When scar tissue forms inside your penis and causes it to bend or curve, its known as Peyronie’s disease. Treatment isn’t always necessary, but talking with your doctor can help you make an informed decision.
Peyronie’s disease, also known as penile curvature, is a medical condition characterized by a bend or curve in your penis. It doesn’t always require treatment, but severe cases can be painful and can negatively affect sexual function. Injury or autoimmune disease is the underlying cause of this noncancerous tissue change.
When a medical condition develops in private areas of your body, it isn’t always easy to talk about it with your healthcare professional. According to the
To help improve understanding of the “hows” and “whys” of Peyronie’s disease treatment, Healthline spoke with Dr. Justin Houman, a board certified urologist and assistant professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Peyronie’s disease is a condition where scar tissue, known as plaque, forms under the skin of the penis. This scar tissue can cause the penis to bend or curve during erections, often leading to pain, difficulty with intercourse, or emotional distress. It’s more common than most men realize and tends to occur in middle-aged men, although it can affect men at any age.
Treatment becomes necessary when the curvature interferes with sexual function, causes pain that doesn’t resolve, or significantly impacts a man’s quality of life or mental health.
Some men experience mild curvature without any functional issues — those cases may not need intervention. But when erections become difficult, painful, or unreliable, that’s when a urologist should be involved.
The treatment approach depends on the stage and severity of the disease. In the acute phase, when pain and curvature are still evolving, we typically start with conservative management. This may include oral medications or intralesional injections like collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex), which is FDA approved and works to break down the scar tissue. This type of medication helps with Peyronie’s disease by breaking up molecular bonds in the collagen, a connective tissue, that is a part of the plaques causing the condition.
In the chronic phase, once the curvature has stabilized, surgical options are the gold standard for men with significant penile deformity or erectile dysfunction. These include plication procedures, plaque incision with grafting, or penile implant surgery for men with both Peyronie’s and erectile dysfunction.
Traction therapy devices can also help in certain cases, particularly to preserve or regain length.
The first step is determining whether the disease is in the active or stable phase.
Treating too early, especially with surgery, can worsen outcomes if the plaque is still evolving. It’s also important to assess erectile function because if a man has concurrent erectile dysfunction, that may influence the choice of treatment.
Psychological readiness and realistic expectations are also critical. While treatments can improve curvature and function, they may not fully restore a “pre-disease” state.
A thorough consultation with a urologist experienced in Peyronie’s disease is essential to match the treatment plan with the patient’s anatomy, goals, and lifestyle.
Yes. Intralesional injections like Xiaflex can cause bruising, swelling, or pain and, in rare cases, penile fracture. Surgical procedures carry the risks of infection, loss of sensation, erectile dysfunction, or further shortening of the penis. That’s why patient selection and surgeon experience are crucial.
Most patients who receive an intralesional injection experience improvement in penile curvature with a relatively low risk of serious complications. That said, like any medical intervention, optimal results and minimal side effects are best achieved when the treatment is administered by an experienced urologist who understands proper injection technique, patient selection, and follow-up care.
Traction therapy is generally safe but requires daily commitment over months. Oral therapies have limited evidence of benefit and minimal side effects but are rarely effective on their own.
Start by being direct. It’s a sensitive topic, but the experienced urologists talk about it every day.
Try saying something like, “I’ve noticed a bend in my erections that’s new and concerning,” or “I’m having trouble with sex because of penile curvature.” Bring up any pain, changes in length, or difficulty with intercourse — these are medically relevant and help guide the evaluation.
Remember, Peyronie’s is a legitimate medical condition — it’s not your fault, and you’re not alone. The sooner you speak up, the more options you’ll have.
Peyronie’s disease is a medical condition that occurs when scar tissue called “plaque” develops in your penis and causes a curve or bend. It doesn’t always require treatment, but nonsurgical and surgical options are available.
Dr. Justin Houman is a nationally recognized urologist and Assistant Professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, specializing in Men’s Health, Male Fertility, and Sexual Medicine. As a fellowship-trained expert, he is committed to optimizing men’s well-being through state-of-the-art, evidence-based treatments for erectile dysfunction, testosterone optimization, Peyronie’s disease, and reproductive health. His patient-first approach integrates cutting-edge medical advancements with holistic lifestyle strategies, ensuring personalized, comprehensive care tailored to each individual.