Forum

April 2012

My peyronies has been stable for five years. It is a 70 –90 degree bend upward 1/3 back from the tip. I decided against a recommended Nesbit because of the loss of length. My wife and I have worked out a satisfactory position for intercourse.  However I would like to “get things straighter”.  I  have had the normal treatments of Vitamin E, transdermal and injections of verapamil to no avail. Would an extender help?  Does Viagra exacerbate peyronies? Clinical trials.gov list several studies with Xiaflex including one “open label” with you.  Do you know when the results of these tests will  be available and when Xiaflex will be available for general treatment of peyronies??

An extender, if used regularly, may help a little bit. Viagra does not exacerbate  PD.  Early Xiaflex results will probably be published in the June edition of the Journal of Urology.  If this drug passes FDA approval, it could conceivably be available in early 2013. MG

Do you, or any of your forum correspondents, have any experience with a set of enzyme treatments called Serracor ?

I will put this out to the readers. MG

March 2012

I have had peyronies for about a 18 months.  Some mild curvature and small dents.  The other day I noticed another plaque spot that i don't think was there before.  How quickly do these plaques form after an injury?  Also can you give me the name of any doctors who specialize in this in CT or NY city.  I hve seen two urologists and neither of them seems to be proactive in trying something to reduce or eliminate the plaque.

Plaques usually take several months to develop.  In NYC I would recommend Dr. John Mulhall at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. MG

Hello, I am also very interested in what you hear back from your colleagues re: quinolone antibiotics as a possible cause, as I developed the condition shortly after finishing a course of Cipro for prostatitis. Also, might there be a CPPS/prostatitis connection? I saw my urologist recently and have a very enlarged prostate, which was briefly massaged and prescribed another antibiotic which seemed to help dramaticaly with the pain in my penis. It's my understanding that CPPS has an inflammatory process which is similar to Peyronies, with flare ups followed by periods where it eases, etc.

I polled our group of urologist in the International Society for Sexual Medicine and no one was aware of a connection between quinolones and PD but they were going to look for it. There is no question that flare ups of prostatitis can worsen Peyronies symptoms.  MG

I am 46 years old have had significant curvature of my penis for about 9 months....there is no pain but it does interfere with my sex life-- I've tried stuff like vitamin E and arthritis medicine I read can help but, and there has been slight improvement after a short time of taking the medicine; but several months later, any more progress has not happened... I've read on some other drugs like neprinol, serracor, and vitamin b10....what is your opinion of these medicines?

They are unproven but probably harmless.  MG

I am 25 years old and have been with my girlfriend for 5 years and have not been with anyone else in that time.  I noticed a small bump inside the shaft of my penis a couple months ago and it is tender.  It then aches whenever I get an erection.  Is this Peyronies Disease?  It doesnt really hurt if I masturbate but whenever I get aroused and it feels like blood is going to my penis that is when it aches the most.  Also any bending of the penis at all when erected is painful.  I have not noticed any form of curvature at all.  Is this  a permanent situation and is there anything I can do to help with the pain during erections.

This could be early PD, so it might be a good idea to consult with a urologist as sometimes medications can help in this early phase.  MG

February 2012

I suffered a trauma to my pennis during normal intercourse which was diagnosed as Peyronies.I had both my PCP and Urologist confirm the diagnosis. The Urologist proscribed me vitamin E which I took for about 5 months. No effect was noticed. Then I conducted my own research and found a medication, named Serracor-NK (150 Cap), Serra RX80 which I purchased on my own expense and also used for about 4 months. The medications seemed to have minor effect in reducing some pain. However, the minute I stopped taking them, the pain returned as if the injury was new. Then, I began researching and found a laser light treatment which was being used for other issues and began using it. The result was immediate. Within few days, I was able to have normal sexual experience without the pain and discomfort. I have been using this treatment modality now for over 6 months and have had not a single bad symptom. I am able to function normally and the bending of the penis that we beginning to form has now subsided significantly and become hardly apparent. More importantly, I can feel the reduction/ rejuvenation in the internal scar tissues. As a patient, I highly recommend the treatment and would be glad for refer anyone to this laser treatment.

Others may be interested to read this, though studies done in the past have failed to demonstrate major effects from laser light treatments. MG

Im a 58 year old and I started to notice a curve developing in my penis, I went to the first Urologist and he told me that I should take Vitamin E and not to pursue surgery. The curve Started to get worse, so I went to NY to see the Head of a Urology team and they diagnosed me with a 90 degree curve up ward, they then decided that an 4 1/2 hour operation(3/16/2010) to remove the scar tissue would fix my problem. NOT. Well after lifting the nerve bundle and getting about 3/4 of the scar tissue out they then replaced it with a parabolic patch, all seemed ok for a few days but eventually the 90 degree curve came back plus now my erections pull closer to my body instead of sticking out.  Iv'e been to 3 more urologists and had additional dopplers done to no avail, they say that theres nothing that can be done. The parabolic patch was supposed to be pliable. I think that they must have used one that was to thick because it is stronger than the old scar tissue. Now Im Forever Bent. BTW I have tried all the Devices known to man and even invented some of my own to try and stretch the patch but no luck, they say the only way possible to fix the problem is to take it apart and put a pump system in, gee thanks Iv'e been Married 30 years and we HAD a very active sex life now its once in a blue moon and its painful for both of us.    

This is a difficult situation.  Was the patch natural tissue from your body or was it artificial?  I agree that an inflatable implant in conjunction with a procedure to expand or open up the graft may be an option.  MG

I am a 18 year male with a severe upward angle and unable to have normal relations.  My family Doctor sent me to a urologist with no experience with Peyronie's disease and I would greatly appreciate a referral to a knowlegable specialist.  I tried to use the links, but Pennsylvannia came up empty?  Please help...

I would suggest you widen the search to include New York City.  MG

    Hello underwent Green Lite Laser procedure in July of 2011 to improve my urine flow.  My recuperation from this procedure was traumatic, undergoing bladder spasms and extreme general discomfit, ironically the very symptoms similiar to what I had been experiencing due to an enlarged prostate prior to my surgery.  By December of that year I had a full-blown case of Peyronies.  Prior to the Peyronies diagnosis my urologist told me a weak and sensitive bladder was now the cause of my weak urine flow.  Is my Peyronies  affliction caused by the Green-Light procedure???

Endoscopic procedures or instrumentation of the urethra (as takes place with a green light operation) can be associated with the onset of Peyronies disease.  MG

Im 15, and after abt 6th grade my penis started curving some.  it doesnt bother me, and girls i've been with didnt hav a problem with it. But my girlfriend right now was talkin abt how she doesnt like curved ones, and it annoyed me so im determined to get itt straight again!  Is there any way that dnt cost anything or am i just gonna hav to make her deal with it?

If it has worked well with other partners I think you should lean on her to deal with it.  MG

My family doctor recently sent me to a Uroligist with a suspected case of peyronies as I have a small nodule right in the middle of my penis just behind the head. I have no curviature as a result of this nodule but I do eperience considerable pain when very erect. The Urologist injected my penis to become erect and them gave me a magazine and said I needed to stimulate myself further to get very erect so he could examine me better. I could understand this but then he came back in and said I needed to ejaculate for him to fully examine me at which point he brought out a vibrator told me to lie down and used this to bring me to ejaculation. Is this normal? it seemed very odd to me he needed to do this. He then told me not to ejaculate for atleast three days prior to my next visit as he would need to do the same procedure each visit. Please let me know if this is a normal procedure as I was very surprised by this and have not seen any mention of this in my online searches.

That is all extremely suspect and unnecessary. You need to find another urologist ASAP.  MG

Any progress found on the use of Xiafil which is now in a clinical trial for use with Peyronies? It has been successfully used foe Depuyten’s ( the curving of fingers).

Clinical trials are ongoing at this time.  A report on the first phase of testing will appear in the Journal of Urology in June of this year. MG

I'd like to hear from a person who has had non surgical, successful treatment of Peyronie's curvature.

I open this to our readers.  MG

I have read that surgery may cause PD.  What types of surgery besides a prostatectomy may cause  it?

Surgery involving passage of scopes or instruments through the urethra. MG

I am 22 years old, and I have a penis that is curved upwards and to the left, so kind of diagonally upwards. There is no pain or anything, but the top side of my penis is much harder when erect than the bottom bit. Is this indicative of peyronie's?

No, this is just a mild form of congenital curvature and probably does not need any kind of treatment.  MG

Thanks for the forum; it has been a great help during these troubling times. I am 54 years old and I was diagnosed with PD in 2009.  I had surgery for the PD back in January 2011. The doctor took a graft from my side and replaced the scar tissue with the graft. Everything went find with the surgery but I have couple questions. I lose my erection during intercourse, how can I prevent this from happening? (Exercise or drugs) Also this has never happen to me before the surgery. Next question, I lost about 1¼ inch, I went from 5 ½ to 4 ¼. Can I regain the length back? (With an exercise and what type of exercise or plastic surgery). I believe my wife and I can live with the 4 ¼ but losing the erection during intercourse is the biggest problem we face.

You may be able to regain some of the lost length using a vacuum pump device. Either drugs (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) or a constriction band may help to prevent loss of erection.  MG

Does PD also show up on hands?  I have Dupetrynes on both hands but also multiple non Dupe fibrous nodules.

Yes though technically it is not PD but Dupuytrens.  That and Peyronies are closely related. MG

My doctor diagnosed me with PD about three years ago, at 36. Said it would probably go away on its own, which it did, sort of. I could feel the lumps, then on the right side, feel like they  over to the bottom side, where they no longer  caused any curving. Some months later, they seemed to have moved To the left side, making the problem worse than before. Does this sound normal?

Yes that sounds like what I would expect  to see. MG

I am 23 years old and have developed a hard plaque on the left side of my penis just below the head. About 4 years ago my girlfriend landed on my penis and I immediately felt pain. I didn't have any symptoms until about a year later when I realized there was a bump on the side of my penis. The bump was semi-soft and I was able to massage it away with some lotion. This would happen intermittently (about once every few months) but I thought nothing of it. About a week ago after having sex I noticed a hard band of tissue in the same place it used to be, only now it is much harder and can't be massaged away and even causes discomfort during sex. My penis does not bend, though. My question is, do I have early Peyronie's? If so, is there a chance that the hard plaque will go away after it's gotten to this point? Or am I just on track to have a bent penis later on in life?

Based on your age and the slow progression you describe, there is a good chance this will not cause permanent problems.  MG

Recently, I decided that it would be in my best interest to discuss with my doctor something that I had noticed for a while already. It took a bit of courage, but it was for my own benefit. I had noticed that my penis does not extend straight ahead as, I imagine, it should. My doctor did not take a look at it, but he did diagnose it as Peyronie's. I accepted his diagnosis as fact. He also told me that, as of yet, all available treatments come with a degree of risk not worth taking in my situation. He did suggest, though, that I try Vitamin E, as it is popularly suggested and carries no known risk.Just today, I stumbled upon your support website. In the literature regarding the disease, it is described as a curvature in the penis. This got me thinking. My penis is not curved. It just extends at an angle and, thus, it does not point straight ahead, but the shaft itself is not curved or bent. Where it exits the trunk, it exits at an angle, but nowhere in the shaft itself is there an abnormality. Is this condition included in Peyronie's disease?

This doesn’t sound Like PD so much as a variation in the way the ligaments attach the penis to the pubic bone – nothing to worry about.  MG

About four months ago I noticed after masturbating that my penis had a slight sharp bend to the left (maybe 5-10 degrees), and that there was a slight ache at the base of the penis on the other (right) side and into the right testicle.  Additionally, the base of the penis has a slight swelling (mostly on the left side) that I wasn't aware of previously.  The condition has not changed since then (including the slight ache), and I'm worried that I may need to do something about it.  I went to the hospital and was examined by a nurse, who said that unless there was bleeding coming from the urethra that their urologist wouldn't take a look at it.  Does this seem like Peyronie's

Neither the pattern of events, the ache on the opposite side nor the testicular pain sound like PD.  MG

January 2012

I had a prostatectomy for cancer about 18 months ago.  My surgeon did not have any type of rehab protocol in place, and what I’ve done is pretty much on my own; the surgeon’s PA has been helping me but at my direction for the most part.  I did some Cialis for awhile after surgery.  After about 6 months I tried suppositories, but discontinued them due to discomfort and lack of good results.  I moved on to VED, then daily Viagra, then injections, now a combo of all three based on a Baylor protocol I found.  I have also tried some nutritional supplements such as L-arginine.  I have not tried vitamin e.  The suppositories and injections create erections whenever I’ve used them.  I started to get erections at about the 14 month mark with the Viagra and stimulation. My erections are perhaps 50% of pre-surgery both length-wise and girth-wise when I use an injection (have tried varying amounts but the result is pretty much the same), or significant stimulation with the Viagra.  I have a significant “up” curvature when I do get an erection; this has been the case since any type of erection returned.  From what I’ve now read Peyronie’s can occur from prostate surgery.  When I use the VED, there isn’t the up curvature, but a noticeable “waistband” near the tip occurs.  The VED gets me to about 80% pre-op length and girth. I don’t know if there is anything else I can do other than stay the course for a few more months until I hit 2 years and then re-evaluate.  It sounds like I didn’t do enough early on to avoid fibrosis.  Any additional guidance would be appreciated.  For example, I’ve seen reference to Size Genetics Penis Extenders.

I think your regimen with meds and VED is excellent.  There will probably be further improvement; progress in this situation is slow but likely. You are correct, PD is more common in men after radical prostatectomy.  MG

I am 37 years old and have had PD for almost 2 years now and have about a 70 degree bend to the left when fully erect.  When I initially saw a urologist he said to give it a year and it may go away.  I waited about a year and a half and finally went back to seek some treatment.  I have now had 6 pretty painful sessions of injections with Verapamil over the last 4 months and my condition has not gotten any better (or worse either).  My question is when should I give up on continuing treatment on the Verapamil as my Urologist said the most treatments he can do is 12 but he seems to be losing hope the last couple times I’ve gone in since there has not been any improvement?  Any other treatment you may recommend I look at before possibly committing to surgery?  Thanks in advance for your input. 

My practice is not to push verapamil injections if the first 6 -8 injections do not produce results.  You may want to wait until the Xiaflex clinical trial data comes out.  MG

Hi 2 weeks ago I took a male enhancement pill that I presume mesed me up. Yes it was not fda aproved so just tried one to see what was the hole deal and supprise my gf. after sex I had an uncontroled erection that I manage con control with a cold pack for at least 5 minutes. Next day I was feeling flushed and with a head ache. penis was going up and down during the day next day my penis was shriveld and cold and pale looking also lost sensation. Do u think I messed it up using the pill or while I was trying to control the errection? It has being 2 weeks and the 3 urologist that I have seen so far say that is a healthy penis yet doesn't look like before. Having a bit of issues with libido and getting it up. Doctors say its all in my head but it doesn't feel like it was before. Plese help.

This does not sound like PD – probably best to return to one of the urologists. MG

hey. ive been lying on my stomach for awhile and, i usually get my penis bent when its hard. from gettin and  erection andi think it put and indent in my penis, causing it to go smaller possibly from loss blood flow from the penisgettin bent. im scared, i canfeel it bend underneath my ballsack.....uhm scrodum i cant spell it

I am worried, recently I have noticed that the top of the penis has become hard and sore. the shaft also becomes sore on the outside.

There seems to be some secretion especially at night. I am 68 and sexually active but with only one faithful partner(my wife of equal age

Masturbation is used on occasion.  What is this? What do I do

I’m 27 years old and  I’ve been having some weird problems and I can’t seem to get straight answers from any of my doctors. About a month ago I experienced a sudden onset of traveling pains in the penis while in a flaccid state one night. They were like a pressure, or a sudden stabbing sensation that would go away quickly but return. This lasted maybe an hour or so. I noticed very quickly that the large veins on either side of my penis were severely engorged and ropey. The one on the right in particular was practically rock hard towards the neck of the penis making it look like a tumor, even when flaccid. It was very clearly the vein.

I noticed that in almost all instances of the pains in the following days the area of the pain would have an engorged vein. In the weeks that followed new veins started appearing across my penis, places where the skin had been opaque suddenly had fat blue veins and varicose ones popping up following bouts of pain. I seem to still be able to get erections deliberately. I can’t feel any irregularities in my erectile tissue where the pains occur. This has been going on for a month and seems to be more infrequent, and essentially seems to be improving with some Aleve and patience.

