1. It can happen to any man.
Although Peyronie’s disease most commonly affects middle-aged men, it can happen to men as young as 20 and well into the later years of their lives. Research suggests that between 8-10% of men will experience Peyronie’s in their lifetime. I am sure that this number could be higher if one accounts for untreated and undiagnosed cases.
2. It can impact or halt your sex life
While most cases of Peyronie’s disease have only mild symptoms, moderate to severe symptoms can cause painful erections, pain with intercourse, a crooked appearance in the penis, and potentially erectile dysfunction. As the symptoms often manifest slowly, as well as the potential embarrassment that can accompany sexual dysfunction, many men will delay seeking any kind of treatment until Peyronie’s has devastated their anatomy and sex life.
3. It’s treatable.
In milder cases, doctors will suggest simply waiting 1-2 years to see if symptoms subside, but there are a variety of prescriptions and surgical procedures that can be used to treat more serious cases. Xiaflex, an injectable drug, has been shown to cause light to moderate reductions in the plaque which can cause the penile bending effect seen in more severe Peyronie’s cases.
In moderate to severe cases, surgery is often the best course. Dr. Paul Perito has pioneered the ‘Scratch Technique,’ in which an incision is made into the penis to physically remove plaque-ridden areas, and is then supplemented with a penile implant to straight the penis and restore sexual function.
If you think you might have Peyronie’s Disease, it’s important to be aware of the resources that are available, including doctors, urologic surgeons, and support groups and discussion boards. Please contact us at Perito Urology if you have any questions, or feel free to peruse our site to learn more.