Is Treatment Available For Peyronie’s Disease?
Posted by: Men's Health Boston in Men's Health on August 19, 2021
Do you have a curve or bend in your penis? Do you suffer from painful erections? Is your penis unable to reach its full length during an erection due to the curvature?
You may have a condition called Peyronie’s disease. Keep reading to find out about available treatment options for this medical condition that may be right for you!
What Is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease refers to a curve or bend in the penis. This can occur spontaneously or be a result of prior injury to the penis. It may contribute to sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction. It can also cause painful erections.
It may start as a mild curve but can progress making it difficult to get and maintain erections and/or may be painful. The penis may appear indented, curved, or shrunk.
It also won’t reach its full length when you do have an erection. While a curved erection isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, you should see a doctor if any discomfort accompanies it.
You may develop Peyronie’s disease if you suffer an injury to the penis. This injury could be due to playing contact sports without wearing protective gear, having rough intercourse, or other accidents that might adversely affect the penis.
Peyronie’s disease may first appear as a lump or hard spot on the penis. This lump is fibrous scar tissue, also referred to as plaque, resulting from your body healing itself.
Peyronie’s disease can also be genetic and can even occur if you haven’t suffered any injuries or a traumatic event. This is why it’s essential to have regular checkups to diagnose and treat these conditions.
Treatment of Peyronie’s Disease
Scar tissue can heal on its own. If this happens, you may not need further treatment. Only an exam performed by your doctor can determine how severe your case of Peyronie’s disease is and how healthy you are.
There are several ways for your doctor to check for Peyronie’s disease, including:
- A physical exam will check for plaque hardening or lumps and hard spots on the penis.
- Your penis will be injected with a drug to cause an erection. This will allow your doctor to see which direction (upwards, downwards, sideways or a mix) your penis bends and whether a scar or plaque has formed.
Xiaflex
Xiaflex is a medication used in patients who have skin hardening – it’s used to soften the skin. When treating patients with Peyronie’s disease, it is injected directly into the penis. Injecting Xiaflex helps break down the hardening plaque or scar.
You may need to have this treatment repeated depending on the severity of the plaque. Treatments are usually six weeks apart, and you will be given instructions for stretching and straightening your penis between treatments. Using these instructions will help ensure proper healing without any plaque buildup.
Verapamil
Another treatment option that your doctor may recommend is Verapamil. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker that is injected directly into the scar tissue in your penis. For this course of treatment, you will have six injections with two weeks between each.
Sonic Wave Therapy
Sonic wave therapy uses low-intensity sound waves to improve blood flow to the penis. Sound waves are also used to stimulate the removal of the plaque that causes Peyronie’s disease.
If you’re suffering from curved and/or painful erections, don’t wait any longer to seek treatment. Schedule an appointment at Men’s Health Boston with one of our talented doctors to get help and find the best treatment option for you!