Also, I had never even *seen* my dorsal vein before a few weeks ago when I noticed a weird bit of geography while my penis was flaccid. Like, it was really hard and firm even though my penis was in a relaxed state. Whenever I see the doctor my penis is on its best behavior and none of these symptoms are active. My urologist gave me a quick physical (I mean quick, just squeeze and done) and said he didn’t seem to feel anything of note and that it could be Peyronies onset. The nurse practitioner thinks it’s Prostatitis. Does any of that sound like Peyronies?

No.  MG

I was diagnosed with Peyronies disease two years ago by three different doctors. All three said there was no effective treatment for PD but approximately four months after the injury, one doctor prescribed a vacuum pump, 15 minutes per day of stretching. This same doctor gave me an injection to cause an erection for an examination and told me I had a very mild case and it would clear up on its own within a year. It did not. I never had any pain, started with a small bump after an injury during sex. Progressed to an hourglass shape (this was the shape when the exam with an erection was done) and finally ended with a long neck bottle type shape. Thick at the base, then narrows on each side about halfway up and continues to the top (this was about 10 months after the injury). The third doctor told me at the 10 month point that I had a moderate case of PD. Cannot achieve a lasting erection without one of the ED drugs. I'm not sure if its from the PD, side effects of blood pressure medicine, or the worry that I wont have an erection. I am wondering after two years if ending the use of the pump will have any impact on the PD. Other then the decrease in thickness halfway up the penis, I do not have any bending or any significant loss of length. Will I have bending or shorting of the penis after 2 years if I stop using the pump, or should I just continue using it? Thanks for the great site, it is the only place to get good information about PD.

After 2 years I would guess you situation will probably have stabilized.  You could stop using the pump, with the option to re start if any changes were noted.  MG

I can get an erection but when my penis is hard or soft it feels like I have a lump in the center which is round and hard. when I have an erection my penis looks like it is being choked right in the center. it looks all bent out of shape and deformed all though I am still able to cum what is wrong and how do I fix this

This sounds like PD to me, and I would suggest being evaluated by a urologist as the first step. MG

I'm a 35 year old male. About three months ago I noticed some slight pain during an erection near the base of the head on the ventral side. As the pain, subsided I noticed a slight - maybe 2 to 5 degree bend at mid shaft where and possibly a slight change in diameter before the bend. I'm not sure what the plaque associated with peyronies feels like but I think I can detect something there (should it be obvious?) that is slightly harder than the surround tissue and flat. During sex last night, I could feel slight pain where at that spot. With peyronies where is the pain usually felt when it occurs. I felt like the sex we were having was bending my penis harder than usual in the area that I think plaque might exist...Of course I'm not sure what the plaque will feel like. I bought some vitamin E today after reading you blog. Should I wait and see? Do you think this could be early peyronies?

This does not sound typical for PD, and I would guess it will eventually resolve.  MG

I have a hard pebble type bump starting at the head of my penis what is this?  I've gotten checked for STDs and I have none.  So what could this possibly be?

It could be PD. MG

Hey, I’m a twenty years old and noticed two years ago that my penis curved left and the curved only got worse during the time and I’m worried that it won’t come right, is it best to go see a doctor about this? When erected it has a left curve about 30 degrees and sometimes very painful when erected is this a sign of PD? Will surgery fix this problem and will it do anything to the size of my penis and what is the best treatment for this?

At your age this is likely congenital curvature not PD, which can be quite effectively remedied with surgery – with a 30 degree bend, length loss would be expected to be 1 cm or less.  MG

Three years ago I had sever peyronies, and compete 180 degree turn, making it impossible to have sex with my wife, I went on to the local surgeon and showed it to him and he said he could fix it, just like that. I went into surgury three days later and now I have a short stumpy and BROKE penis. The staples he left in there hurt me daily. I would be more than happy to attach a photo to any email for any doctor that can help me. It will get hard but us so very short and it will not HOLD at the point where the surgery was done. It just fli[ flops to any direction as if it has nothing to hold it up?

 I am 60 amd my wife is 55 and we really do not want to quit loving each other in this manner?

Is there any hope for me at all to get back to a better life?

Yes, though it sounds like an inflatable implant might be necessary – please find an experienced reconstructive surgeon for this complex revision.  MG

I was skinny dipping in my hot tube with the jets on and I thrusted the jets. I also jumped in a pile of snow. I preceded inside and performed self stimulation both on my coach and in my hot tub but I ejaculated indoors. Shortly afterwards I noticed my penis to have a greatly increased circumference looking "fat" or "chode." There is no discoloration and minimal pain. I can urinate just fine as well. Do I need to go see a doctor and if not how long will it take to heal?

I don’t think this is PD – it will probably get better if you take it easy. MG

In the last six months I seem to have developed a classic case of PD. I’m 58 years old and six months ago I started feeling a slight irritation in my penis during erections. I didn’t think too much about it until a week later when I noticed both a curve in my penis and some loss of length in my erections. What little pain there was, is now gone and the curvature is not severe. ED is no problem and sex is still good, but my wife would like to have my penis back the way it was and wants me to see a doctor. One question I have is, occasionally in my life I have had keloids, once from a vaccination and once from a cut. Can that scar tissue condition be connected in any way to the PD? If so, in time my keloids disappeared on their own, so maybe the PD will too. My inclination is to just wait and see. I see no reason to visit a doctor. Your site and others don’t suggest a lot of successful treatment options for mild PD. Thank you for providing this site and any thoughts you might have.

It is interesting that even though Keloids and peyronies are both abnormal scarring, they don’t necessarily seem to be connected. I would agree with you that if you are functional there is no need to seek medical attention at this point.  MG

I am 51 & about 3-4 weeks ago I noticed my erection had changed shape, causing the tip to curve toward me.   When flaccid I can detect a distinct, flat lump imnside, about 3cm x 1cm x .5cm.  I am presuming this is certainly PD, & the most iikely cause I can see is mastubrating when not particurarly erect, and my thumb has irritated the tissue by pressinig to hard.  I did have intercourse a few months ago, but noticed nothing unusual.  Is there anything I can do to prevent a worsening of the condition?   I am trying not to let it worry me as my married sex life hasnt been much for a long time, but my wife may say something discouraging when she sees it!

Don’t turn on the lights!  Seriously, it may be early PD and seeing a urologist would be a good idea. MG

I am 18,  and i have a little problem. two days ago, i masturbated really long...  The next day, my penis has swollen, and i can't pull my foreskin back, as if there is too much and thick skin...

today i noticed that that my penis is bent downwards while flaccid, (just below the head). i can't seem to get an erection today, but there is no discoloration or any pain. also, my penis seems shorter.

I really don't know what to do.=

This is a temporary condition, with curvature coming on overnight due to the thick, irritated skin – it will go away. MG

Im 16 and had a very traumatic diving accident 3 years ago in the summer after 7th grade. In the time afterwards I was diagnosed with nerve damage in my neck so the messages my brain sends to my heart are messed with. Now, periodically, randomly, I have extremely high blood pressure. Risking various heart issues. My doctors prescribed atenolol tablets two 25 mg tablets twice a day morning and night. Later I was prescribed clonidine 0.1 mg tablets. 2 at night and 1 in the morning. The accident was also a head injury giving me a bit of ADHD so now I take 30 mg of vyvanse. All of these meds are mixed and these are exact dosages. I have noticed beads of scar tissue and a bit of a lean and a curve of maybe 10 degrees to the right while I'm erect when I'm flaccid its non-existent. I honestly don't know if its the medicines because no sight goes this in depth with the drug mixing side effects. Is it peyronie's and if it is are the meds causing it. Being I'm 15 I would very much like to avoid this disease obviously because I'm young.

If you can feel hard beads in the penis it may be PD, and I would advise you to see a urologist who can make the diagnosis.  If that is what you have, you should see if your doctor can get you off the beta blocker (atenolol) and use a different drug.  MG

dear sir . im 67 about a month ago i developed a severe  up ward arch of peymonies. my veteran adm doctor is sending me to the major v.a. hosp in gainesville fl. in 2wks. my main question is my doctor has me on mega doses of vitamin c and d for over the last 2 yrs because of minor osteo perosis. could these large doses have caused my peymonies?

I don’t think so. MG

I am 65 and have been following PD blogs and other information on this matter.I discoverd the scar less than a year ago it started with a slight sensation when urinating and erections. Initionly thought it might be an slight infection but later on the scat started to appear.  I  looked up in the MIMS but none of the " brand names " seem to be recorded in this medical product text book and in the index nothing on PD.

As a South African I would like to buy local products due to the high cost of importing medication but chemists seem unaware of topical creams to apply to the scar. I use Vit E 1000 daly+ with Salmon oil + other multi vitamins and use only purified water. Do not use alchol or smoke and live a healthy lifestyle.

I want to buy the Handbook to assist with self treatment but worried that medication that you might recomend is unavailable localy.

My brief history. I am 58 years old and my Peyronie's disease did seem to appear around the age of 55, like you have stated. It started as a "dent" in the base of the shaft that now seems to almost extend around the entire circumference of the base of the shaft of my penis.

I took Vitamin E for a short period but DC'd it due to not being certain what dosage I should take?

 I also wondered if certain types of treatments such as moist heat packs, increasing or decreasing the inducing of erections numbers, massage to the site of the plaque or ?, would have any benefit or has there been any anecdotal reports of such "home remedies" having a positive impact on the disorder? 

I am not considering surgery due to the fact that even though it does have a mild impact on my sexual performance, having decreased the diameter and length, it does not seem severe enough to outweigh the cost/post surg. risk factors.

Unfortunately there are not a lot of effective home remedies for Peyronies disease.  Regular stretching or traction may be beneficial if done consistently.  MG

I suffered from ED for 10 years and no doctor really know what the reason behind that. I tried Cialis and it helped me but not much. Last week i visited a doctor outside my country and he took a blood sample and he said every thing is ok. He checked my penis without erection and without ultrasound . He said i have early PD called plaque calcification but no curvature shape in the penis and no pain in sex . I was 23 years when i had ED and now i am 33 years. I was masturbating too much just before getting ED . He prescribed for me : vitsmine E , colchicine and X atral XL. Questions : why plaque calcification causes ED and how i got it when i was 23 years.?  For how long i should take the medicines to feel the difference and how long to cure .?

It is not clear why you developed calcification at such an early age, but these can harden the tissue that normally must be soft to close off the veins during erection and prevent the blood from leaking out of the erection chambers. You may need to stay on the medicines for quite some time to see effects.  MG

It happened that my penis doesn’t seem to be in the normal shape and morphologically, it appears distorted. It seems slightly tilted from it’s base and also appears little bent from it’s above portion (in erected form) as well. Since, It’s difficult to narrate in the words, I have attached the images as well. I guess that's the case of Peyronies. I have this defect for many years. I don't feel any pain. I am unmarried with the age of 31. I have no sexual experience ever. The rate of masturbation is also normal (may be thrice in 2 months). I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) since 1999, and I have isolated nature, with least social contacts. I haven't visited any physician yet, and you are the first person, whom I am sharing this problem. The idea of surgery is terrible. Is there no or less hope for the cure by using medicine (including homeopathic)? I understand that a sexologist can answer them better after a physical examination, but I request you to reply them on the basis of your experience or probabilities. I am extremely depressed after listening about the surgery based treatment.

We consider bending of less than 15 degrees to be normal, so I am not sure you are in need of any operations.  On the homeopathic front, I would suggest daily single dose vitamin E to keep things stable.  MG

December 2011

That oddest thing occurred about a month ago; I noticed a dent in my penis, starting from the very top and essentially curving to the base. However, this is in the flaccid state. When erect my penis goes back essentially to “normal.” Normal for me meaning having a slight bend. This dent is sometimes present when flaccid and sometimes not depending on a given situation. Sometimes, when it’s really cold, the dent may be present, and sometimes when it’s cold it isn’t dented. Sometimes when it’s warm it appears like a natural flaccid penis This has been quite mysterious to me; I have no pain, no difficulty getting an erection, no “abnormal” bending, but there is this dent on occasion. Do you know what this is?

Probably some kind of mild localized inflammation.  With no palpable nodule and no effect on the erection, it doesn’t sound like Peyronies.  MG

I have a question. Im 28 years old and I have a slight left handed curvature to my penis (10-15 degrees max, maybe even less). However I have question. When I have an erection and I look down it from above I notice something that may or may not have ever been there. Really not sure. My penis "points" or "leans" to the left during erection (and to a very small degree during the flaccid state). I don't mean this in the same sense as "curving" or "bending" to the left. As I have stated, I do have a small ACTUAL curvature that I would never ever try to "bend back" - further more, during an erection it just wouldn't be possible. However the "pointing" or "leaning" (from the base), is easily straightened up just by taking my hand and pointing the base of the penis straight out from the midline of my body and when I let go it returns back to its left pointing orientation again.... This is obviously what happens during sex with my wife - no worries, no pain, no nothing associated with it... I mean is this a variation of normal, this "pointing" or "leaning"??? That wouldn't necessarily be Peyronie's disease would it? Maybe just more tension on the ligament structure on the left side possibly? 

This is a normal variant based on ligament attachment to the pubic bone – not Peyronies.  MG

I would like to thank you for this forum! Something odd has happened lately, though I'm unsure if this just went unrealized before. My penis, since the latter stages of puberty, has had a slight curve to the left, certainly within the range of "normal." However, as I've noticed, sometimes when I am semi-erect my penis will have an hour-glass type distortion, or a dent type formation. This being said, sometimes it is present, other times it is not. I haven't had really too much pain, an occasional dull pain here or there around my penis and other places on my body, almost more of a general body ache. Upon getting an erection, this distortion "fills out" and is not longer present and that particular spot is no less rigid than the other parts of my penis. Also, sometimes my flaccid penis hangs to the left and has a slight, as mentioned before, hour-glass type distortion. I'm twenty-two, a virgin, and have noticed this only within the last three months, though I'm unsure if it was there before; There has been no rememberable trauma. Does this sound like Peyronie's disease to you?

No, it does not sound like anything to worry about.  MG

I'm 34, and I am pretty sure I have PD.  I've had trouble maintaining erections since my early 20s.  It's almost like filling a sink with water while the sink is leaking.  I can fill the sink but if I don't keep the faucet on, it drains rather quickly.  My penis when flaccid has developed a very strong twist to the left, easily more than 45 degrees.  When having sex, the very base of my penis on the left side, almost behind where my testicles hang, is prone to cracking if I am not careful.  Happens at least a couple times a year.  It's not usually very painful, although it has hurt before.  After sex, especially if it had cracked, that area is sometimes mildly sore for a few days afterwards.  When I have an erection, the base of my penis has become thinner than the middle, seemingly from lack of girth on the left side.  It does not twist as much when erect.  When standing my penis does not hang upwards or forwards, it hangs down and left now.  And if I leave it in that position without holding it up, I tend to lose my erection.  I don't seem to lose the erection as quickly if I am not upright and my penis is not hanging down that direction.  It feels almost like blood can't pump in properly, like a bent hose.  It has also developed a bend to the left at the base, and has become extremely vascular on the right side.  This may be from overcompensation as years of living with mild ED has made me develop quite strong "pump" muscles, and I repeatedly flex them a *lot* during intercourse to try and help get or keep an erection. It's actually gotten pretty ugly compared to how it used to look.  It has not effected my length, or my girth anywhere else except at the left of the base. My first question is, is this PD, ligament damage, a dislocation, a small hernia, or something else?  And if I re-crack it, is it likely to make symptoms worse or better or is it usually a non factor?  I don't know if cracking it breaks up the plaque and allows it t heal or if it breaks the plaque and creates more scar tissue.  I just really don't want the thing to get any uglier or more bent, and if there's a way I could stop relying on cialis to function normally I would be thrilled.  Does PD usually get progressively worse with age?  Is there anything I can do to fix this?  I would get surgery in a heartbeat if it would help me look and function a bit more normally.

This could be peyronies. There is a test, duplex Doppler ultrasound, that would help to sort out what is happening with penile blood flow. It sounds to me that repeat “cracking” could worsen the scarring.  MG 

I've been suffering from an injury for 3 weeks now and the combination of this injury and exams stress is tearing me apart. Here is my situation:  Basically two months ago, i started jelqing, got an ache near left testicle, so i went to the docs and they told me that i had a grade 2 varicocele so i assumed that the ache was caused my this. I continued jelqing and the pain remained somewhat constant.

