A slight curve in the penis can be completely normal. However, a new or significant curve that develops because of scar tissue inside the penis may indicate Peyronie’s disease.

Peyronie’s disease develops when scar tissue, called a plaque, forms within the tunica albuginea, the elastic tissue surrounding the erectile chambers of the penis. As the plaque develops and contracts, it can cause the penis to bend during an erection. Some men also experience penile pain, shortening, narrowing, erectile dysfunction, or difficulty during sexual intercourse.

Peyronie’s disease can affect both sexual function and confidence. However, effective evaluation and several treatment options are available.

At Jyoti Hospital, Gurugram, our urology team can evaluate penile curvature, erectile difficulties and related male sexual-health concerns and help determine whether observation, medical treatment or surgery is appropriate.

What Is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which fibrous scar tissue, or plaque, develops inside the penis and causes an abnormal curvature, particularly during an erection.

The plaque forms in the tunica albuginea. When the penis becomes erect, the scarred area does not stretch normally. This difference in tissue flexibility pulls the penis toward the affected side, producing a curve.

The curvature may point:

• Upward
• Downward
• To either side

Some men develop more complex deformities, such as an hourglass narrowing or a hinge-like bend.

The plaque itself is benign and is not penile cancer.

How Common Is Peyronie’s Disease?

Studies report widely varying prevalence because many men do not seek medical attention for penile curvature.

The condition becomes more common with increasing age, although younger men can also develop it. The EAU reports that Peyronie’s disease commonly presents around the fifth and sixth decades of life, but it can occur in younger men as well.

Because embarrassment can prevent men from discussing penile curvature, the condition may remain undiagnosed.

If you notice a new curvature, penile lump, painful erection or difficulty during intercourse, consider discussing it with our urologist rather than ignoring the symptoms.

What Causes Peyronie’s Disease?

Doctors do not always identify one specific cause.

Current evidence suggests that repeated or significant injury to the penis may contribute to abnormal scar formation in susceptible individuals. However, many men cannot recall a specific injury before their symptoms begin.

Possible contributing factors include:

• Repeated minor penile trauma
• Injury during sexual activity
• Previous penile injury
• Increasing age
• Diabetes
• Erectile dysfunction
• Family history
• Certain connective-tissue disorders
• Some autoimmune conditions

Men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction have a higher likelihood of developing Peyronie’s disease.

However, having one of these factors does not mean that you will definitely develop the condition.

What Are the Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease?

Symptoms can develop gradually or relatively quickly.

Common symptoms include:

• Penile curvature: The penis develops a new bend during erection.
  • The degree of curvature varies considerably between men.
• A hard lump or plaque: You may feel a firm area beneath the skin of the penis.
  • The plaque may occur on one or more sides.
• Painful erections: Some men experience pain during erections, particularly during the active phase of the disease.
• Erectile dysfunction: Some men with Peyronie’s disease also develop difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.
• Penile shortening: Some men notice that their erect penis has become shorter.
• Narrowing or hourglass deformity: The penis may become narrower at a particular point, creating an hourglass appearance.
• Difficulty with sexual intercourse: Significant curvature or erectile problems can make penetration difficult or uncomfortable.

Does Peyronie’s Disease Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

It can.

Erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease may occur together. The physical changes caused by the plaque can interfere with erections, while pain, anxiety and changes in penile structure can also affect sexual function.

In addition, the same underlying vascular or metabolic risk factors may contribute to both conditions.

The EAU recommends assessing erectile function as part of the evaluation of men with Peyronie’s disease.

If you have both penile curvature and erectile dysfunction, our urologist will address both problems.

Peyronie’s Disease Has Two Main Phases

Our doctors generally consider Peyronie’s disease in terms of an active phase and a stable phase.

Active Phase

During the active phase:

• The curvature may change
• The plaque may develop or become more noticeable
• Penile pain may occur
• Erectile function may change

This phase can continue for months.

Stable Phase

During the stable phase:

• The curvature usually stops changing significantly
• Pain often decreases or disappears
• The deformity becomes more stable
• Erectile dysfunction may persist or develop

NIDDK describes the active process as potentially lasting up to approximately 18 months, with the chronic/stable phase generally developing after symptoms have been present for around 12–18 months.

