Toronto Clinic for Peyronie’s Disease

What Is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s Disease is, in simplest terms, an acquired curvature of the penis, caused by fibrous scar tissue in the penile shaft. It’s estimated that as many as one in every eleven men is affected by Peyronie’s Disease, although many men are reluctant to discuss it with their healthcare providers. The onset may be sudden or gradual, and symptoms include:

• Curvature of the penis. The penis often curves upward or downward or bends to one side.
• Shortening of the penis. The penis might become shorter.
• Scar tissue. Scar tissue known as plaque can usually be felt under the skin of the penis. It may feel like flat lumps or like a strip of hard tissue.
• Erectile dysfunction. Patients with Peyronie's Disease often have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. There is some debate as to whether ED is a result of Peyronie’s Disease or whether attempting to have sex with an incomplete erection may be one of the causes of the condition.
• Pain. Patients with Peyronie’s Disease often have penile pain. This might be constant or occur only when erect.
• Other deformity of the penis. In some men with Peyronie's disease, the erect penis might have narrowing, indentations or even an hourglass-shape, with a tight band around the centre of the shaft.

The causes of Peyronie’s Disease are not clear. There may be a genetic component, since those with a family history of the condition have an elevated risk. Other research suggests that Peyronie’s may be related to other connective tissue disorders, to vitamin deficiency, or to certain drugs, such as beta blockers. Currently, many researchers believe that the most common cause is injury to the penis, either through trauma caused by accident, or through frequent attempts to have sex with weak erections.