One day I was stretching my flaccid (maybe slightly erect, i don't remember) penis upward REALLY hard (i know now know to never do this again) while kegeling do give a good stretch. Everything was fine until the next day I had a pretty bad ache near the base of my shaft (I still can't tell whether it's on the underside or top). The pain seems to be on the leftside closer to the upper (near inner) side of the base of the penis. Every since then, i've stopped all forms of PE/touching my penis till it would heal. Symptoms were improving but i masterbated after a week and a bit and the symptoms got bad again. Here is my concern:

I'm really hoping that this is just a strained ligament (definitely not torn since there was no sharp pain right at the point of stretching) but I'm starting to think that it could be a very small rupture in the layer of my tunica (because upwards stretched stresses mostly on the tunica). I can still get full erections but it hurts to touch that area/ sit for a long time. I can't find any buising or swelling but i found this on a urologist website and it's really getting to me:

"if there is a partial tear of one of the layers of the tunica rather than a rupture then these patients are able to have an erection again and do not have any bruising. However the healing of a partial tear is by fibrosis and the long-term consequence of this injury may be a traumatic curvature of the penis (1)" "in the few hours following the injury blood gradually seeps out of the ruptured tunica cavernosa and results in extensive bruising of the penis, scrotum and lower abdomen. At this stage there is also the development of pain" (this explains the delayed pain) My biggest fear is peyronie's disease. So my question is do you think i could have slightly ruptured and constantly aggrevated a layer of my tunica off of a hard upward kegel stretch? Everytime I touch it too hard, it aggrevates the problem and extends the recovery process could this be me constantly reopening the wound? There is no bend and the pain is the same if not worse when the penis is flaccid rather than erect. I have found a very small thin plaque just under the glans of my  penis but this appears less sensitive and definetly is not the area where the pain is. In fact it isn't even causing any noticeable bend at all. So do you think this will eventually develop into peyronie's?

I doubt it but to be safe I would “give it a rest” until all the pain resolves and then avoid activities that are painful.  MG

My penis is bent and it is difficult to maintain ejaculation to the end. And I believe it is preventing me from pregnanting my wife. Actually, toward the end of ejaculation I get really weak and the force to ejaculate is not just sufficient hence the semen does not go far enough.

Peyronies will affect the shape of the penis but not ejaculation – something else is going on here.  Mg

I am a 32 year old male and I am trying to decifer if I am developing peyronie's disease.  About 3 weeks ago after a day of repeated masterbation (a little unusual for me to do a lot in one day) the next day I noticed a lump or bump about the size of a beebee underneatth the skin to the left side underneath the head of my penis just above where I was circumsized at birth.  When flaccid it is faintly present if present at all, but with an erection it is prominent and hard.  It is underneath the skin, so it does not come to a head on the skin, and to me it appears flesh colored.  To the right of it appears to be a vein with some burst blood vessels underneath the skin.  I began self medicating with ibuprohen 200mg per day and vitamin e 400 mg per day.  Of course the blood vessels have not gone away because of the thinning of my blood with the ibuprophen and vitamin e, but yesterday I noticed another lump but a little different.  It is in the middle of the shaft of my penis and hard but not raised under the skin but more flat.  It is still under the skin and whitish in color.  It could have been there a long time I just now noticed it because now I am looking and inspecting.  I am concerned I may have peyronie's disease or the onset because of the two lumps.  Both can barely be seen or felt when flaccid but can be with an erection.  I have no pain with erections, urination, no curvature, slight hour glass when I am working up an erection (always had that), but once erect it is thick and appears normal.  My penis is straight and I have never had severe trauma or damage to my penis.  My question is what I should do now?  It has been three weeks and the bumps/lumps are still there, but did not appear until assessive masterbation.  I have not masterbated for a week now and continue the ibuprophen, vitamin e, vitamin K cream, increased my leafy green vegetable intake, and I am drinking more water.  Should I wait?  Will waiting cause more damage such as scar tissue?  Will the lumps go away?  I am quite embarassed as to what to tell my partner.  Any help you could be to me would be greatly appreciated for the worrying is starting to affect my daily life. 

This is probably a small clot in one of the superficial veins, caused Mondor’s syndrome. Low dose aspirin for 7 -10 days will usually help it to resolve.  MG

What is the range I can expect to pay for the plaque removal and grafting surgery.

That varies geographically, but usually the surgical fee is about $2,500.  MG

My boyfriend “broke” his penis while we were having sex awhile ago. He saw the doctor who told him to rest (which we had a hard time doing). While we have tremendously cut back on our sexual activity, he continues to experience slight pain sometimes (really not very much anymore) but is mostly distraught by losing his erection when he gets close to orgasm. He will often be able to get hard again, just to lose it again when he gets close. He becomes upset and ashamed about this and it is starting to affect our sex life. As far as I know, he has always had a slight bend in his penis, and he says that none of this has ever occurred until that trauma happened. Please help! His doctor keeps telling him to rest it. He is 32, fairly good health, again has never had this problem before. Any help is appreciated.

If the injury has had enough time to heal, low dose of Viagra /Cialis/or Levitra for a month or two would probably help.  MG

Once diagnosed with Peyronie's disease, does it come on strong and then subside in time?

Or is it something that continues to manifest itself and distort for the rest of ones life?

Most of the time Peyronies leaves a lasting effect, but one that in some cases lessens over the years.  MG

I live in Palm Beach County, Florida. Is anyone aware of an MD in my area that is or has been using Collagenase injections to treat Peyronie’s? The published studies look very promising!!

Please look at clinicaltrials.gov for collagenase investigators in Forida.  MG

I did stretching exercise on penis three months back really hard. After two days i found sudden erection loss and found it really hard to get an erection and it goes down quickly. I didnt have any pain on my penis. then gradually a vein on right side under the skin of my penis started getting bigger and it now extends to the base of my penis.  It is three months now since it happened. I dont get spontaneous erection and night erection is hardly noticable, which I used to have before this incident.  I saw my gp and he prescribed viagra which I didnt take.  Will I get my erection back ? is there any treatment for this?  Please advice. I am very much depressed becuase of this.

This sounds like some superficial injury not Peyronies, and I would expect gradual recovery.  MG

I am married and 60 years old.My peyronies started with about three months of uncomfortable erections and then a bout 2 months ago I developed a bend upwards about 2/3's from the base aomewhere beween

22 and 45 degrees. I was examined by a urologist who said the plaque was still pliable. He put me on . 6mg of colochine and 800 mg of pentoxphiline plus 990 mg l carnitine all per day. the perscriptions were for one month. I just finished. I now have no erectile discomfort but the curve is i think unchanged. Should I continue all or some of this medication longer? I still can have satisfactory sex just the initial penetration is a little trickier. Next step traction? Anything new on the horizon?

Most authorities would recommend staying on these meds for 3 months or more. Traction may help – the results are not yet in, nor are final results from the collagenase clinical trials.  MG

Im 18 years old and about 9 months ago I noticed it was harder for me to get an erection but credited the problem to drinking and not  getting enough sleep.  Now however I have not drank and have gotton reasonable amounts of sleep consistantly for about the last 6 months and my problem of dysfunction is worse than ever. I have noticed that lately my shaft looks considerably thinner in the middle and the overall length of my penis seems shorter than it used to be. Also it looks like the top of the shaft is slightly swollen and bends very slightly to the right. These symptoms occur mostly when flaccid but have happened occassinaly while erect, tho inconsistantly. I was wondering if this is PD that is causing this problem because it seems more psycological anxiety which is what my dr. said it peobably was.

If there are no hard lumps or physical distortion, it is unlikely peyronies.  MG

I am eightteen years old and I think I have Peyronie’s disease. I am not sure though, so I would like to describe my situation so that someone can confirm for me if this is Peyronie’s disease.

I have had a curved penis since I can remember. It is bent downward for almost 90° (which is quit alot). Evenmore, when applying pressure to top part of the penis that is bent down, the angel can easily be increased to 90° and more (without any sort of pain). The bending is only there when the penis is in erection.

Since I have always had this I didn’t really know that there was anything wrong. Later I came conscious of the fact that I had a problem, but I didn’t dare admitting it too anyone. But now, since I have a girlfriend, I started worrying that this might cause problems when we would have sexual intercourse.

That’s why I started looking around on the internet. To see if my problem is something common and if there is a solution. The only explenation given on the internet is Peyronie’s disease. Although most site describe that it is vary rare to have it at such young age.

I would like to know now if I really have Peyronie’s disease and if so, what are possible treatements? Because there are a lot of treatements described and I don’t really know what is good and what isn’t?

You do not have Peyronies. Yours is congenital curvature, which if severe enough (and 90 degrees down certainly is) should be corrected with a Nesbit procedure by an experienced reconstructive surgeon.  MG

November 2011

I am a twenty two and believe myself to have Peyronie’s; I have a slight curve to the left in my penis, maybe ten degrees, and also have small beads of some kind and a scar on the bottom of my shaft. I first noticed this symptoms at around fifeteen after masturbating vigorously. The scar developed and the beads manifested, though not much bending was apparent. Around twenty, I noticed slight bending and the bend, that of ten degrees at most, has pretty much been stable. When erect, the bend is maybe, at most, five degrees and there is some deformity, e.g, “hour-glass” type For the most part, pain hasn’t been present. Though, lately, I’ve had some burning pain urinating; I’m unsure if these are connected. I haven’t told anyone (also, im a virgin) other than you right now, about my condition, but, as of lately, when I’m flaccid and cold, the bend is apparent. When I’m not cold and short, the bend is hardly noticeable; I’m curious if you think this is Peyronie’s? and also, what the best treatment would be if so? How do I go about getting into contact with a urologist? Would something like Vitamin E be really helpful since I don’t have a massive bend? I would be grateful if you replied, the anxiety lately associated with this issue has been really high and affected me deeply psychologically.

I suggest using the finder link in our site to locate a urologist to visit.  MG

What can my boyfriend expect after peyronie's surgery?  He is 62, in good health, still able to have erections, though not as before, and has only tried to treat it with Viagra a few times, with no result in fixing the curvature.  He is planning to have a cut all around just under the head of the penis, the skin will drop like a skirt, then the plastic surgeon  will do the implant.  What about nerve damage, to either the penis or to the site where the donor implant is taken from his skull, does nerve damage ever happen or loss of sensitivity?  Also, should Viagra ever be used after healing from this type of surgery, and how long does healing normally take? 

There is a chance of nerve damage with surgery but it is small.  Viagra will help him in the healing process – which generally takes about 6 wks to resume intercourse.  MG

I am 55 and I noticed my Peyronie's curvature about three months ago but it was inevitable since I also got Dupuytren's Contracture about six months earlier and to make things worse, I am a retired concert pianist and composer so I really need my fingers to be in good shape.

But back to the peyronie's and extenders. I got a SizeGenetics extender 2 months ago and I am using it to see if it will correct my curvature which is about 35-40% straight upward. I have checked out many penis enlargement forums for info about peyronie's and extenders. It seems that everyone agrees that extenders have great potential for lengthening the penis shaft and some forums have a peyronie's section with progress etc.

Since I am only 2 months in, I have 1/4 of length gains but no progress on the curve yet. I am confident that my SG extender will eventually have a good affect on the curve and all extender manufacturers agree that it takes 6 months to a year to see good progress and I have read some reports that say curvatures decrease by 50-70% after a years use of the extender for at least 6 hours a day. I will keep you posted on my progress using the SG for curvature correction.

Thank you, please keep us posted.  MG

I am 29 years old and I think I have a mild form of peyronies that resulted from an injury 2.5 years ago. It seems to be stable. I did visit my urologist but he just kind of said he could give me POTABA but probably wouldn't work and to chill out. This problem really makes me afraid for the future. I am scared everything will damage it more. I was stomping on something today and was even worried I might damage my flaccid penis somehow doing that, because I had a tender sensation afterward. Does this problem truly stabilize? I mean seriously stop progression. I have about a 10-15 degree left curvature. I am freaked out that my penis will get shorter and shorter and by the time I am 50 years old I won't have much of a penis left. Is there any hope in future research? Once it is "stabile", what are the chances it will continue to progressively get worse over time?

You really cannot injure the flaccid penis unless you do something like fall on a bicycle bar. From what you describe, I would suggest that lifelong progression and length loss is extremely unlikely.  MG

In the last four months I have had a swollen vein running up the shaft of my penis which has fit gradually worse It is swollen and runs from the base to the head where it firms a you shape. In the last 6 weeks my flaccid penis has been curving to the left, where it is straight and towards the end takes a sharp bend to the left. I feel no pain. My flaccid penis has decreased in length and girth but when erect it maintains it regular size, However the erection seems to be starting ti curve slightly more to the left as well. Could this is early onset Pd? I am starting to stress out about it and the flaccid bend seems to be getting gradually worse. Does Pd effect the flaccid penis?

This does not sound like PD, as it really does not affect the flaccid penis to any great degree.  MG

I and almost 69 years old and have had PD for approximately 11 years. Fortunately the disease has been stable for the last 7 or 8 years, and the curvature (30-35 degree) does not interfere significantly with my life. However, I have developed voiding problems due to a moderately enlarged prostate and a longstanding neurogenic bladder condition. I am currently taking alfuzosin and dutasteride to manage these issues, but there is a real possibility that I may have to eventually use intermittent catheterization to empty my bladder. I am aware of the controversy regarding a possible causal link between catheterization trauma and PD. In my case, will the existing PD complicate the catheter insertion/removal procedure? Conversely, will the catheterization procedure jeopardize the stability of the PD?

Probably not – after having this for 7 to 8 years it is unlikely to change, even with catheterization.  MG

Mine appears to be an injury occurring while attempting intercourse. Didnt  discover bend until next day. This was in July. I feel a  saddle of plaque on top and some mild feeling of pain intermittently. Makes intercourse difficult. bends upward. Doctor  prescribed cialis 5mg 1x and Colchine used for gout tid.

That all sounds reasonable.  MG

Within the last 2 or 3 months I have developed a quite extreme curvature - up to 75 dgs upwards from just below the corona. Following situation applies:

- aged 52

- otherwise very fit and well

- very active sex life although no specific incidence of trauma.

- about 6 weeks ago a bruise appeared on mid-dorsal side approx 4 cm across, lasted for 3/4 days

- no pain although some apparent tightening feeling on upper side

- cannot feel any obvious calcification lumps

I saw my GP and he has referred me to a Urologist with a view to surgery, because he thinks that it is too late for any other option. He has also prescribed me Cialis. Personally - and after reading other comments on this forum, it seems as if this may be premature as I do not recall any obvious issues. My penis was never perfectly straight but the current extreme curvature has only become apparent in the last 12 weeks max.

I have bought a 'stretcher' although yet to start to use it.

What is the best guess prognosis on this condition? Is surgery inevitable?

No, and most authorities recommend waiting at least 12 months before considering surgery as the condition can change in that period. MG

My three year old son was diagnosed today with a "bent penis". While I have noticed its curvature since younger than age one, I finally addressed the issue with our pediatrician. The PA suggested that it is probably not a problem and that it is possible that it could straighten with puberty. She said that I could have the number for the Children's Hospital to speak to a urologist if I would prefer. I did just that. We visited him today. He checked my son by physically examining his penis. When my son is in a normal state, it is noticable to those who may be paying attention (such as myself, considering that as his mother,  I potty trained him and daily bathe him) but may possibly not be noticable to others. When he wakes with an erection and I take him to potty, it is extremely obvious that it bends to the left approximately 40 degrees-ish. He complains that it hurts at that time to urinate. The pediatric urologist said that he has a severe bend and that it will NOT correct itself with puberty, in fact, it would likely worsen the bend. He said that my son should continue to be able to urinate without pain, but that the curvature will make intercourse excrutiating. He suggested getting surgery while he is young. I can find no information about this online. The only two things I can find are Peyronie's and fractured penis. Peyronie's info suggests that this condition is generally found in men over 40 or 50. He has experienced  no trauma to his penis or any other part of the body.

If his urethra opens normally out at the end of the penis, I would advise surgery to correct curvature be deferred until after puberty. MG

I have had Peyronie's for 2 years - starting in my early 30s, and during this time, I have talked with many people who also got this very young.  There is a disturbing pattern among young patients with this condition:  many of us have taken fluroquinolones - repeatedly.  This is also the case with a number of the older men who suddenly get PD - but it is much harder to disentangle cause and effect in the older population who have a higher incidence of this as it is.  But among younger men, this pattern is being ignored by doctors who unanimously say "no, that can't happen - I've never heard of it" rather than making an FDA report (which is a huge pain, I understand) - so this prevents any aggregate data from forming. 

