Peyronie’s illness
Fibrous scar tissue develops in the deeper tissues beneath the penis’s skin in Peyronie (pay-roe-NEE) disease. Curved, painful erections result from this. It may also cause the penis to shorten when erect. Cancer does not cause Peyronie disease.
Penises differ in size and form. Thus, having a curved erection isn’t always cause for alarm. Nonetheless, significant discomfort or bending are experienced by certain individuals with Peyronie disease.
This could make it impossible for you to have sex. Alternatively, it may cause erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Peyronie illness often leaves its victims feeling anxious and stressed.
Seldom does Peyronie’s disease go away on its own. Most affected individuals will either see no change in their illness or a minor worsening in the early stages. Treatment as soon as possible following diagnosis may prevent the worsening of the condition or perhaps improve symptoms. Treatment may help reduce symptoms, including pain, curvature, and shortening, even if you’ve had Peyronie disease for a while.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of Peyronie’s illness may develop gradually or come on unexpectedly. Among the most typical symptoms are:
Tissue scarring. Plaque is another term for the scar tissue associated with Peyronie disease. It is not the same as plaque, which can accumulate on your teeth or in blood vessels. It feels like a band of firm tissue or flat lumps beneath the skin of the penis. There may be tenderness above the scar tissue.
A penis-bending motion. The penis may flex to one side, upward, or downward.
Issues with erection. Peyronie’s disease may make it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection. Another name for this is erectile dysfunction. However, erectile dysfunction is frequently reported by Peyronie disease patients as occurring prior to the onset of other penile symptoms.
Reduction in penis length. Peyronie disease may cause the penis to shorten during erections.
Penis pain. This symptom may occur in the presence or absence of an erection.
Other modifications to the penis’ appearance. Some individuals with Peyronie’s disease may have an erect penis that appears narrow or indented. It may even resemble an hourglass, with a narrow, tight band encircling the shaft.
Peyronie disease-related penile shortening and curvature may deteriorate over time. The first year or year and a half is when physical changes in the penis typically develop worse or remain the same.
Erection pain typically goes away after a year or two. Penile shortening, curvature, and scar tissue frequently persist. Although rare, Peyronie disease’s discomfort and curvature sometimes improve on their own without medical intervention.
When to visit a physician
Consult a physician if you experience Peyronie’s disease symptoms. The best opportunity to treat the condition and prevent it from getting worse is to start therapy as soon as possible. If you or your spouse are bothered by the discomfort, curving, length, or other changes and you’ve had the condition for a while, get checked out by a medical professional.
Reasons
It’s unclear what specifically causes Peyronie disease. However, a lot of factors seem to be involved.
It is believed that repetitive trauma to the penis during intense intercourse is the main cause of Peyronie’s disease. But accidents or physical activity can also injure the penis. Many patients with Peyronie disease are unable to identify the precise injury that sets off their symptoms.
Scar tissue arises after penile damage during the healing process. This may result in a palpable lump or a penile curvature.
The corpus cavernosum, a tube that resembles a sponge, is located on each side of the penis. There are numerous small blood arteries in these tubes. The tunica albuginea (TOO-nih-kuh al-BYOO-JIN-e-uh) is an elastic tissue sheath that surrounds each corpora cavernosa. When an erection occurs, the sheath extends.
A greater amount of blood rushes to these chambers while you are excited sexually. The penis enlarges, straightens, and stiffens into an erection when the chambers fill with blood.
The region with scar tissue does not extend as the penis erects in Peyronie disease. The penis bends or experiences other modifications as a result. It might hurt to do this.
Most people with Peyronie disease have gradually developed symptoms that don’t seem to be connected to trauma. Scholars are investigating the possibility that Peyronie disease may be associated with specific medical disorders or a hereditary predisposition.
Factors at risk
Peyronie disease is not often the result of minor penile injuries. Scar tissue accumulation and inadequate wound healing are two conditions that may be linked to Peyronie’s disease. Among them are:
Background in the family. You are more likely to develop Peyronie disease if a family member already has the illness.
Disorders of the connective tissue. Individuals with specific medical problems that impact connective tissue in the body appear to be more susceptible to developing Peyronie disease. For instance, a thick cord beneath the skin of the palm in certain Peyronie disease patients may also cause the fingers to draw inward. We refer to this as Dupuytren contracture.
Years old. Peyronie’s illness can afflict people of any age. However, between the ages of 45 and 70, it becomes more prevalent. Peyronie disease is less frequently the cause of penile curvature in younger men. More people refer to it as congenital penile curvature. In younger males, a modest bit of curvature is normal and not cause for concern.
Peyronie’s disease may be associated with additional variables. These include smoking, specific medical disorders, and specific kinds of prostate surgery.
Difficulties
Peyronie disease may cause the following problems:
- Being prohibited from having sex.
- Erectile dysfunction is the term for difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.
- Melancholy, tension, or anxiety related to difficulties having sex or the appearance of your penis.
- Emphasize your sexual partner’s relationship with you.
- Problems bearing children because it’s difficult or impossible to have intercourse.
- The shorter length of the penis.
- Penile discomfort.
