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Does your penis curve upwards or sidewards when erect? If so, you may have one of these two conditions: Peyronie’s disease or congenital penile curvature.
Penises come in a variety of sizes, girths, and lengths. Some are shorter than others, their proportions may differ, and others could curve in one direction when erect.
Many men worry about experiencing a slight penile curvature. But quite a few of them fail to recognize that a slight curvature is completely harmless.
There’s no need to address or treat the curve if it doesn’t cause problems during sexual intimacy. According to one study, as many as 1 out of 5 men have a curved penis. While it may seem bothersome to have, it’s a fairly normal occurrence, and patients with this condition can live normal lives despite it.
However, there may be an issue if you acquire an acute case of penile curvature that is both painful during sex and curves significantly. The presence of both these symptoms is an indicator that the patient has Peyronie’s disease.
Fortunately, effective treatment strategies aimed at straightening the penis can resolve this issue.
Let’s learn more about the differences between Peyronie’s disease and congenital penis curvature, as well as the treatment options available to patients.
What is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease and congenital penis curvature both share similar characteristics at first glance. For one, they both cause the penile shaft to bend when erect. However, their main difference lies in their etiology.
Peyronie’s disease is when trauma to the penis causes it to curve severely to one side. It’s not something that men are born with, nor does it develop as a result of an underlying medical problem.
In addition, Peyronie’s disease is also distinguished by the presence of non-cancerous, fibrous scar tissue which grows in the tunica albuginea, or the elastic membrane of the penis.
Peyronie’s disease is also more likely to cause pain than congenital penile curvature.
Patients go through two distinct phases.
- The first phase is called the acute phase, which lasts for 18 months or below. In this phase, patients start to notice signs of curving, experience pain where scar tissues form, and experience signs of inflammation.
- The second phase is called the chronic phase, which begins shortly after the acute phase. The pain may lessen in this phase, but the curvature and scar tissue stabilize. Patients may also experience erectile dysfunction (ED).
Peyronie’s disease affects 1 out of every 10 men in the United States, but there are likely more people silently suffering from the condition out of shame and embarrassment.
Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease
Aside from the noticeable curvature in an erect penis, there are other signs of Peyronie’s disease. These are:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Penile shortening / narrowing
- Penile curvature without an erection
- Lumps on either side of the penis
What is Congenital Penile Curvature?
Congenital penile curvature, or “chordee,” is a condition where the shaft is bent or curved due to abnormal development of either side of the erectile chambers.
This abnormality starts in the early stages of childhood. It’s typically first noticed by the patient during puberty when they first get an erection.
Unlike Peyronie’s disease, men with congenital penile curvature aren’t marked with the presence of scar tissue. They also don’t go on to develop vascular erectile dysfunction. Their main complaint is the curvature of the penis.
Some men may also feel self-conscious about their penis shape and penile curvature due to its less symmetrical form.
Congenital penile curvature is associated with other urological conditions like hypospadias. One study claimed that 1 in 4 patients with hypospadias also experiences penile curvature. Hypospadias is a birth defect of the urethra where the urinary opening is not at the tip of the penis, and instead below it.
If the curvature of the penis impedes sexual intercourse, it’s possible to have the curvature corrected by a doctor. This will require invasive treatment plans like penile plication and surgery.
Symptoms of Chordee
Doctors can’t pinpoint the exact cause of chordee at this time. However, some symptoms may be observed in patients with this disease. This includes:
- Penile torsion: The midline raphe, which normally runs along the shaft of the penis, does not circle the penile tissue.
- Webbed penis: The bottom part of the shaft connects to the scrotum.
- Skin tethering: Noticeably thin tissue in the tip of the penis circling the urethra.
- Dorsal preputial hood: Foreskin only covers the top half of the penis.
Consult with a local men’s clinic in Tampa for a proper medical evaluation.
Treatment for Penile Curvature
Moderate to severe penile curvature can be completely corrected with surgery. The goal of the surgery is to make the penis as straight as possible while still maintaining its vital functions.
There are different types of surgeries, and the type of surgery you’ll undergo will depend on the results of the testing procedures urologists will perform on you.
Some patients who have severe Peyronie’s disease may need more than one surgery to achieve the desired results. Here are three ways to treat Peyronie’s disease and connective tissue disorders.
Tunica Plication
Tunica plication is a surgical procedure that is used to correct penile curvature caused by Peyronie’s disease. The surgery involves applying tunica albuginea plication sutures to the side of the penis opposite to the curvature.
This treatment has had a high rate of success, with 94% of patients becoming able to engage in sexual activity following surgery.
This procedure has a 60% chance of causing penile shortening, but it’s insignificant when compared to the overall quality-of-life improvement in patients.
Grafting
Grafting is a treatment plan where doctors remove and replace the plaque growing in the penis with a tissue patch. This tissue can be extracted from another part of the patient’s body, grown in a lab, or donated.
This method is preferred by patients who want to correct shortening caused by Peyronie’s disease.
Device Implantation
This medical procedure involves implanting a spring-loaded device into the penis to help it maintain an erection. This procedure is given as an alternative for patients with chronic Peyronie’s Disease and erectile dysfunction.
If the device isn’t enough to straighten the penis, doctors may require patients to undergo a round of surgery for treatment.
Contact Tampa’s Leading Men’s ED Clinic for a Penile Curvature Consultation
Penile curvature can be mild or severe. While some cases may be nothing more than a cosmetic issue, others may necessitate surgery and other invasive treatments.
If you find your penile curvature distressing or painful, contact the doctors at Prestige Men’s Medical Center in Tampa to learn more about available treatment options. Our concierge approach positions your unique case at the centerpoint of our focus. We don’t just give you a pill for ED and send you on your way. We treat the underlying issues that led to conditions such as ED, Low Testosterone, and more. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