The exact timing varies from person to person.

Is Peyronie’s Disease the Same as a Naturally Curved Penis?

No.

Some men naturally have a curved penis without having Peyronie’s disease.

This is different from a newly developed curvature caused by scar tissue.

Congenital penile curvature generally becomes apparent during puberty or sexual activity and does not result from Peyronie’s plaques. The EAU considers congenital curvature separately from Peyronie’s disease.

Our urologist can help distinguish between the two conditions.

How Is Peyronie’s Disease Diagnosed?

Our urologist usually diagnoses Peyronie’s disease through a combination of:

• Medical history
• Sexual history
• Physical examination
• Assessment of penile curvature
• Assessment of erectile function
• Documentation of penile length and deformity

The EAU recommends asking about the duration of symptoms, pain, penile deformity, sexual difficulties and erectile dysfunction.

Physical Examination

During the examination, our urologist may assess:

• The presence of a plaque
• Plaque location
• Penile length
• Degree of curvature
• Any narrowing or indentation
• Erectile function
• Other associated conditions

Our doctor may also ask you to provide photographs of your erect penis taken privately at home.

In selected cases, our doctor may use a medication-induced erection during examination to objectively assess the curvature. The EAU considers pharmacologically induced erection particularly useful for objective assessment.

Is Ultrasound Needed for Peyronie’s Disease?

Not every man requires an ultrasound.

A physical examination and medical history often provide enough information to establish the diagnosis.

However, our urologist may recommend penile ultrasound or Doppler ultrasound when additional information is necessary, particularly when erectile dysfunction or penile blood-flow problems also require assessment.

Ultrasound may help evaluate:

• Plaque characteristics
• Calcification
• Penile blood flow
• Vascular abnormalities

The test should support the clinical assessment rather than replace it.

Does Peyronie’s Disease Go Away on Its Own?

In some men, symptoms may stabilize and pain may decrease without active treatment.

However, significant curvature does not always disappear on its own.

NIDDK notes that only a small number of cases resolve completely without treatment.

Therefore, men with persistent curvature, pain, erectile dysfunction or difficulty with intercourse should consider a urological evaluation.

Treatment of Peyronie’s Disease

Treatment depends on several factors, including:

• Severity of curvature
• Pain
• Duration of the condition
• Whether the disease remains active
• Erectile function
• Effect on sexual intercourse
• Penile shortening or deformity
• Patient preferences

Not every man requires treatment.

For men with minimal curvature, no pain and no difficulty with sexual intercourse, observation may be appropriate.

1. Observation and Monitoring

If the curvature is mild and does not interfere with sexual activity, our urologist recommend monitoring rather than immediate intervention.

Our doctor monitor:

• Curvature
• Pain
• Erectile function
• Penile deformity
• Sexual function

This approach can be particularly appropriate when symptoms are mild.

2. Medicines for Pain

Pain can occur during the active phase.

Our doctor may recommend an appropriate pain-relieving medicine, such as an NSAID, when suitable for the individual patient.

However, pain medicines generally address pain rather than the underlying penile curvature.

The EAU recommends NSAIDs for penile pain during the acute phase.

3. Oral Medicines

Men often find tablets advertised online as treatments for Peyronie’s disease.

However, no oral medicine has established effectiveness for reliably correcting penile curvature.

This distinction matters because many supplements and medications marketed for penile straightening lack adequate evidence.

You should therefore avoid starting supplements or medicines without discussing them with our urologist.

4. Penile Traction Therapy

Penile traction devices use controlled stretching of the penis over time.

Our doctors may use traction therapy as part of conservative treatment, particularly in selected men who want a non-surgical approach.

The EAU states that penile traction or vacuum devices may help reduce deformity or form part of a multimodal treatment approach, although the available evidence has limitations.

Our urologist guides you regarding:

• Device selection
• Duration of use
• Frequency
• Appropriate technique
• Possible complications

Do not forcefully bend or stretch the penis.

5. Injection Treatment

Our doctors can inject certain medicines directly into the Peyronie’s plaque.

