Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease)

What is it?

Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease)

This is a condition in which patches of scar tissue (fibrous plaques) develop along the shaft of the penis.

This can result in changes in the shape (bending or deformity) of the penis, painful erections and difficulties with having sex (intercourse).

The disease was named after the French surgeon François Gigot de la Peyronie who described it in 1743.

3 - 9

men out of a 100 are affected by Peyronie’s

Men in their 50s

are most commonly affected

13 out of 100

men get completely better without treatment

Over 50%

of men who have treatment report an improvement in their condition

Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease)

Overview

The scarring process of the penis is more common after trauma and also in diabetics. The scarring process causes curvature of the penis on the side where the scar does not allow stretching of the penis on erection. The scarring process can cause; shortening, pain, curvature and even erectile failure if it affects blood flow to the central tissue of the penis (corpus cavernous).

If you develop Peyronie’s disease, the first problem you may notice is painful erections and areas of thickening along the shaft of the penis. You may notice that the penis starts to become curved, angled or distorted. This is most obvious when the penis is erect but can occasionally be seen even when it is soft (flaccid). This period of pain with erection usually lasts 18-24 months and is known as the inflammatory phase. This is followed by a fibrotic stage in which the pain settles but scarring continues to develop and the distortion of the penis continues. About half the men who develop Peyronie’s disease also develop depression.

I think I have penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease)

What is the next step?

Book a consultatation with one of our highly experienced doctors. They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis.

The typical symptoms of painful erections and curvature, angulation or deformity of the shaft are usually enough for a doctor to suspect that you have the disease. The bend or distortion of the penis whilst it is erect, will be measured.

There are many non-surgical treatments available for Peyronie’s disease but research has so far failed to prove that they are guaranteed to work in all people.

Surgery is the only treatment guaranteed to have a beneficial effect on Peyronie’s disease. However, it would only be offered to you once the changes caused by the condition had settled down. This normally takes 12-18 months. Surgery is not without risks and can include shortening of the penis and a chance that the distortion will return. If your foreskin is already tight, you may need a circumcision to prevent it becoming even tighter after the operation. Some people can feel knots or stitches under the skin. You should consider all these issues carefully before consenting to surgery.

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Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease)

Learn more

What are the treatments for penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease)

Diagram showing injection into penile erectile tissue

Mechanism of vacuum pump induced erections

Non-surgical

Observation only – for only mild degrees of disturbance with hardly any curvature.
Injection of the scar tissue with a chemical substance which softens it (Collagenase – Xiapex). Further information can be found on www.thisispeyronies.co.uk and www.xiapex.co.uk
Vacuum erection devices, for example the SomaCorrect device
This mitigates against scar-induced contracture by stretching the tissues and working against scar induced curvature and shortening.
Use of Viagra type compounds e.g. Cialis. By increasing blood flow to the penis and encouraging better erectile function these tablets may help in the evolving stages of Peyronie’s disease.

‘Cold steel’ surgery. This means surgery involving conventional surgical instruments. Several operations are available including:

The Nesbit tuck procedure – this involves removing some tissue from the side of the penis opposite the plaque. This has the effect of straightening but shortening the penis.
Plication – this involves folding the normal tissue on itself rather than removing it completely.
Cutting out the plaque – this sometimes is combined with the insertion of a plastic rod (prosthesis) to counteract any shortening.
Incision & grafting technique – straightens the penis without penile length loss, because it tackles the curvature at the short unhealthy side of the penile curvature (concave side of the curvature). Watch this video: Peyronie’s Diesease & length preserving technique for more information.
Laser surgery – a carbon dioxide laser is used to thin the plaque.

Download this useful PDF on penile straigtening by plication or plaque incision and grafting:

Penile straightening

What are the treatment costs?

Consultation costs:

Consultations: £195

Follow up appointments: £150

Treatment costs

Cost of nesbit procedure: please contact us for pricing information.

Cost of incision and grafting: please contact us for pricing information.

If you have any further queries regarding finance and your treatment cost – then please contact us on 0117 980 41 18