Penile curvature overview

Men have a variety of sizes and forms in their penis from birth. Some men might notice that their penis has a slight bend. A modest penile curvature is considered normal and does not usually affect a man’s sexual life. However, penile curvature causes some men to experience excruciating pain during erections, making it impossible to engage in sexual activity. It has no negative consequences on the body if a penis curves from 5 to 30 degrees. As long as your penile curve does not hurt or bother you, you should not be concerned. On the other hand, if the curve exceeds 50 to 60 degrees, it can warrant medical attention. Peyronie’s disease is the name given to this ailment.

 

What is congenital penile curvature?

Penile curvature that develops from birth is known as congenital penile curvature. Fewer than 1% of males are thought to have penile curvature without Peyronie’s disease. In contrast to Peyronie’s disease, there is no penile scar tissue, and the condition often does not worsen with time. It is not usually harmful and does not affect a man’s sexual life. For this condition, doctors often advise non-surgical treatments.

When Peyronie’s disease is absent, penile curvature is a congenital disorder, meaning that males are born with it. Congenital penile curvature is thought to result from uneven growth on the opposing sides of the erection chamber, although its specific causes are unknown.

 

What is Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease, which is essentially a connective tissue disease, may also run in families and result in serious penile injuries. Although it can happen to younger men as well, it primarily affects males over 40. Doctors only recommend surgery when the issue results in excruciating discomfort or erectile dysfunction; otherwise, they recommend non-surgical treatments.

Penile curvature may arise from genetic reasons or a past injury that caused the formation of unique scar tissue. You might have Peyronie’s disease if the penis’ curvature bends greatly and causes severe discomfort. Hard, fibrous plaque accumulates in the penis as a result of Peyronie’s disease, changing the erection’s orientation. This typically occurs after a guy experiences a catastrophic penis injury and the penis does not heal properly.

Fibrous scar tissue develops under the penis following a penile injury. These scar tissues lack the usual erectile tissue flexibility. The penis will dramatically curve to the side where the scar originated since these scar tissues do not grow as much during an erection as the rest of the penis.

Numerous factors could have contributed to the injury, such as:

• An autoimmune condition that targets the penis
• An injury from intense sex that results in bending
• Trauma caused by contact sports and other physical activity

With Peyronie’s, getting an erection can be quite painful, especially in the beginning. However, this discomfort usually goes away within 9 to 12 months.

 

Peyronie’s disease is not just brought on by injury to the penis. Other reasons for a penis that is only slightly curled include:

• Age: Older men have penises that are more brittle and prone to bending. They are more likely to suffer injuries as a result.
• Genetics: Men with weak genetic make-up may experience difficulties with the penis’ ability to repair following injury, leading to Peyronie’s disease.
• Connective tissue disorders: You may be more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease if you or members of your family have Dupuytren’s disease, plantar fasciitis, or scleroderma.

Contact an erectile health professional right away if you have painful erections or are at risk of developing a severe penile curvature.

The sooner you receive treatment for Peyronie’s disease, the better your prognosis will be. Peyronie’s disease can worsen and lead to more issues with your sexual function, such as erectile dysfunction, if you wait too long to get treatment.

Acute and chronic are the two stages of Peyronie’s disease.

Acute phase: The penile scar begins to form during this period, which lasts for around 6 to 12 months. Here, one typically experiences severe agony in the erect penis.

Chronic phase: As the scar finishes growing, the discomfort lessens or gets worse, but you also get erectile dysfunction.

Peyronie’s disease occasionally resolves on its own. But before dismissing your problem, it is best to speak with a doctor about it.

 

What are the symptoms of penile curvature?

For as long as they can remember, patients with this condition report a curvature of the penis during erection. It is usually first noticed around adolescence or the beginning of adulthood.

The following are examples of Peyronie’s disease symptoms that can develop gradually or suddenly:

• a pronounced bending of the penis
• erection issues
• penile discomfort with or without an erection
• penile shortening or another malformation, like narrowing or taking on an hourglass shape
• scar tissue can be felt as lumps or tight bands under the skin of the penis

In many cases, Peyronie’s disease symptoms initially get worse before stabilizing between 3 and 12 months after they first appear. Within 1-2 years, the pain that comes with having an erection usually becomes better, but the curvature and shortness of the penile stay the same.

 

How is penile curvature diagnosed?

During your appointment, the doctor will review your medical and sexual history, which is usually sufficient to make the diagnosis of congenital penile curvature. Your doctor may find it beneficial to examine your penis while you are erect to document curvature and rule out other disorders. This can be done following an injection of erection-inducing medication. Doctors can frequently identify Peyronie’s disease during a physical examination. To check for scar tissue or examine blood flow to the penis, they may order an ultrasound.

 

How is penile curvature treated?

Congenital penile curvature and Peyronie’s disease have similar therapeutic approaches. There is no obvious purpose or degree of curvature that calls for treatment. The inability to have sex, pain, and personal aesthetics are all justifications for treatment.

In its moderate versions, there is no need for medical attention. Treatment options for penile curvature include:

 

Lifestyle changes:

Adapting a healthy lifestyle might lessen the possibility of experiencing worse symptoms after receiving a Peyronie’s disease diagnosis. This includes:

• eating a more nutritious, healthful diet
• exercising regularly
• staying away from alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs
• drinking the appropriate volume of water

Having pain-free sexual activity is possible if the condition is properly managed medically to lessen its severity.

 

Non-surgical treatments

Steroid penile injections: These injections can be used to stabilize or decrease curvature.

Traction therapy: Using a device to stretch the penis to the other side of the curve can help Peyronie’s disease patients regain lost length.

Acoustic wave therapy: This treatment stimulates blood flow to the penis by using electromagnetic waves, restoring erectile function that has been damaged by Peyronie’s disease.

 

Surgery

The most successful treatment for severe penile curvature is surgery, which is recommended by the doctor if a patient does not respond to conventional treatments within a year.

Surgery is done to rectify the curvature when it significantly impairs a person’s ability to engage in sexual activity and returns the penis to its natural form and function.

Congenital erectile curvature can be corrected surgically by exposing the penis and shortening the side that does not curve to match the other side, resulting in a straighter erection.

To fix the curvature in patients with Peyronie’s disease, doctors may advise shortening the scarring on the side opposite to it, extending the affected side, or inserting penile implants.

 

Schedule your appointment today

To schedule your consultation and learn more about penile curvature, contact our knowledgeable team right away. 

 

FAQ

What are the potential side effects of penile curvature surgery?

The side effects include penile diminution, erection problems, numbness, and the recurrence risk of curvature.

 

Is it normal to have a curved penis?

The penis’ natural structure is never straight. Even if your penis is normal, it usually has a slight curve. However, if the curve bothers you or bothers you more than usual, together with shape defects, it can be a worrying development.

 

What happens if a curved penis is left untreated?

Despite not being a major medical problem, a curved penis might have negative long-term repercussions. Your erection may be hampered by your penis being bent or deformed. Additionally, erectile dysfunction, nerve injury, fibrosis, and urethral damage might result from unequal blood distribution.

 

Does a curved penis mean Peyronie’s disease?

A curved erection does not always mean that Peyronie’s disease is present because men’s penises can vary in size and shape. However, Peyronie’s disease-related penile curvature results in noticeably curved, painful erections.

 

Can Peyronie’s disease be treated?

Cutting-edge therapies are available for this condition. Men who have a lengthy history of penile curvature frequently need surgical intervention, but those who have recently developed the disease may merely need an office-based treatment. Whatever your requirements, we offer all of the solutions for penile curve correction.