A tendon rupture is extremely rare from quinolones , and I'd expect PD to be rare as well (and women are obviously not affected, so it would be a fraction of a fraction of patients who get PD from these drugs).  However, the problem has become too obvious in forums and informal channels to ignore.  At a molecular level, the damage that quinolones cause seems to be related to cell repair and DNA gyrase.  Would the affect on the tunica albuginea differ from a tendon?  I don't know the specific structure of the TA vs. the Achilles tendon, but without making this 10 pages long - there are enough similarities to concern me.  Also, regarding cause and effect - It is noteworthy that 50% of tendon issues occur AFTER the quinolone is stopped... so clear cause and effect is hard to pin down..  Below is some more information that seems like it could overlap with Peyronie's...however, nobody is looking at this with regard to PD.  I would do it myself if I had an opportunity.  

This is a very interesting question you raise.  I will send it out to my colleagues and see what we can determine with an informal poll.  MG

My name is M. A. I'm from Brazil in São Paulo and suffer from Peyronie's disease, I would like to join your forum on the subject, PEYRONIES.ORG

Sure, just send in a question.  MG

I am a 67 year old , healthy male with a 45  year old wife.

We had a very good sex life and then one night 6 months ago we were getting it on pretty rough and I heard a crack and a sharp pain in my penis. after a few days the pain went away but since then I have a very sharp upward tilt on the end half of my penis. I went to my GP who told me it was Pyronies. There is no pain but I can not perform at all since the incident.I can not get a full erection and can not penetrate at all. Please tell me if there is any hope and if so, what can I do to cure this problem?

This can definitely be treated effectively.  You should consult with a urologist – if possible, one with special experience in treating PD.  MG

Can Agent Orange cause Peyronnies?

I have never seen any reports or studies demonstrating this.  MG

does left curved penis   make any difference to virgins?

I don’ t think so.  MG

October 2011

hi, I just turned 20 years old and am almost 100 percent positive that I have peyronies. Almost a year ago I hurt myself while masturbating and had pain that lasted for about 4 weeks. I didn't go to the doctors but I did "self medicate" by taking vitamin e because I had read that it can help prevent scarring in the penis. Afterwards my penis seemed fine. About 6 months later I hurt myself again. Afterwards I noticed that my penis would have a slight hourglass shape when semi-erect, but not while fully erect. Now im noticing a slight indentation in the middle of my penis on the bottom, (over what I guess is the urethra), when it is erect, but I don't have any pain. this has been going on since July. Im not sure what to do. I still live with my parents and am to embarassed to tell them what I am going through and to tell them that I might need to see a doctor. Also my symptoms and my age don't really match with others stories, so im scared that I might have one of the rarest and worst cases, Im really scared and don't know what to do. Please help.

Minor trauma can produce the changes you are describing, and most of the time they are not permanent. You are likely to recover without doing anything further if you can avoid injuring yourself in the future. MG

I am 63 years old and had a Radical Prostatectomy after being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in November 2010 [approx 1 year ago}. This was followed by 6 monthly hormone injections and 33 sessions of radiotherapy as I was left with 'positive margins'. At the moment the cancer is in remission and my next check up is in December 2011. I knew that this could leave me impotent. However I noticed after recovering from the surgery that my penis was much shorter and sometimes 'retracted' into my groin area. I recently tried to see if I could get an erection with a Vacuum device and was shocked to find my penis with about a 90 degree bend, as though the tip or head had been stuck to the side and would'nt 'unfold'. Prior to surgery it was straight. While my main concern is dealing with the Cancer, do I now have Peyronies? and should I discuss this with my Oncologist and Urologist when I see them in December. I live in the UK. and would appreciate your opinion.

Yes, this is PD. We know that PD is more common in men who have undergone radical prostatectomy. Based on your additional x-ray treatment and erectile dysfunction, you may want to consider implant surgery. MG

I was told that I have Peyronies in February of this year. I just noticed today that the scar tissue has moved to a different place. It is no longer mid shaft, it is now moved to the base if the shaft. I was looking to see if this is normal and could not find anything anywhere.

This is common in PD, for inflammation / hardening of tissue to occur in different locations. MG

I have developed an upward curve to my penis. It seemed to happen quite suddenly (over a couple of weeks) and I can seem to remember a few nights of very strong nocturnal erections, and I am thinking I might possibly have slept on my stomach and so caused some sort of trauma. This happened about six to eight weeks ago. There is no pain apart from a momentary, slight dull ache when putting on my underwear (when flaccid). Which I can't reproduce by touching or squeezing. I can't feel any lumps or anything else as far as I know. I went to see my G.P and he has made an appointment to see a Urologist, but that is not for several weeks yet. Just wondered what your thoughts might be. The curve is probably about 35/40deg. It does not seem to be getting any worse or better. I am finding getting an erection difficult, but I think that is because of anxiety. Any ideas? I read taking Vitamin E 400mg is good for PD, so I have been taking that for about a month. My age is 63. Early on, vitamin E may help to stabilize the situation and prevent worsening.

This sounds like PD, as in many cases it just seems to come on overnight without any identifiable provocation. MG

I am 18 years old and in the past 6 months have noticed that my penis curves to the left. The curve is sometimes noticeable when my penis is flaccid and my penis only bends slightly when erect. However, after ejaculation the curve is much more prominent. The bend starts midway down the shaft. Could this be PD and is there any way to straighten my penis?

This is probably not PD, but just a mis-match between the size of your left corpus cavernosum and the right (some men are born with these paired structures of slightly different size). In other words it is a congenital situation that may not become apparent until you are sexually active. Some degree of bend is normal, but if it is severe, a Nesbit procedure will correct it. MG

Could Peyronies be caused an Autoimmune problem?

Research studies have looked at this hypothesis, but have been unable to confirm that it plays a real role in most men with PD. MG

I have tried using vitamin E with no results and I am now considering Neprinol. With that being said I was wondering 1) have you seen results with Neprinol and 2) would using a stretching device while taking Neprinol help to open up( for lack of better term) that area for the enzymes to work?

See September entry re: neprinol. There have been promising preliminary reports on the use of stretching devices, so this may be worthwhile. MG

About 2 years ago I had elective surgery on a hernia, from a strain injury (non genetic). I had severe bruising, in and around the incision area and then spread to my penis (oh the pain!) and which lasted for two weeks and then subsided. About a month later, i noticed my penis was curving, horizontally, to the left at about -15% or so. I saw a Urologist about 2 months later and was diagnosed with PD and prescribed Verapamil and used it religiously with some very minor results, but I stopped using it when I had a project in China and was there for several months. Since then, the bend has subsided for the most part, but I have lost about10-15% penis length and there is a slight hourglass shape now to the shaft. Everything functions fine - no E.D. issues, no pain, no complaints. So, here's my issue…I applied for a new health insurance policy vs. a Cobra policy from my ex-employer and was denied 100% due to the PD, according to the letter from ConventryOne Insurance - based upon my mentioning of PD in the application - though I indicated my Urologist indicated it was a minor case and seemed to be getting better. My family, (wife and two kids) on the other hand, was accepted into the plan without question. I'm 100% fit otherwise and exercise (even training for my first triathlon), eat right, get regular check ups and recently went through a medical exam for a $3M life insurance policy and was accepted - so I can't figure it. None of that mattered to Coventry and it's left me feeling a little helpless and nervous about trying to find health insurance for myself at 49 years of age. I never would have guessed that PD would be a red flag and my case seemed so minor (to me at least) and more of a result of the operation than something that just happened on its own. I realize these insurance companies don't have the time to look at individual cases, but is PD generally considered a big risk for these companies? The costs for my PD to my old insurance company amounted to 3 doctor visits and one prescription - about what I'd expect for a bad case of allergies, which my wife suffers from. Interestingly enough, I'm still considered the primary insurance holder on the policy, except I'm the only family member not being covered! Has anyone else been denied insurance solely due to PD?

That denial sounds pretty extreme to me. MG

I am 42 years old and for the past 1.5 yrs I have been experiencing strong pain in my groin essentially around the base of my testicles and penis. I had an ultrasound of my testicles and there was nothing wrong. About 4 mos. ago I also had a case of penile lymphocele which lasted around 2 weeks from start to finish. I had an ultrasound of my penis at that time and the doctor speculated that it was plaque (PD) but it went away and was pronounced to be lymphocele. I have not been able to maintain my erection very often and in the past few days can hardly achieve one. The pain is quite strong but dull and there is also some mild numbness at the base. I am curved up but have been since puberty. I don't see or feel a plaque or lesions and my penis not distorted form normal. I'm certain that I have damaged my penis a number of times and most certainly did about when my symptoms started from very vigorous sex and an unfortunate severe bending of my erect penis. A bump even popped up on the top back of my penis that has not gone away. My wife (29 yrs old) is pregnant now so I know I am fertile, however I am devastated that I cannot satisfy her now and worried that it will be permanent. I'm not even sure this is PD...maybe it's a tumor. I don't know. Can you please help shed light on my condition?

Based on the above it is hard to say whether this is really PD. MG

I have been diagnosed with PD. I have had it for almost two years now. I came across this product on the internet and was wondering if you have heard anything about this (Neprinol AFD) ? I also take a Statin and wonder if this would have any side effects if taken together?

There is no problem taking these two together. MG

I'm 25 yrs. old and I have an issue. I've been researching it on the internet and so far everything is pointing towards peyronie's disease. I was hoping that you could help me get an idea of what it might be. I don't have insurance right now, so going to the doctor is kind of out of the picture at the moment. After some rigorous sexual activity i noticed a very small lump (about the size of a pea) under the skin about halfway down on the right side of my penis. It is not hard and does not hurt at all. It seemed to go away within a couple of days so I didn't worry about it. After a few months more of rigorous sex i noticed that it came back, but it appeared to be growing. Now it is shaped like a half ring and is really only visible when flaccid. It still does not cause any pain and there is no curvature whatsoever, it feels a lot like a cyst. Do you have any advice other than "go see a specialist"? Is this PD? Is it something I should worry about? It hasn't grown in size in approx. 4 months and is not always visible. It's most obvious after sexual activity when it becomes flaccid again.

This is probably Mondor's syndrome, which is temporary hardness in one or more penile veins. MG

I have a penile curvature that isn't very dramatic, but is noticable. I would say it's at about 15º to the right. It's also somewhat 'screwed' 30 degrees to the right on an angle(when viewing my penis erect from the 'front'/head end). It's also twisted to the right when flaccid, it looks like its hanging on it's side. There's also a difference in thickness about 3/5 of the way up. Towards the pelvic end of the shaft, its thick, and towards the head it's small. I realize that's normal for most guys, but for as long as I can remember, it was always straight(at least appeared to be), and in the past 3 or 4 years I've started noticing the curvature/twist. I noticed because my penis looked somewhat shorter! I can say for sure I know that it was never originally like that . Ironically about 3 or 4 years ago(I'm college age now) I had an incident where someone traumatized me by kicking me in the penis. I also had a very bad skin outbreak back in 2008(went to the hospital for a week but they never did exactly pinpoint what my problem was; had several different, and somewhat rather wild diagnosis'), that inflammed my skin entirely across my pelvic area, affecting my buttocks, penis, legs, groin, etc. I don't have any plaque as far as I know, I'm not a doctor so I'm not going to assume anything. I have gotten a slight pain in my right testicle when I ejaculate on occasion. I've also had trouble urinating and I haven't been very sexually active, but it can be a chore for me to get an erection(no amount of stimulation; visual, auditory, sensory, etc.), It only fills about 40-50%. I do get erections though from time to time, and when I do it generally doesn't hurt until I ejaculate. That aside, would you suggest that I have PD? And would you also recommend me visiting a urologist for an evaluation(in general, not just PD)?

I think seeing a urologist would be a good idea. MG

Do you know of any connection between CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease) aka pseudo gout, and Peyronies? Seems to me that Gout and Pseudo Gout both would be likely candidates for causing Peyronies. Hi, recently ( today ) diagnosed with PD. Started 1mnth ago noticed lump on top of penis. Erection is painful unless it is pointing up. Started taking vit E 800mg. Is this the right amount ? Will return to Dr in 3mnths. Are there any other treatments available ?

There is a known relationship between PD and Gout. Vitamin E is usually taken as only 400 I.U per day. MG

September 2011

Nine months ago I had rapid onset of intense erection pain with a 10° sideways tilt to just the glans (like a cocked hat). I was sure the tilt was new. The pain was also new. There had been a clumsy sex injury about 2 months before the onset.My urologist diagnosed PD without examination. He ordered an MRI which found no plaques. He prescribed POTABA at 4000 mg/day (1/3 of standard dose). I already took vitamin E. At seven months the glans tilt disappeared in a period of two weeks. Erection pain is still considerable and throughout the whole. There is some pain when slightly erect when pressed. I'm continuing the POTABA and beginning pentoxifylline (not recommended by my urologist).When strong my erections have lost about 20% in length and in circumference, but this is versus size years ago, not nine months ago. I believe the size loss has been gradual and might be independent of whatever appeared nine months ago. Since my penis shape is now regular, just attenuated and veiny, it seems the whole tunica albuginea has lost elasticity, uniformly. Even when absolutely flaccid my penis can hardly be stretched. Maybe this is not unusual at age 68. My urologist suggests EMDA with dexamethasone and verapamil. But since there are no localized lesions or plaque this seems impossible. Are there any useful drugs that can be applied topically to the whole penis? Is PD scarring of the tunica albuginea histologically like what reduces its elasticity through aging? Will PD treatments help with either my pain or shrinkage?

Without a focal lesion, electromotive therapy has nothing to target. Verapamil can be applied topically, though its results are mixed. You are correct, the tunica looses extensibility with age. More than likely the pain will resolve spontaneously - it usually does. MG

I have heard that topical Verapamil works for Peyronies and helps to dissolve the scars. I have a 60 to 70 degree bend downwards and two scars underneath where my penis bends. I know that topical Verapamil is a calcium channel blocking drug and calcium channel blockers work to relax and widen the arteries--thus reducing blood pressure. But I have also read that a major side effect of channel blockers is a 60% increased risk of heart attack. Would this be true even if it is only applied to the penis 2 x a day?

I don't think topical use produces the higher blood levels associated with this risk. MG

I have peyronies disease. I have visited the doctor and he has prescribed me the PENTOXIFYLLINE 400MG ER TABLETS. I would like to know, have you heard of any case where the curvature is gone by taking this medicine ?

It is fairly widely used in the treatment of PD, and some cases have shown improvement. It is unlikely to "cure" significant deformity. MG

I have had PD for two years now and have not seen any improvement in my condition. Can you recommend a supplement that can decrease or remove plaque? Once plaque is removed does your penis return to it's original length?

The length loss associated with PD is difficult to recover - hence the research on stretching devices. The final answer on this is not in. MG

this is a great service you provide- many thanks from this PD victim. I contracted PD in Aug 2009 within 24 hours of a diagnostic lumbar injection (bilateral foraminal stenosis). It included my first ever 'failed mission'. I was 51. I was shocked! Initially i was totally convinced the injection (which was extremely painful) had caused PD. I have had terrible pain in both legs for a few years and was having much trouble sleeping- i now think i caused the PD myself by chronic masterbation in order to get some relief from the leg pain and sleep. I had been taking a lot of medication which was making acheiving a climax difficult. But i was persistent....night after night....Hence the damage. I do recall one painful 'event' only.I now have a very severe bend upwards and sex with my wife of 27yrs is not possible. The alternatives are not too popular with her either. I have been to the very depths of depresssion with this disease. It is putting our marriage at great risk. I have had some appalling personal treatment by our National Health providers here in Auckland NZ. The first one, Clinical Head Urologist at a large Hospital wrote to my GP and told him that i" had come to terms with my condition and that i was still able to have sexual intercourse with my wife". Both of us were stunned to read this!!! It was absolutely untrue. I complained and got a retraction and apology sent via my GP. This same man then refused to allow me any part of the recent collagenase study trial being conducted through 'his' department at the hospital.His reasoning was that i had ED and 'no palpable plaque'. I managed to get onto an Australian expert, at Monash Univesity, who stated that if i could maintain a good erection then i did NOT have ED. (there is no funding avail here for ED problems- hence the desire of the first man to classify me as ED) He also stated that in Australia there was no prerequisite to have a palpable plague for the Aust PD Study Trial. I again complained and I received another apology from the hospital and they finally did concede that i DID NOT in fact have ED.But it was all too late as the Study Trial had finished. The Clinical Director is fortunate that we are not able to sue here.... I have since been to another Hospital and been offered two types of surgery; a plication and a more invasive 'top side' stripping away of the plaque. From what i have read i do not trust either method. I could easily be worse off. What do you suggest?At this time i am so upset with it all that i have seriously considered 'outsourcing' my sexual requirments. I have also considered chemical sterilisation and even just self removal of 'it' to the rubbish bin via sharp knife. This is a very destructive disease as i'm sure you already know.

