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Bent penis
By Mayo Clinic staffMayo Clinic Health Manager
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Definition
In most cases, a bent penis doesn't require treatment. Men's penises vary in shape and size, and it's common to have a slightly bent penis when you have an erection. Your penis may be bent to the side, upward or downward. However, you may need to see a doctor if your bent penis interferes with sex or causes pain. A bent penis is often a sign of Peyronie's disease, a scarring inside the penis that has several possible causes.
Causes
A bent penis generally occurs when hollow spaces inside the penis don't expand evenly during an erection. When you become sexually aroused, blood flows into these spaces. This flow of blood causes an erection by expanding, straightening and stiffening the penis. Scar tissue or another problem inside the penis can cause uneven expansion of the spaces inside your penis, leading to a bent penis. Possible causes of a bent penis include:
- Autoimmune disorder
- Inherited collagen abnormality
- Injury to the penis
- Medications, especially beta blockers
- Peyronie's disease
When to see a doctor
In most cases, a bent penis doesn't require evaluation or treatment. However, a severely bent penis or curvature that causes pain or interferes with sexual activity should be checked out by a doctor who specializes in sexual and urinary problems (urologist).
- Peyronie's Disease. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peyronie/index.htm. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Briganti A, et al. Peyronie's disease: A review. Current Opinion in Urology. 2003;13:417.
