Are you embarrassed to talk about your penile curvature? It could be Peyronie's Disease.

This can be a difficult and embarrassing topic to talk about, but it's important to talk about your sexual health and be aware of it. Have you ever felt your penis change shape, bend, stretch, or feel pain when you're erect? Then it's important for you to know about Peyronie's Disease, which we're talking about today.

Simply put, what is Peyronie's disease?

Peyronie's disease is a condition where scar tissue, or plaque, builds up inside your penis. This scar tissue causes the penis to bend or curve to one side when it becomes erect. Sometimes the length or girth of the penis can also be reduced. You may even be able to feel this scar tissue through the skin.

Imagine, if this scar tissue forms on the top of the penis, when it becomes erect, the penis will bend upwards. If it forms on the bottom, it will bend downwards. If it forms on the side, it will bend to that side. Some people may not have this kind of bend, but instead may have a sunken appearance in places, like an hourglass shape.

There are two stages of this disease.

This disease mainly develops in two stages.

1. Acute Phase: This can last for about 6 to 12 months. During this time, scar tissue begins to form inside the penis. This causes the penis to bend or change shape. During this time, the penis may be painful both when it is erect and when it is in its normal state.

2. Chronic Phase: At this stage, the scar tissue no longer grows. This means that the curvature of the penis does not increase. Most of the time, the pain disappears during this stage. However, for some people, the pain may persist, especially during sexual intercourse. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) may also occur during this stage.

What are the symptoms of Peyronie's disease?

Symptoms of this disease can appear suddenly or develop gradually over time. The main symptom is a curvature of the penis. In addition, you may see these things:

If the penis is bent more than 30 degrees (like a clock pointing to 1:00), sexual intercourse may be painful or even impossible.

Why does Peyronie's disease occur?

The exact reason for this has not yet been discovered, but there are several main reasons that doctors believe.

The main theory is that the penis has suffered a minor or serious injury . This can be caused by an abnormal bending of the penis during sexual intercourse. But surprisingly, about 80% of people with this condition do not remember such a specific event. Therefore, it is thought that this scar tissue is caused by repeated micro-trauma that we do not realize during normal sexual intercourse.

Also, not everyone develops this disease simply because they have had an injury to their penis. It is believed that it may be influenced by genetics or other environmental factors.

Is this disease contagious?

No. Peyronie's disease is not a sexually transmitted disease (STI). And it is not spread from one person to another.

Who is at higher risk of developing this disease?

Anyone with a penis can develop this disease, but certain factors increase the risk.

• Age: The risk of developing this disease increases with age. About 10% of men, especially between the ages of 40 and 70, may have this condition.
• Genetic influence: If someone in your family (father, brother) has this disease, you have a small risk of developing it too.
• Connective tissue diseases: You are at higher risk if you have other connective tissue diseases, such as Dupuytren's contracture (a condition in which the fingers are bent) and plantar fasciitis (pain in the soles of the feet).
• Erectile dysfunction (ED): Men with ED caused by diabetes are four to five times more likely to develop this condition.
• Prostate cancer: Some surgical treatments for this cancer may increase the risk of developing Peyronie's disease.
• Autoimmune diseases: The risk is higher if you have diseases like lupus.

What complications can occur due to this condition?

A change in the shape of your penis can have a significant impact on you, both physically and mentally. The problems it can cause include:

• Depression and Anxiety.
• Excessive concern about one's body appearance.
• Shyness and low self-esteem.
• Fear of intimate relationships.

If you are feeling this kind of stress, it is very important to talk to a doctor about it.

How is Peyronie's disease diagnosed?

If you have these symptoms, the best thing to do is to see a doctor, especially a urologist. There is no reason to be embarrassed, as this is a common condition for doctors.

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms.

• Since when did you notice this difference?
• Is there any pain?
• Is it difficult to have sex?
• Have you noticed a decrease in penis length?

Then, a physical examination is performed, and the scar tissue (plaque) on the penis is palpated. Sometimes, it may be necessary to examine the penis when it is still erect. If necessary, a temporary penis rejuvenation injection may be given.

In addition, a scan called a Penile Duplex Doppler Ultrasound may also be performed. This can:

• Find the exact location of the scar tissue.
• Check for calcium deposits.
• Check the blood flow to the penis.

Based on this information, the doctor will decide which treatment is best for you.

What are the treatments for this?

There is no single cure for Peyronie's disease. Treatment varies depending on the severity of your symptoms. If you only have a small bend that is not painful and does not interfere with sexual intercourse, you may not need any treatment.

There are several main treatment methods.

1. Traction Therapy

This involves gently pulling the penis using a special device (a vacuum erection device or traction device). This should be done for several months. This pulling helps break down the scar tissue. This,

• You can reduce the bending.
• The lost length can be regained to some extent.
• You can increase your vitality.

2. Medications

These are available as oral medications or injections into the penis. These are usually given during the acute phase of the disease.

• Injections: Injections like Collagenase (Xiaflex®), Interferon, and Verapamil help break down scar tissue by injecting it directly into it.
• Oral medications: Medications such as Tadalafil (Cialis®) and Pentoxifylline help improve blood flow to the penis and stabilize erections. However, it has not yet been proven that oral medications can significantly reduce penile curvature.

3. Surgery

Surgery is only recommended for people with severe disease, meaning when the curvature or pain is so severe that sexual intercourse is impossible. Surgery is performed in the chronic stage of the disease, meaning when the curvature is stable and pain-free.

There are three main types of surgery:

1. Shortening the outer side of the bend: The penis is straightened by removing or stitching a small amount of tissue on the opposite side of the penis from the bend.

2. Penile lengthening: The scar tissue is cut and a graft is used to straighten the penis. This is done for those with severe penile curvature.

3. Penile Implant: This is the best solution if you have severe erectile dysfunction (ED) along with Peyronie's disease. In this, a device is inserted into the penis. This device can be used to stimulate the penis when needed and restore it to its normal state when not needed.

Can this situation be prevented?

There is no way to completely prevent it, as it is also influenced by genetic factors. However, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of penile injury.

• Seek medical advice if you have weak erections: When you have weaker erections (softer erections), your penis is more likely to bend and become injured during sex. So if you have ED problems, see a doctor immediately.
• Use lubricants: These reduce friction during sex, reducing the risk of injury.
• Be careful with sexual positions: The risk of the penis bending and getting injured is high, especially in positions where the partner is on top. So be careful about that. Maintain manual control when inserting the penis into the vagina/anus.

When should you see a doctor?

If you feel a lump, swelling, or pain in your penis that you didn't have before, see a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially important if it gets worse over time.

When should you go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU)?

If you have these symptoms along with Peyronie's disease, go to the nearest emergency room (ETU) immediately.

• Inability to urinate.
• Bleeding from the penis.
• An accident to the penis causes severe pain.

Peyronie's disease, penile curvature, penile retraction, penile pain, erection problems, men's health, sexual health