If the bend has been stable for 1 year and is 45 degrees or less, the simpler plication procedure may be the way to go. MG

i read some study of peyronie's cases that penile traction device is a new way to treat peyronie's effectively without surgery. is it true? cause i never seen this method of treatment listed on your website. do u think that this method is safe?

For the most part, if not used to the point of discomfort the stretching devices are safe. We really don't have a clear cut answer at this point as to their effectiveness. MG

Please advise on using cialis + lipitor

There are no contraindications to using these two drugs together. MG

I was diagnosed with PD in Dec. 2005. The doctor prescribed me colchicine and said if it didn't help after a year, then my condition would be stable and permanent " The End" , so to speak. I had developed a very small plaque on my lower left side which caused roughly a 30 degree bend. 1-2 years later, I also had a lot of uneveness/bumpiness and pain on the top of my penis, right below my glans when flaccid, and it would make a couple noticeable "potholes" on my erection. I also lost 1½ in. in erect length. Because my doctor gave me such a cut and dried prognosis, I just stopped taking colchicine after a year and paid little attention to it as it was not totally ruining my sexual function. I believe, due to the location of my bend, that the PD was caused by a trauma when I was 19. I'm 44 now. Anyways, I decided to try light jelqing, stretching, and edging program to try and restore my length about 9 days ago. Now that I've gotten such a closer look at my penis , I'm sure that the damage to the top of my penis is 90-99% gone (I don't think this happened because of the recent excercises) . Additionally, when flaccid, the left side is no longer discolored (purple bruise-like mark) and I have a more difficult time locating the plaque under the skin with my finger.Great news. Frustratingly, though, the 30 degree bend has not improved, although it has moved closer to the base of my penis- is that because of the shortening? I am certain that the improvements started happening no sooner then 3 years after my diagnosis, and possibly, very recently (past year). So I'm saying that 3-5 years after my diagnosis with no treatment, I'm sure there has been some significant resolution. Isn't that not supposed to happen? Do I still have a chance of this bend going away? Do you think I should get treatment to help it along?

You are correct, spontaneous improvement ( or response to non surgical remedies) is unusual after this length of time. Based on you response to physical therapies, it might be reasonable to use a gentle traction device for 3 -6 months. MG

It's a bit hard to pinpoint the onset of my symptoms. But roughly 12 to 18 months ago with no apparent warning my erection began to deviate by close to 90 degrees slightly below the glanis, and about 30 degrees to my right. The result was that intercourse became virtually impossible, as in trying to achieve intercourse my penis would collapse folding even beyond the 90 degrees. In the ensuing months since it initially presented the curvatures do not appear to have worsened, but my erection has steadily weakened, and now borders or is effectively ED. I have palpated the entire length of my penis to try and locate any obvious sign of plaque, but I can't seem to feel anything of consequence, perhaps the tunis is hardened a bit, but I don't know what the healthy tissue should feel like. I am 53 years old, and have never had any issues in either regard. In June of 2007, I elected to have a Mini-Gastric Bypass for weight loss, my weight dropped from 260 pounds to 140 over the course of about 18 months. I developed a stricture at the point of the bypass connection to the new stomach ostomy. It was dialated numerous times with diminishing returns. My weight plummeted to 119 pounds and I could barely maintain a liquid diet. I then elected to have the bypass surgeon do a revision in August 2010. Up to that point I had no evidence of PD, or ED. I was sometime in the early months after that I discovered the PD symptoms. Never even hearing of the disease, I was suspicious that some arterial damage was caused by the laproscopic revision surgery. I contacted the surgeon to inquire, and he quickly dismissed his surgery as the cause and stated, "he'd never heard of such a problem related to his surgery" I was suspect that with the instruments invasion of the lower abdomen and periteneal cavity that an artery may have been unintentionally severed. I began to research other possibilities, and came across PD, and felt that it was a very strong possibility of cause. But due to the absence of any detectable plaque cyst, I still have not ruled out the surgical procedure as having created the problem. Now, further I have suffered from significant gout attacks from about age 36 to age 50, I used colchine and steroids to treat the chronic acute attacks, and infrequent attempts to preempt the attacks with Allopurinol, which always had a paradoxical effect initially as it is known to do, this medication acts to reduce uric acid level metabolically, and therefore lower the incidence of uric acid precipitation and crystallization the extremities. I was however never able to get past the paradoxical effect and stabilize. I also tried probencid which works to dissolve existing uric acid crystallization, but also a causal effect in generating acute attacks. Interestingly, after having the bypass surgery, and consequent weightloss, my uric acid levels went down to the bottom normal range, and eventually the acute attacks completely were eliminated, eve to this day. My question would be is there a possibility that the arterial plaque that is causing my PD crystalized uric acid as manifests in the typical joints affected? I wonder this especially since colchichine is a drug used off label to treat PD. Sorry for such a lengthy email, but I felt I needed to give you the entire history and potential offending issues.

First of all, arterial plaque does not cause PD. Peyronie's plaque denotes a hard flat lesion palpable within the penis, and it has no relationship to the plaques found in diseased arteries. I do not think it is at all likely that your surgery caused the PD, though the big metabolic shifts following it may have altered your wound healing response which could contribute. PD is slightly more common in men with gout, though the exact mechanism is unknown. MG

1) Since peyronies's seems to be related to inflammation, have anti-inflammatories, such as Aspirin (low dose) or other NSAIDs been shown to help either alone or in conduction with Pentox and ED meds? 2) Along the same lines, I read somewhere that combining Losartin (blood pressure med) with Pentox and ED meeds may be a good approach

Unfortunately, there is no good data based on controlled, randomized clinical trials to answer your good questions. In general, anti inflammatory meds don't usually have a big impact on plaque formation or bending due to PD, though they will help with the pain. MG

Is it OK to take Viagra and have intercourse even though it is somewhat painful. Will limiting erections and sex speed up the recovery process Yes using Viagra is OK.

While avoiding pain is a good thing, patients with PD should try to maintain some level of sexual activity and not give in to complete abstinence. MG

I am 61 years old and 5 weeks ago had a TURP procedure. During my period of hospitalisation I developed a blockage in the urethra and the nursing staff "whipped" the catheter vigorously for a lengthy period to clear the blockage. This "whipping" action was painful on my penis and most uncomfortable. After returning home I noticed a bending of my penis during erection, something I had definitely not experienced prior to my TURP procedure. I mentioned this deformity to my Urologist who diagnosed the early stages of Peyronies disease. I also have realised since doing my own research on this topic, that I appear to have duputrens contracture in both hands. Could the vigorous manipulation of the catheter during hospitalisation have brought about the onset of Peyronies?

Yes, we know that urethral instrumentation or catheterization can lead to PD in some cases. The fact that you have dupuytrens in both hands makes you much more susceptible to this, however. MG

Recently developed PD at 65. Is Neprinol of any benefit or any other over the counter enzyme? What about the ultrasound approach?

There have been reports of improvement with Neprinol, but unfortunately this information is not backed up by controlled clinical trials. Ultrasound has been used in the past and appears to be ineffective. MG

August 2011

I think that I have peyronie's. But I haven't been to a doctor yet because really I don't know what to do. It started about a year ago on the left side at the lower part of the shaft and is bent pretty bad. I ain't sure what the degree would be but it's bent downward maybe 45 degrees or more. And I do have a lot of pain when I have an erection and now I got a spot on the right side right a crossed from the spot that I have had for over a year and it's like a indentation and I can feel two hard like spots on both right and left side of the penis. What I would like to know is what is to late for surgery? Did I wait to long? This is the first time I have asked or said anything to anybody about this. I am 28 now. And I do remember having trauma to my penis during sex. But this didn't show up for almost 2 years later. I guess this is kind of my first step in to talking about this and seeking help for this. I'm just scared as hell. I am a single man and I am worried I might always be now.

No it is not too late to have corrective surgery, if this is indicated. MG

I am 62 and in relatively good health. I did have a bout with congestive heart failure back in 2008 which required a pacemaker/defibrillator. This was because of an enlarged heart, caused by simultaneous firing of the SA node. The course of treatment included a Beta Blocker (even though I have never had high blood pressure). This was prescribed "so I wouldn't have high blood pressure after the pacemaker was implanted". About 18 months after my surgery, I began to notice that two tendons in my left hand had become knotty and very hard. Soon after noticing this, I began to notice the development of two very hard tendon-like growths in the ventral portion of my penis from the base toward the head. A few months after noticing the hard tendon-like growths, I began to have excrutiating pain in my penis on erection. Now, my penis has bent to the left approximately 60 to 75 degrees and has decreased in length by 2 full inches in length and 1.75" in girth, (more so at the base than up the shaft). The pain is no longer there in my penis, but I am unable to maintain an erection (this has never been a problem until now) and ejaculation during intercourse is not as pleasurable as it always had been, before. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being no pleasure at all, 10 being the very best ever, I'd have to say that this portion of sexual intercourse is somewhere around a 2-3. What I am really having problems with now is the pain in my median nerve in my left hand. One of the very hard knotty tendons is on my middle finger and the burning pain is in the half of my ring finger that is next to my middle finger. I wish there were something that could be done for my penis, but it doesn't seem that there is. But, there really needs to be something that I could do for the pain in my finger. It is truly excrutiating pain. It is the same type and intensity of pain that you would get if you touched a hot stove. This feels like it is in a tendon inside my finger that is on fire. The only thing I have found that works is a alternating polarity mono-phasic triangular wave muscle stimulation device, which is capable of overriding the pain while the amplitude is turned up very high. As soon as the amplitude is turned down, the pain is back, full force. Obviously, I can't go around and live life attached to a muscle stimulation device. Are there any pain modulating therapies which aren't as dangerous as what might have caused this condition to begin with?

You have PD and dupytren's contracture of the fingers, which are related conditions. You should see a board certified hand surgeon, and discuss treatment with collagenase (Xiaflex). This drug has produce good results with dupuytren's, (it's FDA approved for that problem) and is currently under investigation for PD. MG

I am a young 44year old male that has been very active form a very young age until November 2010. I was hit on the penis with a small cricket bat by my son, within two weeks I noticed (well it felt like small granules) at first. I then notice burning when urinating, and then the curve started on the penis, It also became exceptionally painful when I got an erection. In December I went to the urologist and he confirmed I had Peronies, Then the saga started I have had three surgeries four injection sessions, (my personal opium the injection have caused the granules to grow into one mass of a grow, the growth has grown from the stem of the penis to the head that is where it is the most painful).. I am now on radiation to reduce the size of the grow so that they can operate agin???? I know there is not much known about this, I would like to find out is there any other cause of action that I can take now, I have been in pain for the last 8 months of my life, I am having problems urinating, I cry like a little boy when I bump my penis(when I do start getting a erections I run for an ice pack I am lost. There is no support system for Peronies in South Africa….

I would get another opinion as radiation may make the urinary symptoms worse. MG

I am 28 years old and I've been having problems with my flaccid penis. Around May 15th I was masturbating and decided to continue masturbating after ejaculation until I ejaculated a second time. Shortly afterwards I noticed some swelling underneath the head of my penis, where the foreskin should be if I weren't circumcised. There was no pain and the swelling eventually went away after about eight hours. About a month later I began having anxiety about the ordeal and decided to search the internet for the reason, that's when I learned about Peyronie's disorder.My flaccid penis seems different now, it seems more stiff than usual and I have been getting frequent pains in my groin region. The most disturbing part is that my penis seems to get longer and fatter after sitting down, then it quickly shrinks back up to 3 ½ inches upon standing. I don't seem to have any bend or curve in my erection but I have what feels like a small line in the middle of my flaccid penis on the left side. I have also been having trouble maintaining an erection but that might be due to stress.

This is not PD. MG

I suffered a trauma to my penis back in June of 2010 and since then, I tried many different treatments, including Vitamin E, prescribed by my Urologist; Serracor-NK (150 Cap), Serra RX80, none of which produced any effect. In June of 2011, I tried another treatment modality using light therapy and have found it work incredibly well. Within weeks of utilizing the light treatment, I was able to be sexually active with lesser and lesser pain each week. And it has had tremendous impact on my injury. Now I hardly experience any pain during intercourse. I am able to sustain erection for longer duration; and the curvature that had begun to form at the head of my penis is now beginning to straighten. I will be more than glad to share the information with anyone who is interested in the treatment and provide you with the contact information where you may research it for yourself.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. A study using low energy transdermal (through-the-skin) laser was published in the Russian literature some years back; it did not have particularly good results. MG

Last year something strange occured. I went for a swim, and directly afterwords I tried to urinate. What happened was that the urine didn't pass through the urethra straight away, but caused some kind of temporary baloon effect of the penis. I obviously panicked but after some 10-15 seconds perhaps, I could urinate properly. Well, some three months later, at the end of November, I noticed what was diagnosed as a thrombosed vein running along my penis. My urologist didn't think it was Peyronies, even though my GP said it probably was. I went to another urologist who said there was no way of knowing at such an early stage but that it could also be something like CPP. I should probably also mention that prior to this, I had started to get what is commonly referred to as firm flaccid penis when running, and a GP diagnosed this as prostatitis, along with hemorrhoids, but I don't know if that's important. However, following my assumed thrombosis I started to get the hardened flaccid almost constantly, and the penis seemed very inflamed. Sometimes it bent strangely, sometimes it hourglassed and I took a whole month before I managed to ejaculate, which wasn't painful in itself. The thrombosed vein almost entirely vanished within a month but I was left with som kind of 'rise' or 'ridge' on the left corpora where the thrombosed vein had ended before. Very thin indeed, but it didn't seem to move with the skin and didn't run along the shaft but was situated breadthways (sorry about my English) so I assumed it was a plaque on the tunica albuginea. Since then, I first seemed to get better, but that was only temporary. The symptoms have varied greatly. Sometimes an erection points in the direction it is pointed before it becomes erected, so all in all, I've experienced it pointing downwards, bending quite near the glans, the terrible hourglassing, the whole direction of it pointing to the left or right without much curvature of the penis itself. Mostly, it points too much upwards, and bends a bit upwards. It is unfortunately very rigid and inflexible. I can't move it at all and wonder if I could have sex at all when it is like this. I haven't had sex with anyone since this started, and I don't consider it wise to try quite yet. The last couple of months, my foreskin has gotten really strange. It's difficult to pull it back and forth and it seems a bit phimosis-like and obstructed by something, or itself. The hard flaccid keeps occuring and the penis often looks particulary strange when semi-erect. It's like there is scar tissue all over it cause it gets all inflexible in a strange way, and the spongosium is usually more or less hard when supposed to be flaccid as well. Sometimes the tissue relaxes, which makes me wonder if this is really peyronies. It's been around now for eight months so I wonder. Isn't it very strange that I've had all these symptoms. The logical and somehow less frustrating thing would be if it just bend already cause I just want to know what it is so I can deal with it. Healthcare is great in Sweden, where I'm from, but most urologists don't seem to have much of a clue when it comes to this. It's like they think I exaggerate when I mention all my symptoms, but I can assure you, that is not the case.

This is some type of inflammatory process that has temporarily affected the tunica albuginea hence the shape changes, though it does not sound at all like PD. MG

Dr. Gelbard, would you know of a good Urologist that is focused on the treatment of Peyronie's disease located in the Northern VA area. When I use the Physician finder tool, the closest Dr in VA is 4 hours away in Norfolk VA. I've also looked under the District of Columbia and MD, however the tool can located a Dr. close to my location.

