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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffPeyronie's disease symptoms may appear suddenly or may develop gradually. The most common signs and symptoms include:
- Scar tissue. The scar tissue (plaques) associated with Peyronie's disease can be felt under the skin of the penis as flat lumps or a band of hard tissue.
- A significant bend to the penis. Your penis may be curved upward, downward or bent to one side. In some cases, the erect penis has an "hourglass" appearance, with a tight, narrow band around the shaft.
- Erection problems. Peyronie's disease may cause problems getting or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction).
- Shortening of the penis. Your penis may become shorter as a result of Peyronie's disease.
- Pain. You may have pain during an erection, only during an orgasm or anytime your penis is touched.
The curvature associated with Peyronie's disease may gradually worsen. At some point, it generally stops getting worse. In most men, pain during erections improves within one to two years but the scar tissue and curvature remain. Rarely, both the curvature and pain associated with Peyronie's disease improve without treatment.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if pain or curvature of your penis prevents you from having sex or causes you anxiety. An accurate diagnosis is needed to determine whether treatment may help and to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
- Peyronie's disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peyronie. Accessed May 31, 2011.
- Brant WO, et al. Peyronie's disease: Diagnosis and medical management. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 23, 2011.
- Brant WO, et al. Surgical management of Peyronie's disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 23, 2011.
- Kumar R. Surgical and minimally invasive treatments for Peyronie's disease. Current Opinion in Urology. 2009;19:589.
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