Peyronie's Disease

What is Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease is a medical condition that causes plaques or scar tissue to form underneath the skin of your penis. As these plaques collect over time, they cause your penis to bend or become indented during erections. 

The plaques caused by Peyronie’s disease are both visible and painful. This makes having sex difficult and uncomfortable. Scar tissue from Peyronie’s disease can develop on either side of your penis, but 70% of men experience plaques on top. 

What are the symptoms of Peyronie’s disease?

The symptoms of Peyronie’s disease vary from person to person. Common telltale signs of Peyronie’s disease, include:

• A bent or curved penis
• Lumps in the penis
• Painful erections
• Soft erections

As your penis becomes more curved, you might also experience difficulty having sex or achieving penetration. 

Men with Peyronie’s disease are also more likely to become depressed. In fact, it’s estimated that 75% of men with the condition experience stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there are treatment options available that can ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

What causes Peyronie’s disease?

Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes Peyronie’s disease, but it’s thought that penile trauma plays a role. The most common cause of penile trauma is vigorous sex, but it can also occur as a result of a sports-related injury or automobile accident. You’re also more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease if you have a family member with the condition. 

How is Peyronie’s disease diagnosed?

Dr. Blick diagnoses Peyronie’s disease by conducting a physical exam. He’s able to feel the plaques in your penis, whether it’s erect or not. To see how far your penis curves, Dr. Blick might inject a drug to make it stiff.

If these measures don’t provide adequate insights, Dr. Blick might recommend a dynamic ultrasound. This diagnostic treatment uses sound waves to determine how much plaque you’ve developed and to observe blood flow to your penis. 

How is Peyronie’s disease treated?

Treatment for Peyronie’s disease depends on the severity of your symptoms as well as the presence of a penile plaque. Dr. Blick offers several cutting-edge treatments, including prescription medications, Xiaflex™ injections, penile implants, and Shockwave Therapy.

If your symptoms are mild and you have little scar tissue, Dr. Blick might recommend oral drugs to relieve swelling and prevent plaque build-up. For more serious cases of Peyronie’s disease, Dr. Blick might recommend Xiaflex™ injections, surgery to correct the curvature, penile implant surgery or treatment with Shockwave Therapy. Shockwave Therapy uses extracorporeal shockwave therapy to increase blood flow to your penis and to breakdown micro-plaques. 

Don’t let Peyronie’s disease prevent you from having a healthy and active sex life. To learn more about your different treatment options, make an appointment with Dr. Shawn Blick by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool today.