I can assure you Dr. Jordan and his group in Norfolk are worth the drive. Not every area has doctors with their experience. MG

I recently turned 50… After being injured during female on top innercourse, I was diagnosed with PD at 44 in early 2004… Ultimately, & after almost 7 years, it has manifested as a barely palpable plaque on the lower left hand side of the base of my penis… I've done some research and this is (I believe) more commonly referred to as a "divot" or "indention"…. I can still achieve erections easily, have innercourse without pain (unless I try to go too long)… I have lost at least 1 inch in length… perhaps more…. I'd like to treat my condition in the most effective, available method.. I go to a very conservative urologist… From the outset and diagnoses of my PD, he has continued to say there is nothing that could be done…Or that the various non - surgical treatment methods (traction, intra-lesional injections etc) are all "a bunch of hooey" & that surgery can cause further damage…. Basically, he is saying that even though I have a curvature - indention - divot, painful erections when trying to have sex for more than about 10-15 minutes & basically deformed penis, that nothing can be done… I am 50 years old and, fit and healthy. The Doctor said over time the plaque will settle, and the pain will subside. (which it pretty much has) However he said the deformity will remain. (which is also true) Is there any evidence that surgery can restore my PD to pre-injury condition… Also - What do you know about the effectiveness of Xiaflex / traction trials being conducted by Wayne Helltstrom at Tulane University & when will that treatment be available to everyone…?? Is this really a viable treatment for Peyronies..?? (especially after such a long time as mine - 6 years) Below are a couple answers you gave to earlier questions… However, you don't elaborate at all on these questions.. How can I get more information on treatment methods for my condition and do you think there is any chance I may experience success (& to what degree) in curing my PD..??

After 6 years, your PD has "settled" all that it is going to. For severe indent and curvature in a healthy 50 year old, I would consider a temporalis fascia graft, expanding the scarred area with your own tissue taken from a little incision behind the ear. I am also an investigator in the Xiaflex study and in my opinion it is very promising. However, even if all goes well, it may still be 2 years for FDA approval. MG

I am 30 and I was recently diagnosed with Peyronie's by my urologist. I noticed a small lump mid shaft after urinating around May of this year (it is now August 16) and did not have any pain at first, and the lump disappeared briefly before coming back a few weeks later and progressing. Now I have the original lump and just above it a much smaller lump. To this point I have minimal curvature when erect, I'm not sure if it has changed at all actually. Around mid June the lump started giving me mild discomfort and then in July I met a girl and we spent a week having sex every night and most nights 2 times. The pain got worse during this week and I made an appointment to visit my urologist. Well while waiting for my appointment I was researching the lump and Peyronie's, I read the wikipedia article about Peyronie's and had a massive panic attack. Since then I have not been able to do anything but obsess over this condition. I went to my urologist the next day and saw a nurse practitioner who did not know anything about my symptoms or peyronie's (which I suggested to her I might have) and she consulted with another doc in the office who came in and did not seem to know too much about the disease either. He prescribed Pentox and Cialis, and I am taking a natural vitamin e between 800 and 1200 IU/day. I have been doing this course of treatment since July 26 now, though I have just recently switched to natural vitamin e as I have read a lot about it and it would appear that the synthetic form is useless. I have read pretty much every post in your forum and also a ton of other accounts of sufferers on the Internet. Who should I believe? There is a forum online of people with this disease who paint very grim pictures and there is also a blog written by a physician with the disease who is also pretty pessimistic. Then there are people like you who offer some hope and tell some of your readers that at young ages - like mine - there is not much to worry about and that I can expect to stabilize. The overall consensus of the online forum is that there is no such thing as stabilization. There are very few accounts of people online who have long term stabilized Peyronie's.

The medications you are using are definitely worth a try. Peyronies does not progress indefinitely - it usually stops changing after 12 -18 months. MG

You wrote, "There is no clear-cut relationship between PD and simvastatin, but you may want to discuss with your doctor stopping it and using an alternative drug." Is there no clear-cut relationship between statin usage and PD because nobody has studied the question, or because studies have demonstrated a lack of relationship? If the latter is the case, I would be most appreciative if you could provide citations for one or two medical journal articles in which a lack of correlation was demonstrated.

In my research through a large peer-reviewed data base (PubMed), I can find no articles demonstrating a relationship between PD and Simvastatin - or any articles showing a lack of same relationship. MG

About 4 months ago I have noticed shortening and about a 20 degree curvature to the left in my penis. it is at the base. I also have a hard flaccid penis now and mild ED. I have seen 6 Urologists that have all told me that I do not have peyronies disease. I also had a flaccid ultrasound from Dr. Tom Lue of UCSF which showed no plaques...But I do feel a soft lump at the base of my erect penis which is right at the curved point. Do you think this Is the early stage of peyronies and the docs are not seeing something? I'm very worried.

If you truly have new-onset bending at a soft lump that was previously absent, there may be early PD that is not showing up on the ultrasound. MG

I pump my penis with my hand to make myself feel better and i do it a lot of times. I find my penis curved on right. Will i have any sexual problems in future. Am still 19 years old. Probably not. MG I have recently been diagnosed with MADSAM in my rt shoulder. The systoms of MADSAM have been noticeable and worsening for 3-4 years. In Jan this year I noticed a curvature of my penis. The pain has lessened but the curvature seems to continue to grow. My Dr. here in Spokane has ordered IVIG injections for treatment of the MADSAM, which have not begun yet. My question concerns the association of the two disorders. I read on the Mayo Clinic website that there is a study of the relationship of the two. Are you aware of this?

I am not aware this study - apparently it has yet to be published. MG

About 1 year ago I noticed a sift ridge growing down the ventral side of my shaft. At first I didnt, think much of it because I have read about the penile raphe. Over the last 6 months though, the raphe has been appearing more noticeable and has began to develop only what would appear to look like canals that grow off a river. I have a cluster of palpules towards the top and I was curios to see why I am seeing this now so noticeably when I havent seen them my entire life. I am 25 years old, this has been happeing for about 2 years.

Maybe you should be checked by a dermatologist. This is not PD. MG

July 2011

I am 27 and have had these symptoms for the past year and change. I think it stems back from me working out when I accidentally collapsed on top of my flaccid penis while doing a pushup. I feel that since then, I have had a hourglass shape start to appear halfway down the shaft when semi-erect or when using the bathroom, and it doesn't "shrink" as much as it used to. Often after ejaculation I find myself sore down there for a day or two, even if I abstain for a week or two, and it feels like a pressure and discomfort in my penis. However, my erect penis seems normal, and I never experience pain during a sexual act.

That is some sort of reaction to minor trauma but not PD. MG

I have gone to see a Urologist and he just checked me and said I might have Peyronie's after a quick 2 minute evaluation and listening to my symptoms, but has never proceeded with additional tests. However, he never confirmed that I had a lump or anything in the evaluation. He said I might also have Prostatitis, so prescribed me antibiotics for 10 days. Emotionally, this has been rough for me the past year, I'm not sure if I should get a second opinion, or wait it out?

Usually an examination of the penis is all that is required for the diagnosis. If you are not making progress it might be a good idea to get another opinion. MG

I'm 45, and take Lovastatin for Cholesterol. I noticed a couple weeks ago, a small bb sized lump at the base, on top, that actually seems to be more inside my groin. Only hurts if I push downward during erection, but can feel the lump when not erect also. Sounds like if it is Peyronies, the best thing is to just take Vit. E, not sure that it would even benefit going to the doctor, but pretty concerned about getting curvature, and getting more pain. Do you think seeing the dr. is necessary at this point, and what dosage of Vit. E?

A single 400 IU capsule daily. Waiting a couple of months at this point would probably not be harmful. MG

I just had penile surgery to remove peyronie's plaque and replaced it with tutoplast. How long can I expect recovery to take?

Full recovery with maximal improvement of the bend can take 6 months or more. You should be able to resume intercourse about 5 weeks post op. MG

I am 26 years old and I was diagnosed with Peyronie's by a urologist almost four years ago. The initial diagnosis was based on severe penile pain, with or without an erection. It was several months after the initial diagnosis that I developed a significant upward curve in the shaft; enough so to cause some cosmetic embarrassment as well as to make certain sexual positions uncomfortable or close to impossible; however, not so severe as to prevent intercourse in general. Four years later the curvature has not worsened and the pain has improved with erections, but none whatsoever when flaccid. The pain is typically much worse in the hours, or even days following intercourse, however, at times it seems to be completely unprovoked. I regularly take ibuprofen, but I find that this provides little to no relief. When the pain is present, it is absolutely all I can think about and it causes a great deal of emotional anguish which I feel is now bordering on depression. After four years of this, I am beginning to feel there is no hope. While I am not particularly fond of the curvature, I can certainly live with it. The pain, however, is adversely affecting me in every area of my life. Is there anything I can do?

Pain lasting this long may be associated with depression. Furthermore, some antidepressant meds have actually been used for chronic pain. I would consider seeing someone who could evaluate and treat you for this issue. MG

My doctor has prescribed Probenecid and stretching of the penis for my PD. Is this an excepted drug for PD treatment? I haven't seen it mentioned on any website.

It is not usually used for PD, but the truth is the FDA has designated no medications as effective in the treatment of this disorder. Pretty much all med for PD are used "off label". MG

June 2011

I was recently diagnosed with Peyronies in the acute phase. I was told take motrin 3x daily, Vit E, Verapamil crème and no sex for 8 weeks; then follow up in 6 months. From what I read online, abstinence is no recommended, but stretching techniques. Which would be more beneficial?

The medication recommendation are fine; these are fairly standard though not always effective. Adding a stretching program may be helpful. Early studies show that if you can tolerate one of the extender devices for for more than 3 or 4 hours per day you may see improvement in curvature. MG

In early Jan 2011 I began to notice some discomfort during erections and upward curvature of my penis. I have been on 40mg of lisinopril for about 1 year at the time and had been using glucosimine HCI daily for joint health. Is there a possibility the combination of these two drugs could contribute to my condition? The discomfort has since subsided but the curvature seems to develop making sex less pleasurable than in the past.

Lisinopril is not an issue but there have been reports of patients developing PD after using large doses of glucosamine - might be best to reduce that. MG

1.Thank You Doctor for setting up this site! 2. I tried to refer to your suggestion of finding a referral list of doctors/agencies, in my area, but couldn't figure out where the link was--pls direct me like a small child, to your list, and i MIGHT be able to understand it :) 3. I'm trying to find more information on Collagenase and it's success rate in trials, and what stage the trials may means in terms of when it might be available? 4. Elongation/pulling?......huh?....seems like that could be stress producing? 5. Cialis? really? that could help? maybe? The forum has been EXTREMELY helpful. Thank you again!

There is a physician finder link in the "links" section of this website. Research with collagenase is quite promising at this point - it is in phase III clinical trials. If all goes well, it could be approved by the FDA in 1 ½ - 2 years. Traction devices and low dose cialis have both been used with some success in PD. MG

I have noticed that I have a bent penis during erection for as long as I can remember since Puberty. Before there was a popular use of internet, I thought this is just like a common "difference" among different people. After reading about the Pyronie's disease, it certainly does sound like it requires treatment. My Penis is bent 45 degrees to the left horizontally (not vertically, as seen commonly on the internet). This bending starts very close to the beginning of the penis as I felt it with my own fingers during erection. However, I do not feel any lumps or any irregularities. I also have an issue with the uncircumcised penis with which the foreskin does not roll back during erection. I am 28 years old now. To be honest, I can have sexual intercourse, but I'm not enjoying it.

The good news is you don't have PD, but congenital curvature. This is relatively easily corrected by an experienced surgeon - medications won't work. MG

I am looking for a top-notch urologist in Toronto that can fix this problem. I, personally, prefer the Leriche Method as it sounds least invasive and least risky. I don't mind flying to the U.S. or even Europe to fix this problem if there is a physician there worth my time.

This method, cutting through the plaque blindly with a sharp needle, risks damaging nerves supplying sensation to the head of the penis. You can try the physicia finder under "links". MG

What questions should a person ask to determine if the local Dr. is familiar with PD and possible treatment options?

How many cases do you see each week? MG

I developed Peyronies about 4 years ago. There had been no apparent cause, including trauma. I had about a 45 degree curvature to the right, but following all of my urologist instructions, I was able to get that down to about a 10 degree curvature. I have lost girth of my penis, but it could be worse. The disease has seemed to stop progressing anyhow. My question has to do with cause. As I said, there had been no trauma or any other immediate discernible precipitating factor. But in my research on this issue, I was able to come across some information on drugs that might precipitate Peyronies. One drug on this small list that I had actually been on about a year prior to onset, was Interferon. I have no idea if this drug may have caused this, but since I am supposed to go back on Interferon treatment again soon, I would like your opinion on this. I have other deciding factors as well on the Interferon Tx, and I really don't want to cause more progression of the Peyronies, so I would like your opinion on this please. Have you heard much on Interferon Treatment causing onset of Peyronies disease? Also, once a person like me has Peyronies, is it easier to aggravate and reactivate the disease again if one repeats the offending cause?

I have not heard of any relationship between interferon and PD. In fact, injections of interferon into the plaque have been used for treatment. After a period of 12 -18 months, PD usually stabilizes and does not tend to recur. MG

im 20 years old.i have a very slight downward curve an inch from the base.there is no pain.infact when i have a good erection its hard to see the bend.the problem is the penis when flaccid is hard from the part where the bend starts.also i have it for a year and it has not worsened.

I doubt this is PD, and I would not expect it will cause you any problems. MG

I have had PD for about a year, it causes a 45 degree bend up and to the left, it also has reduced the diameter at the bend site by 30% plus. It is without a doubt the worst medical issue I have ever faced, I have had two neck surgeries (C4 C5 and C6 all fused) and I was very excited to have it done to eliminate the pain and move on with life. But this is unbearable, everything I read leaves me in panic, nothing actually works well and all the surgeries indicate very low success and all cause reduction in length and some diameter. Does anyone out there have any experience with the mechanical devices that straighten the penis? I see gobs of ads online that claim to lengthen and straighten the penis, but don't see much about them on the PD sites so I am very skeptical. There is some evidence that using an extension device for >4hrs per day may correct some of the bending and length loss. Vacuum erection devices may have the same effect, and may help expand girth. The reseach on collagenase (made by Auxilium Inc.) is quite promising, though even in best case scenario would not be available for another couple of years. MG I am 64 years old and very sexually active (well I used to be until this mess) my wife is very supportive but I know things are not the same for us anymore and I am getting very depressed and the more I read, the worse it gets.

If you find someone with experience in treating PD, chances are good your function can be improved significantly. MG

Anyone had a good experience with treating this ignorant disease?

Yes, see the physician finder under "links". MG

I feel as if I used to have a normal penis,then my sex life took an abrupt stop and the next time I had an erection it was bent and had a divot on the left side .As time goes on it gets more difficult to urinate and my penis seems to have a smaller head ,shorter and painful when erect.What to do?

See one of the doctors who have a lot of experience with this condition. MG

About 16 months ago I was diagnosed with Peyronies although neither the two GPs or the two urologists who examined me have found any plaque nor can I feel anything unusual. I'm told bending can only be caused by Peyronies and that my scars are micro tears/scars that can't be felt. I believe I rolled over in the night on a nocturnal erection and bent my penis under me. After this sex was painful and after a further three weeks I noticed a slight dorsal bend of about 10 degrees that worsened rapidly to 45 degrees. Other symptoms began around the same time: terrible pain in my perineum, testicles and anal leakage. I was unable to walk for more than a few minutes without severe pain that is now controlled by a nerve blocker and anti inflamatories. MRI's checked out as normal. I have also been diagnosed with either chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. All my symptoms were noticed within days of each other. After 16 months I became aware that my bend had improved from a severe 45 degree upwards to about 15 degrees left and 15 degree upwards. After three weeks of continuous improvement it suddenly went back to 45 degrees upwards overnight. I have plenty of pain in my perineum and a little in my penis that sometimes feels 'blocked' like there a pushing sensation within it. My urine stream sometimes comes out as two separates flows rather than just as one as if something is effecting/constricting the urethra. Any ideas what is going on?

Sounds like a combination of PD and chronic prostatitis. MG

May 2011

Do you know of any specialists in the Midwest my husband could make an appointment with?

Check the physician finder - I have now located it in the links page. MG

I am 32 y/o male and have been diagnosed with peyronie's since I was 28. It started out as a lump on the left side that was painful. I have had slight curvature, but more shortening than anything. I have noticed less of a lump and more of a cord that runs the length of my penis. I don't feel the same cord on the right side. Its has no stretch to it. I try to stretch my penis as an exercise just to make myself feel better and hope this cord will soften up. Could this cord be the same deal people get in their hand and not peyronies or are they the same thing?