These treatments aim to modify the scar tissue and reduce curvature.

Collagenase

Intralesional collagenase clostridium histolyticum has evidence for reducing curvature in appropriately selected men.

The EAU recommends collagenase for selected men with dorsal or lateral curvature greater than 30 degrees who request non-surgical treatment.

However, availability and regulatory approval vary between countries.

Treatment requires careful patient selection and appropriate administration because serious complications, including corporal rupture, can occur.

Other Injection Treatments

Our doctors have also studied treatments such as:

• Interferon
• Hyaluronic acid
• Verapamil

The evidence differs between treatments.

The current EAU guidelines consider some options promising but emphasize limitations in the available evidence, particularly for several intralesional treatments.

Our urologist can discuss whether an injection-based approach is appropriate for your condition.

6. Shockwave Therapy

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy has been investigated for Peyronie’s disease.

Current evidence suggests that it may help with penile pain, but it does not reliably correct penile curvature or reduce plaque size.

Therefore, the EAU recommends against using shockwave therapy specifically to improve penile curvature.

This distinction is important because many commercial clinics may advertise shockwave therapy as a method to straighten the penis.

7. Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

If Peyronie’s disease occurs together with erectile dysfunction, your doctor may treat the ED separately.

Depending on your health and the cause of ED, treatment may include:

• Lifestyle modification
• PDE5 inhibitor medicines
• Other ED treatments
• Vacuum devices
• Penile injections
• Penile prosthesis in selected cases

The EAU recommends considering PDE5 inhibitors when Peyronie’s disease occurs with erectile dysfunction.

Treating erectile dysfunction can be an important part of restoring sexual function.

When Is Surgery Needed for Peyronie’s Disease?

Surgery may become an option when:

• The curvature significantly interferes with sexual intercourse
• The disease has become stable
• Symptoms persist despite appropriate non-surgical management
• The deformity causes significant sexual distress or functional problems

The EAU recommends performing surgery when Peyronie’s disease is stable and the deformity compromises sexual intercourse.

Surgery is generally not the first treatment during the active phase.

Types of Peyronie’s Disease Surgery

The choice of surgery depends on:

• Degree of curvature
• Penile length
• Erectile rigidity
• Location of the plaque
• Presence of hourglass deformity
• Previous treatments
• Patient expectations

1. Plication Surgery

Plication procedures straighten the penis by shortening the longer side opposite the plaque.

They can provide effective correction in appropriately selected men.

However, shortening of penile length can occur.

The EAU recommends considering tunical-shortening procedures in men with adequate penile length, adequate rigidity and less severe curvature without complex deformities.

2. Plaque Incision or Excision With Grafting

For selected men with severe or complex deformities and adequate erectile function, surgeons may use a plaque incision or excision combined with grafting.

This approach aims to release the tight scarred area and restore a straighter shape.

Doctors may consider this approach when the patient has:

• Severe curvature
• Significant shortening
• Complex deformity
• Hourglass deformity
• Adequate erectile rigidity

However, grafting procedures can carry risks including erectile dysfunction and changes in penile sensation.

3. Penile Prosthesis

Men with Peyronie’s disease and significant erectile dysfunction that does not respond adequately to medical treatment may benefit from penile prosthesis implantation.

The prosthesis can restore rigidity, and additional straightening procedures may be performed when necessary.

The EAU recommends penile prosthesis implantation, with or without additional straightening procedures, for appropriately selected men with Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction that does not respond to pharmacological treatment.

Can Peyronie’s Disease Be Completely Cured?

Treatment can significantly improve symptoms and sexual function, but no treatment guarantees complete restoration of the penis to its original appearance.

Treatment goals generally include:

• Reducing pain
• Correcting significant curvature
• Preserving or restoring sexual function
• Treating erectile dysfunction
• Improving quality of life

Our urologist discuss the expected benefits, limitations and possible complications before treatment.

Can Peyronie’s Disease Cause Infertility?

Peyronie’s disease does not usually directly stop sperm production.

However, severe curvature can make sexual intercourse difficult or impossible.

