Peyronie's Disease

Whether you believe Peyronie’s disease may be affecting your sexual function, or you have already received a diagnosis, MU Health Care can provide insight, expert care and treatment options that can help.

Peyronie’s disease develops when scar tissue forms under the skin of the penis. This can cause the penis to curve, feel painful during erections or appear shorter when erect. It can also make sex difficult or lead to trouble getting or keeping an erection.

Having a conversation with your urologist can help improve symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Even if you’ve been managing Peyronie’s disease for a while, treatment can help reduce pain, curvature or shortening.

Peyronie's Disease Symptoms

Peyronie's disease doesn’t look the same for everyone. You might experience:

Curvature: The penis may bend up, down or to one side during an erection.
Erectile changes: It may be harder to get or keep an erection.
Indentation: You might notice narrowing or an hourglass shape when erect.
Lumps: There may be firm areas under the skin.
Pain: You might feel pain with erections or even when the penis is flaccid.
Shortening: The penis may appear shorter over time.

When to Seek Care for Peyronie's Disease

If you’ve noticed a new curve, pain during erections or other changes in shape, it’s time to talk with your doctor.

Getting care early can help manage symptoms, prevent complications and make more treatment options available.

Causes of Peyronie's Disease

Peyronie’s disease can develop for several reasons. Common causes and risk factors include:

Age: Risk increases with age, especially in men over 40.
Connective tissue disorders: Conditions like Dupuytren’s contracture are often linked to Peyronie’s disease.
Genetic factors: A family history may increase the likelihood of developing this condition.
Lifestyle factors: Smoking and health conditions like diabetes may also play a role.
Trauma or injury: Repeated bending or impact to the penis can lead to scar tissue.

How We Diagnose Peyronie's Disease

At MU Health Care, we’ll start with a conversation about your symptoms and medical history, followed by a physical exam. We may also use additional tools to better understand what’s going on and reach a diagnosis of Peyronie's disease, including:

An "artificial erection", which involves injecting medicine into the penis to cause an erection so the curve can be examined.
Photographs to document the curve and track changes over time.

How We Treat Peyronie's Disease

At MU Health Care, treatment starts with understanding how Peyronie’s disease is affecting you. From there, we’ll talk through your options and build a personalized care plan.

Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Peyronie’s Disease

Depending on your symptoms, nonsurgical treatments for Peyronie’s disease may include:

Medications: Injectable treatments can help reduce pain and curvature.
Traction or physical therapy: Stretching techniques or devices may improve flexibility and reduce curvature over time.
Counseling: Professional support can help manage emotional or relationship concerns that may come with this condition.

Surgical Treatment Options for Peyronie’s Disease

If symptoms are more severe or don’t improve with other treatments, we may recommend surgery. Options are tailored to your anatomy and goals, and may include:

Removing scar tissue or placing a graft to straighten the penis.
Penile plication, or placing sutures to pull the penis straight.
Penile implants to support erections and improve function when erectile dysfunction is also present.