Peyronies and dupuytren's contracture (of the hand) are closely related conditions, which often occur together. MG

My husband had 2 lithotripsy procedures and 2 hernia surgeries in 2 years. With the lithotripsy they put a stent in and I am wondering if this could cause pyronie's? The removal of the stent causing trauma? My husband had one pyronie's event 1 year ago and now another but the angel and the scar tissue is in a different place. Is this something that might just go away? In some cases yes, it will go away or get better.

PD may occur after cystoscopy or instrumentation of the urethra, although this is very unusual. MG

I had a vasectomy about six months ago and seem to have developed PD (according to a second opinion urologist) immediately after recovery from the surgery. I also had extreme pain in my left testicle for several months. While researching on the internet I found a post on a PD chat site, which describes my situation almost exactly. Have you seen this connection before, Vasectomy and PD?

I have heard this story related once before. On the other hand, I have seen thousands of Peyronies and vasectomy patients. MG

I have peyronies disease I am interested in any information relevant treatments including penile implant. Thank you for your help.

Implants are a very effective method of restoring sexual function when it has been lost due to PD. And I do mean lost - if your erections are working well and you can still function, you may want to consider a reconstructive option (plication or graft) that will improve the bend and allow you to maintain your own erection. MG

I am 49, Caucasian male, A+. In December of 2010, I noticed three indentations on the top of my penis. February 2011, I saw a Urologist. He said there was nothing wrong. The beginning in April, I noticed a "constricted" area where the foreskin is. I began experiencing pain during intercourse. It sounds like Peyronies. I have my annual physical 6/16/2011. I will discuss this with my GP. Do you know of anybody in the Ohio area, I live in Findlay, that treats Peyronies?

Please refer to the physician finder on the "links" page. MG

My partner was diagnosed with Peyronie in May 2010, and, as it evolved, felt pain on erection. After one year, the process seems to have stopped since he no longer feels pain. At the time we saw a couple of Urologists here in Europe, who told us there was no effective treatment and that we should not consider surgery for as long as we continue to be able to have sexual intercourse. We continue to be able to do so, however his penis curvature is becoming quite uncomfortable. We would like to explore non-invasive treatments. I see from my research that laser treatment is in the experimental phase in the USA, and that it has had moderate success in some cases. However on your website you do not list laser as a treatment option. If you think there is treatment that could help straighten my partner's penis curvature (without surgery), we would be willing to travel to the USA

At this point I feel the most promising non surgical treatment would be to enter one of the clinical trials with Xiaflex now in progress under the sponsorship of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals. This drug is collagenase, a powerful enzyme that is able to dissolve enough of the scar tissue to improve the bending in many patients. MG

I have what the urologist who sectioned my prostate (using HIFU ie ultrasound) calls Peyronie's. I'm 78. Still got a few shots left. I also have a central retinal vein occlusion in the right eye. I'm taking stuff called MACUVISION for the edema. It contains 200IU of natural vitamin E. Two questions, please: If I double the MACUVISION, could it help with the Peyronie's and, could there be a connection between the Peyronie'and the CRVO?

I do not think doubling the dose of Macuvision will help your PD, and I know of no connection between PD and central retinal vein occlusion. MG

I have been diagnosed with Peyronie's at the VA Hosp. and have been doing monthly injections for the past 3 months with no bettering of symptoms. I am thinking that I should get another outside Dr. to give me a second opinion on what I should do. Do you know of any Drs. that I could go see in the Tucson, AZ. area? I am 64 years old and developed the curvature about 14 months ago with a curvature about one inch behind the head curving back and to the left at about a 70-90 degree angle.

Please refer to the physician finder under "links". MG

I am a trimix user and 8 weeks ago (3/19) I injected my meds before intercourse.Nothing unusual during sex and no problems.Afterwards at injection site swelling took place that lasted for a day or 2. About a week later i could feel a small lump at the lower part of the penis near the injection site.The small lump is hard now and my uro says its plaque. He said it could resolve itself or maybe not. I alternate injections and can avoid the area so my meds should not present a problem.I have no curvature with erections. What can I do to speed up the healing process---topical creams, supplements, physical therapy etc..... Also if it's plaque it's amazing that it was not there a month earlier in February (I had a full penile exam by my uro in feb and I always check myself--there was nothing there). Is it possible and have you heard from another trimix user of a one injection scenario whereby a tiny nodule formed and then some time later was cleared by the body? What are the chances it is a small resolving hematoma?

With the time course of appearance you related, my guess is that it is a hematoma that will probably resolve. MG

During surgery last year I was catheterized. I had pain and bleeding when the catheter was removed. Not long after, I noticed a downward curve to my penis. My surgeon claims it is just a coincidence and suggested that I see a specialist. That specialist diagnosed me with Peyronies. I have been having trouble finding a Peyronie's specialist who can link the catheterization to the cause of my Peyronie's Disease. I've been told it's not related, and catheters don't cause Peyronie's. I am looking for treatment options. I know this problem was caused by the catheter, but for peace of mind, I'd like to have someone confirm it. I've been told my curvature is "severe," however, I don't know if It's too late for help.

Although rare, there is a known relationship between urethral instrumentation (including catheters) and PD. MG

I am in Loveland Ohio just outside of Cincinnati.A few years ago I was told that I had the Peyronie's disease and was told that there was not much to do about this. My curves up can not have intercourse been this way fora few years .trying to find out what treatments are available for me . Would like you advice on whom to see about this

Please see the physician locator in the links section. MG

I havnt been for a real diagnosis, but while I'm waiting for my appointment date, I have a question. About 2 1/2 years ago, I noticed a slight bend to the left in my penis It got worse over the next fewmonths, then gradually stabilizes and got slightly better My penis had straightened out, but with some shrinking in the girth in a few places Lately,over the past 2 months, it has a 30% upward angle, and is a little painful on erection Does Peyronies have dormant and active periods? I'm 57, no issue with erection, just trying to understand

Yes, it does. Typically the disorder progresses and may change (or lessen) in the first 12 -18 months, after which it tends to stabilize. MG

I went to the urologist today, and to say the least I did not leave a happy man. He said there was nothing that could be done that I would have to wait it out. I have a slight curvature, painful erections and a deformity. I am 49 years old and, fit and healthy. The Doctor said over time the plaque will settle, and the pain will subside. However he said the deformity will remain. Because it is not bad enough and I am able to have intercourse. , surgery is not an option. Do you think I should get another opinion? Also there is a blog on your site where the gentleman talks about complete reversal. Can you forward my e-mail to him. I am very interested in the treatment he did. However the brief explanation does not shed enough information for me to seek that treatment. I would like more specifics.

Complete reversal is pretty rare. There are a variety of medical (non-surgical) options that might help so perhaps another opinion would be a good idea. MG

April 2011

We just got married and my husband got PD. We found out in January and now is April and he didn't get any treatment yet. He doesn't get pain and his curve is not too bad. One doctor told him he can opt for Intralesional Interferon injections or do nothing. We are afraid that the plaque can get bigger and the erection can get painful. The treatment is expensive and the doctor said that it is not covered by most insurance. What is your advice? Should we do the treatment? What is the effectiveness of the treatment? Is there any doctor that you recommend in Miami? If he doesn't have pain now he probably will not get it.

Check the finder link for a doctor in the Miami area. MG

I am 17 years old and I noticed I have PD about a year ago. My penis is bent slightly to the left and I am worried that with time it might become more crooked. I am wondering what I should do, should I buy a suction device or fill up on vitamin e? Can you give me suggestions?

A Slight bend is normal; I don't think you have PD. MG

My husband is an otherwise healthy 57 year old with recent onset of narrowing at the base of his penis with very recent severe bend in the mid shaft of his penis. He also suffers from an inability to maintain his erection. Can you recommend a urologist in the SF East Bay for him to see. From out research it appears he may have Peyronie's Disease. We would appreciate your guidance.

Please check the physician locator link. MG

Please recommend a Urologist in the Phoenix Metro Area who has extensive experience treating Peyronies Disease and ED. Per my Urologist, for the last 8 months I have been using Verapamil topically and it has not decreased the upward and sideward bend in any way. For almost 3 years I have been using injections, the last 2 years Trimix, to achieve an erection. I have read some on a study where hypothermia (up to 104 degrees) was used with success to treat Peyronies. Is there anything to this?

You should be aware that injection therapy such as trimix may possibly worsen the scarring due to PD. I am not aware of any peer-reviewed studies on the reuslts of hyperthermia. The finder link will help you locate a Peyronies specialist. MG

My husband has PD and had surgery approx a year and a half ago, after participating in xiaflex study, etc. The surgery successfully removed the curvature but the quality (and length) of erections has really suffered. He is considering implant surgery. I am very concerned about further complications and risks. Despite being sophisticated medical consumers, I think we underestimated complications from initial surgery. Are people satisfied with implant? What should we know?

Like all surgery for PD, implants are a compromise rather than a restoration of original condition - they are means to restore function when it has been lost or compromised due to curvature, ED etc. Implant surgery would not be expected to restore lost length. MG

March 2011

I had a sudden onset of severe curvature (almost 90 degrees) about six months ago. I finally went to my primary who has now referred me to a urologist. I did not know what the condition was until I started researching online. I have no pain, but I am concerned about how severe the curve is. It is now interfering, and I wonder if this includes urination, or if it's simply my imagination. Can you offer any encouragement?

Fortunately, it does not involve urinary function. MG

I am 59 years old. I have had erectile dysfunction for 15-20 years. I recently went to a male impotency clinic and got an exam that included an injection to cause an erection. When erect my penis went left at about a 45 degree angle. At the base on the left there the penis indented inward. The attending doctor diagnosed the condition as peyronie's disease. That shocked me as I always thought my penis turned left because of the way I positioned it in my pants. Afterwords my penis had pain at that site until the erection subsided. When the erection subsided I could feel a small protrusion on the left side of my penis, three quarters of an inch from the base. Now I have to find a doctor to treat the condition. Do you know of a doctor in the Phoenix Arizona Valley that could help me.

Please see the listed finder link.MG

Can you recommend a urologist in St. Louis and are there any clinical trials being done around the St. Louis area for collagenase?

Please check clinicaltrials.gov and Auxilium site (Google) for info on local sites offering collagenase trials. MG

About 3 years ago I got Pyronies. At first there was no shape difference and sex was still great. then one day I awoke with a slight bend near the base and also an indent on the right and left side just down from the head. Things still worked okay then about 7 months ago I started having problems keep an erection. Part of it may have been stress or not. I started taking pentoxaphilin(?SP?) and have awoke with arections but don't get them just by thoughts as I used to. I have not had sex for about 6 months. Is it normal with PD to only get arections while sleeping or by touch? Also, are there any good counselors in the Tacoma, Washington area to help me deal with the psycology of all this?

PD can affect erectile activity. Check with one of the experts in your area via the finder link regarding psychologists / therapists. MG

I have recently developed symptoms of PD (less than 1 month) and am gathering as much information as I can regarding the treatments currently available. At this stage I have not been to my doctor. Various sites mention manipulation and stretching exercises as being effective treatments as well as vitamin E supplements in the early stages.(400 mg per day) What stretching techniques are considered the best and most effective?

A variety of stretching devices are offered on the internet. Early studies have shown possible improvement in men who are able to use them for more than 4 hours per day. MG

I have a PD , snce , approx., 1 year ago.My urologist satrted with dexamethason injections , which relieved, for some time, pain. Now, process seems to be stopped, but i said to uroogist not to give me more corticoid injections, because i was rading about, and it is not recommended.I am taking vit E. My angle of curbe is not too important, but i can not get a full erection.What do you recommend?

One of the medications for erection, such as viagra. MG

I have had an upward curvature with a decrease in girth and length for about a year but have not as yetseen a urologist. I've read some intro papers whereas my internists have deferred any real explanation. They indicated, as does some data, suggest seeing if it goes away on it's own. Since it has not I am ready for an exam. My pre-exam questions: Should one get the diagnostics "works" up front or do them piecemeal? Also, does one have to have erections in front of diagnosticians; if yes, then who does what to whom? :-/ Finally, if surgery is necessary what is the approximate recovery time to full erection, given that each case stands alone?

You need to see a urologist experienced in this field, who will do whatever tests may be neccessary after he has obtained your history and examined you. MG

I am 66 and was diagnosed with Peyronie's disease a in Dec. 09. At the time, I was given a perscription for a cream to apply topically. However, it was very expensive and my insurance would not pay for it. Since I was told that the conditon might reverse itself, I did not look into other treatments. In the past two months, the condition has become progressively worse. Returning to the doctor, he recommends Verapamil injections. What are the chances of this improving my condition.

After 2 years of disease duration, about 60%. MG

I am 26 years old and since the last 6 years or so (as far as I remember), my penis has been curving downwards. The curve starts from the middle of the penis and goes south. I have no pain & can ejaculate easily and hence I havent visited a doctor yet. Only problem is that I am unable to have intercourse due to the curve downwards....I have to try real hard and its really awkward. I have surely noticed a reduction in length of about 1 inch. I also heard this can lead to ED if untreated and hence I am worried now, so far I have no such problem of ED, but I am worried.Do you think I have PD?

No, you have congenital curvature and you should see an experienced reconstructive urologist (see link ) for a Nesbit procedure. MG

Hi, I am 47 and have noticed that I have a deep indentation on the left side of my penis and it has shortened quite dramatically. My sex life has been on hold for 5 1/2 years since my wife hit menopause. Can lack of sex cause penis to shorten? Can lack of sex also cause this dent? I have seen a urologist and he suggested that this may be Peyronies. He also suggested I try a penis pump to stretch my penis and help release the scar. Do you have any experience with this?

Disuse will not cause indentation and shortening. I agree a vacuum device may help. MG

I am 50 with a relatively stable upward curvature (30 degrees) from PD, which began about 1 1/2 years ago. My urologist has prescribed Cialis to address pain and anxiety associated with the condition. It helps a great deal, but is very expensive. Unfortunately my insurance company will not cover it because they say the FDA has not approved it as safe and effective for the treatment of PD. They suggest that their denial could be overturned by submitting at least two "peer reviewed journal articles." Do you know of any clinical studies published in two peer reivewed english language biomedical journals?

I know of one that appeared in a recent issue of The Jounal of Sexual Medicine regarding the use of cialis for septal scarring. MG

I've seen all over the internet an alleged connection between Louis XIV and Peyronie's disease; however, Peyronie was surgeon to Louis XV, not to Louis XIV, who was his grandfather.

Thank you! MG

My symptoms started about four to five months ago with pain during the early stage of getting an erection. Two months into I saw a urologist who diagnosed me with PD,told be to take vitamin E and see him in two months. I now have a dime side "hard" spot on the base of my penis, an upward curve from that spot and, most significantly pain during intercourse. My Urologist has recommended VERAPAMIL shots to the hard spot for 8-10 weeks at two week intervals. He said that there is a 70% chance that this will take the pain away but there is nothing he can do for the curvature. What is your opinion of verapamil shots? Also, have you heard of using potassium iodide or oral carnitine to break up fibrosis? and do you know anything about frequency specific microcurrent to break up fibrosis? I agree that the verapamil may not correct the curvature.

I am not acquainted with studies involving microcurrents. MG

After reading your article on the site http://www.peyronies.org i think that i have the Peyronie disease and its with me from my childhood , my penis is curving to bottom direction but i don't know if its dangerous or not.

You have congenital curvature, not PD. MG

I'd like to post two questions: 1. Is there a correlation between the use of Cialis and Peyronie's? 2. Could the surgeon who performed the Needle aponeurotomy do a similar procedure on my penis??

No to both. MG

I am a soon to be 64 year old man who has been officially diagnosed with PD. My urologist/surgeon has recommended a pump implant. My symptoms include an obvious scar mid-shafty along the length of the penis on top. This results in a slight "S"ing from base to tip, but more importantly, a lack of full erection beyond the scar making the tip unsuitable for penetration. My hesitation concerning the implant is because I've been advised the process destroys the remaining erectile tissue any any chance for a more natural cure in the future. As it is, I have normal arousal, can ejaculate with masturbation but cannot create an erection for intercourse. I can try a graft, which will probably be my first choice regardless, but I'm curious of the existence of an implant that would only affect the top half of my penis, the area beyond the scar.

