Peyronie’s disease is where segments of flat scar tissue or plaques form under the skin of the penis. These plaques can cause the penis to become indented during erection. These plaques can be painful and can often be felt between the skin.
Symptoms
The Peyronie’s disease plaques mostly form on the dorsal side of the penis. The tunica albuginea becomes less flexible and causes the penis to bend upwards during erection. Few men experience more than one plaque and this may cause complex curves.
The plaques that form around the penis do not cause curving but may cause the shaft of the penis to narrow and this is called ‘waisting’ or ‘bottle-necking’. In other cases, the plaque collects calcium and becomes very hard. Peyronie’s disease also causes the shrinking of the penis.
Causes
A minor injury to the penis is most likely the cause of Peyronie’s disease. This is often caused by strenuous sex. It can also be caused by accidents or sports. A scar tissue may form in the cells because of an injury to the tunica albuginea, this scar tissue will form the plaque of Peyronie’s disease. Peyronie’s disease is the outcome of a problem in the way a body mends.
Treatments
It is observed that in very rare cases, Peyronie’s disease goes away without treatment. Health experts suggest that for the first 12 months that the disease is noticed, Peyronie’s disease can be treated without surgery. Men who don’t have problems with sex, feel no pain and have small plaques may not need treatment.
Oral drugs such as potassium amino-benzoate, tamoxifen, colchicine, and carnitine could help men who are affected and are already in the acute phase of the disease. There’s a variety of penile injections that can also be used such as verapamil, interferon, and collagenase injections.
Hi! My name is Kimmy B, I am the co-host of the We’reHard podcast. I have a passion for fitness, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. I’ve always loved working out and staying active but recently found my groove in the fitness industry.