Curvature of the Penis (Peyronie's Disease)

Prevention

There is no way to prevent Peyronie's disease. However, there is some evidence to suggest that middle-aged men who engage in more vigorous or frequent intercourse are more likely to develop Peyronie's.

Treatment

Most men with curvature of the penis, regardless of the cause, do not need any treatment. Men with Peyronie's disease who experience pain or difficulty with intercourse sometimes are offered medical treatment. Options include the following:

• Oral medications such as vitamin E, para-aminobenzoic acid (a B vitamin) and colchicine (sold as a generic)

• Injections of cortisone or other medications such as verapamil into the scar tissue

• Ultrasound or radiation therapy

Most of these treatments do not have serious side effects. However, none of these treatments has clearly been shown to improve the problem. Corrective surgery sometimes is offered to men with more bothersome or disfiguring symptoms. Usually, such surgery is delayed for at least a year after symptoms are stable because one-third to one-half of men with Peyronie's disease improve on their own without treatment.

In a typical procedure, the inflamed or scarred portion of tissue is removed from the penis and replaced with a graft taken from another part of the body, often the scrotum or forearm. This surgery often works well, although mild curvature of the penis may remain. In addition, sexual function or shortening of the penis may not improve following surgery. For this reason, surgeons sometimes implant a penile prosthesis at the same time that the scar tissue is removed. In some men, a prosthesis alone is enough to straighten the curvature and improve sexual function. Men who are considering surgery should be sure to discuss all the options with their physicians.