Peyronie’s Disease
Have you noticed that your penis looks indented, curved, or like it no longer reaches its full length when erect? Do you often experience painful erections? These are some of the common signs of a condition called Peyronie’s disease.
What is Peyronie’s disease?
Most common in men over 50, Peyronie’s disease can show up in different ways. Men may notice a lump or hard area in their penis when they are not erect from fibrous scar tissue.
This scar tissue is also called plaque. Sometimes the penis appears to be indented or curved or may appear to have shrunk.
It may no longer reach its full length during an erection. Men with Peyronie’s disease often have painful erections.
What causes Peyronie’s disease?
The penis contains two erectile rods. Due to trauma or infection, scar tissue and inflammation can occur in the rods.
When this happens, it causes a hardening of the tissue from plaques, narrowing the penis, and sometimes erectile dysfunction. Though the condition can be fairly common, many men ignore it and do not seek treatment until symptoms worsened.
The providers at Men’s Health Boston are experienced in identifying and treating Peyronie’s disease symptoms.
Peyronie’s disease is usually caused by minor injury to the penis, either from vigorous intercourse, sports, or other accidents. It is a result of the way the body heals wounds.
How do I find out if I have Peyronie’s disease?
Your doctor may be able to tell if you have Peyronie’s disease through a physical exam. During the exam, they will check for plaque hardening to feel whether the penis is stiff or not.
Another examination includes injecting a drug into the penis to make it stiff and taking pictures to study it. The plaques mostly form on the top side of the penis and can make the penis bend upwards when it stiffens.
If plaques form on the bottom side of the penis, it will bend downward or sideways.
What are the treatments for Peyronie’s disease?
In very few cases, Peyronie’s disease goes away without being treated. However, in most cases, a doctor will recommend a course of treatment.
This usually varies according to the severity of the symptoms and the overall health of the patient. At Men’s Health Boston, our doctors offer patients a range of non-surgical treatments.
The most common approved treatment is Xiaflex. Xiaflex is a medication also used for people who have skin hardening of the hands.
For Peyronie’s disease, Xiaflex is injected into the penis to break down the plaque, causing the penis to harden or curve. Another option is Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker.
Ongoing treatment is injected into the scar tissue with a small needle. This is a non-surgical procedure, and your doctor at Men’s Health Boston can perform this at their office.
As an additional option, doctors may prescribe sonic wave therapy for patients.
You do not have to continue suffering from Peyronie’s disease. Our qualified providers at Men’s Health Boston have successfully treated men for this condition and have a proven track record of success.
If you think you may have Peyronie’s disease, do not suffer in silence. Schedule an appointment at Men’s Health Boston in Boston, MA, today!
