Peyronie's Disease:
Peyronie's disease (PD) is where plaques (segments of flat scar tissue) form under the skin of the penis. These plaques can cause the penis to bend or become indented during erections. The plaques can often be felt through the skin and can be painful, sometimes during intimacy.
The main roles of the penis are to carry urine and sperm out of the body. There are three tubes inside the penis. One is called the urethra. It is hollow and carries urine from the bladder through the penis to the outside. The other two tubes are called the corpora cavernosa. These are soft, spongy tubes that fill with blood to make the penis stiff during an erection. The three tubes are wrapped together by a very tough fibrous sheath called the tunica albuginea. The stiffness of the penis makes it hard enough for intercourse. Then the urethra acts as a channel to carry semen into the vagina.
70% of the time the plaques form on the top (or dorsal side) of the penis. The plaques make the tunica albuginea less flexible and may cause the penis to bend upwards when it stiffens. If or when the plaques form on the bottom or side of the penis, the bend will be downward or sideways.
Some men have more than one plaque, which may cause complex curves. Men may also notice their penis has shrunk or gotten shorter. Other signs that you may have Peyronie's disease are: bent/curved penis; lumps in the penis; painful erections; soft erections, difficulty having intimacy because of the curvature.
Peyronie’s disease can make your quality of life worse. Over 75 out of 100 men with Peyronie’s disease are stressed and depressed because of it. Unfortunately, many men with Peyronie’s disease are embarrassed and choose to suffer in silence rather than get help. This might influence the numbers. The incidence of PD might very well be higher than the statistics show. Apparently, PD occurs in about 4 out of 100 men between the ages of 40 and 70. It is rare in young men but has been seen in men in their 30s. However, in my experience, more PD cases have been noted in recent years. I have treated many cases of PD and therefore more men are inclined to do something about it.
PD is likely caused by minor injury to the penis (penile trauma.) This type of damage is most often caused by vigorous sex (such as bending the penis during penetration or pressure from a partner's pubic bone), though it can also be caused by sports or other accidents. Also, it is worth to mention that not all men who suffer mild trauma to the penis get Peyronie's disease. Researchers believe that genetic or environmental reasons might be the reasons why Peyronie's disease plaques form.
Men with Dupuytren's contractures or tympanosclerosis (connective tissue disorders), and those who have a close family member with Peyronie's disease have a greater risk of getting it. Certain health issues, such as high blood sugar, tobacco use, or past pelvic trauma, may also lead to wound healing problems and may help cause Peyronie's disease. Injury to the tunica albuginea may result in scar tissue forming in the cells (fibrosis). This scar tissue then forms the plaque of Peyronie's disease.
Peyronie's disease is divided into two stages: The acute phase and the chronic phase. During both phases, the curved or bent penis may cause problems during intercourse. Important to be aware that it is quite often that a patient with PD may develop ED. The assessment of PD will be able to confirm if a man has Peyronie's disease. The hard plaques can most often be felt whether the penis is stiff or not.