As a result, some couples may experience difficulty conceiving naturally if intercourse cannot occur effectively. NIDDK lists difficulty fathering a child as a possible complication when intercourse becomes difficult.

If conception has become difficult, both partners may require an appropriate fertility evaluation.

Peyronie’s Disease and Mental Health

Penile curvature can affect more than physical function.

Some men experience:

• Anxiety about sexual performance
• Reduced confidence
• Relationship stress
• Embarrassment
• Reduced sexual desire
• Emotional distress

These concerns are real and deserve attention.

Discussing the condition openly with our doctor and partner can help reduce unnecessary anxiety and improve communication.

Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Peyronie’s Disease?

There is currently no proven diet or lifestyle program that can completely prevent Peyronie’s disease.

However, maintaining overall sexual and cardiovascular health remains important.

You can support general health by:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Exercising regularly
• Controlling diabetes
• Managing blood pressure
• Avoiding smoking
• Limiting excessive alcohol
• Seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction
• Avoiding unnecessary penile trauma

Most importantly, avoid forceful manipulation or bending of an erect penis.

What Should You Avoid If You Have Peyronie’s Disease?

Avoid:

• Forceful attempts to straighten the penis
• Unsupervised stretching techniques
• Unproven supplements
• Unregulated “penis straightening” products
• Self-injection
• Delaying evaluation because of embarrassment

If a treatment claims to permanently straighten the penis without proper medical evaluation, discuss it with our qualified urologist before trying it.

When Should You See a Urologist?

Consider seeing our urologist if you notice:

• A new penile curve
• A hard lump or plaque
• Pain during erections
• Penile shortening
• Hourglass narrowing
• Difficulty with sexual intercourse
• Erectile dysfunction
• Increasing curvature
• Anxiety or distress related to the condition

You do not need to wait until the curvature becomes severe.

An early assessment can help establish whether the condition is changing and whether monitoring or treatment is appropriate.

How Jyoti Hospital Can Help

At Jyoti Hospital, Gurugram, our urology team can evaluate men experiencing penile curvature, erectile dysfunction and other male sexual-health concerns.

Evaluation may include:

• Detailed medical history
• Sexual-health assessment
• Physical examination
• Assessment of penile curvature
• Erectile-function assessment
• Penile Doppler ultrasound when clinically indicated
• Discussion of conservative treatment
• Discussion of injection-based options where appropriate
• Surgical evaluation for selected patients

Because Peyronie’s disease varies significantly between individuals, our urologist can help select an approach based on the severity and stability of the condition, erectile function, penile anatomy and your treatment goals.

Final Thoughts

Peyronie’s disease causes scar tissue inside the penis that can result in penile curvature, pain, shortening, erectile dysfunction and difficulty with sexual intercourse.

The condition varies significantly between men. Some men have mild symptoms that require only monitoring, while others may benefit from traction therapy, injections, treatment for erectile dysfunction or surgery.

Importantly, you do not need to feel embarrassed about seeking medical help. Our urologist can evaluate the curvature, determine whether the disease is active or stable, assess erectile function and discuss treatment options suited to your situation.

If you notice a new penile curve, plaque, painful erection or difficulty during sexual intercourse, consider consulting a urologist at Jyoti Hospital, Gurugram for appropriate evaluation.

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FAQs

1. Is Peyronie’s disease dangerous?
   • Peyronie’s disease is not cancer and is generally not life-threatening. However, significant curvature can interfere with sexual intercourse and may be associated with erectile dysfunction and emotional distress.
2. Can Peyronie’s disease go away naturally?
   • Pain may decrease and the condition may stabilize, but significant curvature does not always disappear. A urologist can determine whether observation or active treatment is appropriate.
3. Can Peyronie’s disease cause penile shortening?
   • Yes. Some men notice shortening or changes in the shape of the penis.
4. Can penile traction help Peyronie’s disease?
   • Traction therapy may help reduce deformity or preserve/improve penile length in selected patients, but the evidence has limitations. A urologist should guide its use.
5. Can Peyronie’s disease affect fertility?
   • It does not usually directly impair sperm production. However, severe curvature can make sexual intercourse difficult or impossible, which can make natural conception more difficult.