Table of contents:
- Definition
- What is Peyronie's disease?
- How common is Peyronie's disease?
- Signs & symptoms
- What are the signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease?
- When should I see a doctor?
- Cause
- What causes Peyronie's disease?
- Risk factors
- What increases my risk for Peyronie's disease?
- Medicines & Medicines
- What are my treatment options for Peyronie's disease?
- What are the usual tests for Peyronie's disease
- Home remedies
- What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat Peyronie's disease?
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Definition
What is Peyronie's disease?
Peyronie's disease is a condition where scar tissue forms inside the penis and testicles. Scar tissue builds up inside the white membrane that is often at the top and base of the penis. As the scar tissue thickens, the penis will bend or take care.
Curvature or deformity of the penis can cause pain or even inability to have sex. Swelling and inflammation of the penis in Peyronie's disease increases the risk of permanent severe scarring of the penis.
Scar tissue in Peyronie's disease is not the same as tissue that forms abnormally in the arteries (the cause of stenosis), but it is benign (noncancerous) cystic fibrous tissue.
Peyronie's disease is not contagious and does not spread through sexual contact. Many men have an erection with a crooked penis. Peyronie's disease worsens erections. Penile stimulation results in the formation of scar tissue that curves the penis, preventing penetration during sex.
How common is Peyronie's disease?
Young people, especially those at risk of penile injury such as athletes often suffer from Peyronie's disease. You can overcome this disease by reducing risk factors. Consult your doctor for more information.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease?
The signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease may appear suddenly or develop slowly. The most common signs and symptoms include:
- Callus: scar tissue (plaque) can be felt under the skin of the penis as a flat lump or hard lining tissue
- The penis is very bent: the penis can bend up, down or sideways
- Erectile problems: Peyronie's disease can cause erectile dysfunction
- Shorter penis: Your penis may have shortened due to Peyronie's disease
- Pain: You may experience pain in your penis when it is erect
When should I see a doctor?
If your sore or bent penis is blocking sexual activity or you have questions, consult a doctor. Every body acts differently from one another. Talk to your doctor about the best solution for your situation.
Cause
What causes Peyronie's disease?
The cause of Peyronie's disease is still unknown. However, a number of researchers believe that this disease may have originated from multiple collisions. For example, the penis may be injured during sex, sports, or accidentally. During the healing period, scar tissue can form in a chaotic manner leading to the development of bending of the penis.
In addition, researchers believe that Peyronie's disease may also be caused by an autoimmune disease. The immune system normally protects our bodies from infection by identifying and killing bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances that might be harmful when they invade. If you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system can confuse and attack healthy body cells, so Peyronie's disease can develop wax cells in the injured penis and cause inflammation and scarring.
Risk factors
What increases my risk for Peyronie's disease?
Minor injuries to the penis do not always cause Peyronie's disease. However, there are a number of other factors that contribute to the accumulation of scar tissue during the healing process, namely:
- Heredity: if your father or brother has Peyronie's disease, you are also at risk
- Connective tissue disorders: patients with connective tissue disorders are at high risk of developing Peyronie's disease
- Age: Peyronie's disease gets easier as you get older. Age-related changes can make them vulnerable and difficult to heal
Other factors include health conditions; smoking and certain prostate surgeries also involve Peyronie's disease.
Medicines & Medicines
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
What are my treatment options for Peyronie's disease?
The doctor may have to monitor only the progression of the disease without the need for medication if:
- The bending of the penis is not very dangerous
- Do not feel pain during sex
- Just feel a little pain during erection
- Can still get an erection normally
If symptoms get worse, your doctor may suggest medication or surgery.
Drugs:
Your doctor may prescribe a number of medications to reduce the bending, size of scar tissue, and inflammation of your penis. These medications may be taken by mouth or by injection directly into the scar tissue on your penis.
Oral medications include:
- Vitamin E
- Potassium para-aminobenzoate (Potaba)
- Tamoxifen
- Colchicine
- Acetyl-L-carnitine
- Pentoxifylline
Injectable drugs include:
- Verapamil
- Interferon alpha 2b
- Steroids
- Collagenase (Xiaflex)
Operation:
Doctors usually recommend this method of surgery when the penis is bent too badly, especially when you feel uncomfortable or you can't have sex. In addition, surgery is not recommended until the penis is no longer subject to further bending. There are three kinds of treatment methods: sewing the wrinkled corpora, cutting the plaque and filling it, placing the artificial corpora.
Another method:
- Ionization therapy uses a weak electric current to deliver percutaneous verapamil and dexamethasone through the skin
- Using high-intensity sound waves to break up scar tissue (shock wave therapy)
- Using a penis lengthening device (penile traction therapy)
- Using vacuum equipment
What are the usual tests for Peyronie's disease
The doctor will diagnose and find the cause of Peyronie's disease in the following ways:
- Physical exam: The doctor will examine your erect penis to determine the location and amount of scar tissue. If it gets worse, the initial diagnosis will determine if the penis has shortened
- The doctor may ask to look at an erect penis, and determine the curvature, location of scar tissue, or other details
- Another test: ultrasound when erect is often used. This test can indicate the presence of scar tissue, blood flow to the penis and other abnormalities
Home remedies
What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat Peyronie's disease?
You must maintain a healthy lifestyle through proper exercise activities, limiting alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and stimulants. Apart from that, you also need to be closer to your partner, have healthy sexuality, and take care of your health for proper prevention and treatment.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.