.
Curved penis – The penis may bend upward, downward, or to one side during erections.
- Trouble with erections – Many people have difficulty getting or maintaining erections. This problem often appears before other symptoms.
- Shorter penis – The penis may become shorter during erections.
- Penis pain – Pain can occur with or without an erection.
- Changes in penis shape – Some people notice their penis looks narrow, indented, or has an hourglass shape with a tight band around the shaft.
The curve and shortening often worsen during the first 12-18 months. Pain usually improves within 1-2 years on its own. The scar tissue, shortening, and curving typically remain. In rare cases, the condition improves without treatment.
When to Get Medical Help
Visit a doctor when you first notice signs of Peyronie’s disease. Early treatment offers the best chance to improve the condition or prevent it from worsening.
If you’ve had the condition for a while, see a doctor if the pain, curve, length changes, or other symptoms bother you or your partner during intimacy.
Causes
Peyronie’s disease has no single clear cause, but researchers think it usually happens after injury to the penis. These injuries can occur during sex, sports, or accidents. Many people don’t remember a specific injury before developing symptoms.
When the penis is injured, the body creates scar tissue during healing. This scar tissue forms lumps or causes the penis to curve abnormally.
The penis contains two spongy chambers called corpora cavernosa. These chambers have many small blood vessels and are covered by a stretchy tissue sheath called the tunica albuginea.
During sexual arousal, blood flows into these chambers, making the penis expand and become erect.
In Peyronie’s disease, the area with scar tissue doesn’t stretch properly during erection. This creates a bend or other changes in the penis shape, often causing pain.
For many patients, symptoms develop gradually without any obvious connection to injury. Scientists are investigating possible genetic links and connections to other health conditions that might contribute to Peyronie’s disease.
The healing process plays a crucial role in this condition. When normal healing is disrupted, excess scar tissue may form, leading to the characteristic symptoms of Peyronie’s disease.
Key factors that may contribute to Peyronie’s disease:
- Repeated injuries to the penis
- Abnormal healing responses
- Possible genetic factors
- Connection to other health conditions
- Trauma during sexual activity
- Sports injuries
- Accidents affecting the genital area
Risk Factors
Several factors can raise your chances of developing Peyronie’s disease:
Genetic Factors
- Having family members with Peyronie’s disease increases your risk
- Inherited traits may affect how your body repairs tissue damage
Related Health Conditions
- People with certain connective tissue disorders face higher risk
- Dupuytren contracture (a condition causing finger bending due to palm tissue thickening) often appears alongside Peyronie disease
Age Considerations
- While Peyronie can occur at any age, it’s most common in men 45-70 years old
- Penis curvature in younger men typically represents congenital penile curvature rather than Peyronie disease
- Mild curvature in younger men is often normal and not a cause for concern
Other Possible Risk Factors
- Smoking
- Certain health conditions
- Some types of prostate surgery
The disease develops when penis injuries don’t heal properly, resulting in scar tissue formation that causes curvature and other symptoms.
Possible Health Issues
Peyronie disease can cause several health problems. Men may face difficulty having sexual intercourse. They may also experience erectile dysfunction, making it hard to get or maintain an erection.
The condition often affects mental health too. Many men feel anxious, stressed, or depressed about sexual difficulties or changes in their penis appearance.
Relationships can become strained due to these challenges. Some couples may struggle with fertility issues when intercourse becomes difficult or impossible.
Physical changes are also common, including:
- Decreased penis length
- Ongoing penile pain
- Sexual dysfunction
