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Bent penis
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bent-penis/MY00759
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Definition
Some men have a penis that curves to the side, upward or downward when erect. This is common, and a bent penis in most men isn't a problem. Generally, a bent penis is only a cause for concern if your erections are painful or if the curvature of your penis interferes with sex.
Causes
When you become sexually aroused, blood flows into sponge-like spaces inside your penis, expanding and stiffening it. A bent penis generally occurs when these spaces don't expand evenly. Most often, this is due to normal differences in penis anatomy, but sometimes scar tissue or another problem causes a bent penis and painful erections.
Possible underlying causes of a bent penis include:
- Autoimmune disorder
- Certain medications, particularly beta blockers
- Inherited fibrous tissue (collagen) abnormality
- Injury to the penis
- Normal differences in penis anatomy
- Peyronie's disease (a curved erection caused by one of a number of underlying conditions)
When to see a doctor
In most cases, a bent penis doesn't require treatment. However, if you have a severely bent penis that causes pain or interferes with sex, see a doctor. You may need to see a doctor who specializes in sexual and urinary problems (urologist).
- Ferri FF. Peyronie's disease. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa. Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1142647106&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0135&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0135&uniqId=238832862-3. Accessed April 7, 2011.
- Peyronie's disease. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peyronie/index.htm. Accessed April 6, 2011.
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