There is no such device as a partial implant. MG

February 2011

Hi, I'm 28 and have always had a downward cure when my penis is erect, a curve of about 66 degrees. It is not and has never been painful. It has effected my sex life enormously since a comment from a girl a numbers of years ago. I have had enough and am now going to finally seek help. Would the best step be to go to my local doctor or to seek an appointment with a urologist?

Use the finder link above to locate a urologist experienced in this type of corrective surgery. MG

I am 59 years old. A year and a half ago I had an injury during intercourse. At that time I had only some pain but it was not severe. Approximately 6 months later during an erection I felt a very sharp pain. Then my penis curved to about 45 degrees. I went to the urologist and he diagnosed PD. I cannot feel any lump; it must be very small in size and I do not fully extend. For about 9 month I have been taking Vitamin E (over the counter) and the bend is now about 30 degrees and there is no pain. Question: 1. By continuing to take Vitamin E and over time, what are the chances to see continued improvement? 2. Is there any hope for a full recovery over time?

After 18 months the chance of further improvement decrease, though I'd stay on the vitamin E for at least another 12 months. Most patients will retain a bit of curvature. MG

I would like to know if a person with peyronies can benefit from taking medication to maintain an erection if the med. is prescribed by the doctor and he thinks it safe?

Yes, some doctors are using low dose cialis for PD. MG

Please explain what a partner can do to assist sexually to make it pleasurable for both parties?

Communicate with each other. MG

Hi, I am 62 years of age. I live in South Africa. I have had a curved penis (right) which I assumed was due to a nanny putting a safety pin through my penis as a baby. It never bothered me and always enjoyed a healthy sex life. Due to circumstances I have not had intercourse for 18 months. About 4 months ago I noticed that my penis suddenly developed a severe bend (upwards about 45 degrees). This has not affected my orgasm. I have just ended a 17 year relationship and expect that I will soon resume sexual intercourse with new partner(s). However, I am concerned that I may have some difficulty doing the act, and will probably have to rely on Viagra in any event. I have not seen a medical doctor but intend to do so. My questions are: 1. can this condition be corrected with medication, 2. what is likelihood that intercourse will be difficult, 3. should I leave it, 4. should I have surgery 5. Can you recommend anybody in South Africa who is an expert on PD.

I would wait to see how much difficulty ensues with intercourse. Based on the longstanding nature of the bend, I am not sure it will respond to medicine. There may be South Aftrican urologists listed on the finder link listed earlier. MG

January 2011

I was diagnosed with PD about 6 months ago. It has been 18 months total since the onset of the pain. I have a little pain still, but it has lessened, and I have a little bit of hour-glassing just at the start of the erection, but not in the final stages of one. I'm confused, though. Different urologists say different things; At 18 months, do I have to worry about it worsening? Some urologists say after 18 months, there is little to no worsening. Others say that only after 18 months does the scar harden and the deformity get worse. So, bottom line, what are the chances that the slight hourglass worsens after not having been a problem for 18 months. Is this basically over yet?

After 18 months further progression or worsening is unlikely. MG

i have had peyrones for approx fifteen months now, treatment was delayed as i was diagnosed with Hereditery Hemochromatosis at the same time. I have just been prescribed potoba and wondered if it was ok for me to take with hemochromotosis condition, my cosultant was unsure and im a bit reluctant to start tablets, hemochromatosis can affect the liver, althogh scans suggest mine is ok, i have read on internet that potoba may also affect the liver, could you possibly shed any light?

I would avoid using potaba in the face of liver disease, as the usual course of treatment is rather high dosage - approx 24 pills per day. MG

I am a subject in the phase 3 trial with collagenase (or placebo) - and although I am glad to be in this study, my main question/concern is that even if this substance can dissolve the plaque, what will happen to the inelastic tissue that is causing the curve and a mild dent on one side? Also, I have lost about 2-3 cm in length and 1-2 cm in girth. Will any of this come back with the use of collagenase? I am unable to access the article by Jordan (2007) from my university library. Is there anything I can do to promote elastin? There is very little research out there into elastase inhibitors, but regardless - don't think this early research could guarantee anything for PD. Is my best hope to just keep using viagra and cialis and hope that continuous infusion of blood flow will help the body repair itself naturally (I don't get nocturnal erections normally). I had to go off all oral meds for the study, but I wonder if pentox, arginine, and carnitine could trigger a natural repair process while inhibiting the out-of-control process that got me in this situation to begin with (e.g. pentox inhibits TGFb1, and the others promote nitric oxide). Also, I am in my early 30s, and I don't want to deal with this for the rest of my life - so I am just wondering what the chances are of having a resolution that won't require me to be on pentox, cialis, etc... forever.

Elastic fibers create a reactive force when you pull on them; all that is required to improve deformity in PD is elongation of the collagenous scar. This can be accomplished without restoring the damaged elastic elements. We have seen promising results with collagenase, with resolution / improvement that does not lrequire the ongoing use of oral medications. MG

I am 34 years old. A year ago I noticed a small pea sized lump in the middle of my penis shaft. Weeks later my penis curved upwards during erection. It is a year later and the original lump has grown to the size of a kidney bean and is more towards the tip. I also have another lump and two fibrous strands towards the base. During erection, there is a divot on the bottom near the tip and slight curvature upwards near the other three areas. I feel out of place from the older men with erectile dysfunction because I do not suffer in that area. Two highly respected urologists have dismissed this as not Peyronie's Disease. I am taking a handful of recommended over the counter supplements. I tried Trental (Pentoxifylline) from an overseas pharmacy for a month and did not like the side effects. I am just looking for some answers and help. I want to hear some advice from someone that has seen this go away in patients in my age group and provide me some direction. What do you recommend?

This does sound to me like PD, but at your age, with minimal curvature after one year, this will probably not cause you any great problems. MG

I saw a urologist in december 2010 who diagnosed Peyronies after examining my penis. He is a well respected urologist but is stuck in the insurance reimbursement system so my visit with him was an unfulfilling 10 minutes. He told me to take vitamin E and see him in 3-6 months. Everything I have read on your site and elsewhere suggests to me that early intervention is critical, so I am not excited about his wait and see attitude. (Know any great PD doctors in the Washington DC area?? - wish I were in california to see you!) You have covered so many possible options (Vitamin E, Colchinine, Interferon, Neprinol, daily Cialis, L-Argenine, Acetyl-L-Carnetine, Verapamil, Trental). What would you say is the best, most aggressive form of treatment in 2011 for Peyronies in its first 3-6 months of presentation? Vitamin E + Colchinine + daily Cialis? Maybe add in L-Argenine or Acetyl-L-Carnetine? Also what should I discontinue taking? Besides a daily vitamin, and a few other things I have been taking calcium, vitamin C and Glucosamine/Chondroitin, all of which I seem to read might exacerbate PD.

Please see the earlier link for finding a qualified Doctor. I would discontinue the chondroitin, then consider the combination of colchicine with or without trental, plus vitamin E and l-argenine. Adding daily cialis 2.5 mg is a reasonable option as well. MG

Hi my name is Anthony and I'm thinking that I have this condition. I noticed it a few days ago that there are 2 bends in my erect shaft and it feels like there is pressure at the head building up. The problem is that I live in the UK and I'm here in the US for 2 months. What I would like to know is, is this something that I need to have looked at immediatlely or could I wait till Im back in the UK? I have no medical insurance in the US which makes it a problem. If I should see someone here could you recomend someone in the NY/NJ area?

You can probably wait until you return to the UK. MG

I have been diagnosed with Peyronies Disease with the shape of my penis like that of a kitchen tap pointing down 90 degrees. The condition happened over night, I woke and found it like this - very distressing. I had finished, one month earlier, 37 sessions of Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer and hormone therapy. Could this be the cause of Peyronies disease? I can't feel any hard lumps nor do I feel any pain. I have seen a Urologist who is giving me two months to think about surgery and to take a photograph of my condition, my main concern is, how much time will I need to take off work if I go ahead with surgery as I have had already taken a lot of time off for cancer treatment and heart problems during the past 4 years?

If you have implant surgery, which would probably be required in your situation, you'd need another 3 weeks off work. MG

I am 58 years old and had a robotic prostatectomy 1 year ago for prostate cancer. I noticed when masturbating that there was some tenderness in the distal portion of my penis once I was well enough to try this. Because of some ED post-operatively, I experimented with the phosphodiesterase inhibitors and got (and still get) decent erections and function but lots of nasal congestion. This led me to try MUSE which seemed to work but was quite painful and relatively short lasting. I am not sure about the exact timing but about 6 months ago I began to notice the nodular induration on the dorsal surface of my penis and intercourse began to become more painful. About two months ago I started to notice an upward bending of my penis with erection and an overall shortening especially when it is flaccid. I saw my urologist and he said it's PD. I have three questions for you. Is the prostatectomy or anything associated with it likely to have caused the PD? Is the use of MUSE associated with a greater risk of PD? Finally, in other parts of the body inflammation and scarring can be treated with regional injections of depot steroids (e.g. Kenalog). Has this been tried with PD and is there any down side?

The incidence of PD is known to be higher in men who have undergone radical prostatectomy. There is no known relationship to muse. Steroids have been used in the past, with little success. MG

Could you give me a recommendation for a urologist in the Pittsburgh, PA area that specifically deals with PD (and the resultant ED)?

See the link listed earlier in the forum. MG

would like to know if anyone has had experience, positive or negative, of alternative medicine, including acupuncture with respect to this disease?

I will post replies. MG

we would like to let your visitors know that MAZE Laboratories, with offices in Westchester county, NY and Manhattan, is serving as a study site for a Peyronies treatment. Dr. Michael Werner is a urologist whose practice is limited to male infertility and sexual dysfunction. I hope you might be willing to post this information for NY area visitor who might be interested in Peyronies treatment via a clinical trial. Interested people may contact Wendy@wernermd or at (914) 992-0033 for information on eligibility. Local urologists have already referred their patients to this study at our site and I hope visitors from your site can explore treatment via this clinical trial. Thank you for your consideration. Ilene Rosenthal Director of Marketing and Business Development MAZE Laboratories 2975 Westchester Avenue Suite G-03 Purchase, New York 10577 (914) 992-0033 www.mazelabs.com www.centerforfemalesexuality.com www.wernermd.com www.mazecordblood.com

OK Thanks MG

I am a 27 year-old man and was diagnosed with PD four years ago. I was administered Verapamil gel which eliminated the painful erections after about six months, but despite to this day being able to maintain good erections and having what my consultant described as 'only gentle' curvature I have not been anywhere near a woman since. I miss the physical intimacy of a relationship, but quite frankly I am scared of the possible indignation of not being able to penetrate and/or a non-understanding partner, which I know would destroy me as this has had a major psychological impact on my life. As such, I am curious as to the kind of feedback that you have received, from both men and women, on overcoming the psychological issues associated with PD and continuing with as normal a sex life as is possible. My second query is with regard to ejaculation. Since having this condition I have noticed that my ejaculate seems to 'dribble' out regardless of the strength of the orgasm, whereas this was not the case before. Would this have any effect on being able to have children, i.e. being able to get someone pregnant? Lastly, as my condition appears to have stabilised, are there any further non-invasive treatments that it would be worthwhile exploring, such as Collagenase?

Peyronies has known psychological repercussions, which may be severe. The above issue will not effect fertility and yes, collagenase may be of help. MG

About a year and a half ago I tripped with a morning erection and landed on the mattress (penis was pointed up towards my stomach when it happened). It hurt as anyone can imagine. Although I never really had painful erections. It worried me however, and I did the worst thing possible, I got on the internet and discovered Peyronie's disease. I continued to watch and developed (or possibly always had) a slight left curvature, I'd say its about 10 degrees. Still never had any painful erections. I can't actual feel anything that feels like a truly hard nodule. First, based on my symptoms would you feel that I actually have Peyronie's Disease at all?

I don't think so. MG

i am almost 50 years old and since oct 2010 having very painful erection,after looking diffrent sites on internet i see my symptoms are similar to peyronies desease,i do not see big chang of penis form but other than that it is close to it,like recently i feel kind of pain or burning sensation on my 2 hans under skin and it feels like my tendons are not moving freely and sometimesmy fingers curl and i have to use my other hand to open them up. any information will be very helpful and appreciated.

Sounds like peyronies and dupuytrens, which are related. MG

I have read that there has been some success using infrared heat to treat this condition. Can you comment on its effectiveness and what common treatment regimens would be using infrared heat?

I am not aware of any peer-reviewed research on hyperthermia for PD. MG

I'm 68. Gee, that sounds old but until 3 months ago I had an OK penis. I can report that there was continuing low level trauma to the glans (due to attempting penetrations versus a strong sphincter). Then rather suddenly erection was accompanied by glans pain. It felt like it contained sharp glass. And glans had suddenly developed a 10° tilt to the left. The pain and tilt have continued. Erections are now bad experiences to be avoided (though I have a wife and a girlfriend). This is probably Peyronie's disease although I've not read of cases where pain and deformation are limited to the glans. An MRI revealed no plaque. I can feel no lesion. This should be easy to feel when the penis is at its softest, shouldn't it? I've been taking POTABA to no obvious effect.

Usually one can feel a hard spot in the flaccid penis. MG

December 2011

I have had this peyronies for about 5 years and wish I would have checked it out when the trama first accured. However now i would like to know when Collagenase will be avaible for trail or public use. and is there a way to get on a list to be notified when it becomes avaible ?

Collagenase is being tested in phase III clinical trials now. If you go to clinicaltrials.gov, you may be able to locate a research site in your area. MG

I have recently been diagnosed with PD. The disease does not seem to be stabilized. I am riding on a bike nearly 3 hours a week (this my means of transportation for three years). Do you think I should stop riding a bike right now. And is riding a bike likely to contribute to the onset of PD?

This should be OK provided you aren't using a very narrow seat. MG

I am a 53 year old Caucasian male. Yesterday was a bad day. A painful lump in the arch of my left foot was diagnosed by a podiatrist as a Plantara Fibroma, AND I realized for the first time that I have PD when I lookeed at my erection last night prior to sex. For a few months I have felt a hardness on the top portion of my penis just below the head, but it was only yesterday that I first noticed a curvature (rather significant) of the head pointing up, roughly 30 degrees. My desire is to take immediate action and do the best I can to stop progression of both conditions. For my foot, the podiatrist recommended massage, stretching, new orthotics, and a "wait and see" approach. For my PD, I have arranged an appointment next week with a urologist. After doing hours of internet research last night and today, I'm wondering if it wouldn't also make sense for me to immediately order a traction device such as AndroPenis and begin using it right away. Any advice you could give for someone who is in the "OMG -- I just discovered I have connective tissue disorders" would be greatly appreciated. BTW - I live near San Francisco and I'm reading that Urologists sometimes refer to UC San Francisco. I'm wondering if my Urologist will make such a referral and if you think it would be a good idea. At this point, my erection is not horribly curved and there isn't pain with intercourse, just an awareness of some mild discomfort. Plantar fibroma and Peyronies are related conditions.

Before going to a stretching device, getting and opinion from UCSF would be a good idea. MG

While having sex, approximately 4.5 mos ago, there was a severe bend occurred at one point and my partner and I heard a slight "snap". There was not much pain, no swelling, and no bruising. I had been using TriMix (injectable ED drug), on a number of occasions up to that point. The next time I had sex (approx 3 mos after the "incident"), I and my partner noticed there was a pronounced bend at an area where I noticed a palpable, hard area (on the underside of my penis mostly). Again, I was using TriMix, although noticed the result was not the usual. Would this be considered a "fractured penis" or Peyronie's Disease? I am 48 yrs old and healthy, other than that not doing much excercise at all.

The lack of bruising and swelling mitigate against a penile fracture, though you did traumatize the tissue and this can lead to PD. MG

My age is 24 and I have completed my education. Through examining my genital organ I have found to have Peyronie's disease but I am not sure if I have done correct examination. Usually I have not found any such thing throughout my life. I think this is due to masturbation which I do twice in a week. Pls sir it is my humble request to suggest me any medical treatment.

This sounds more like congenital curvature, not PD. Best to see a urologist and find out. MG

I started with Peyronies in late March, 2010. About 2 or 3 weeks afterward, I started with the pain. The pain was constant, practically 24 hours a day. I made an appointment with my doctor, she didn't know what the problem was, she prescribed Azo, an otc medication for minor urinary pain, didn't work of course. After about my 4th visit with her in late November, 2010, still in pain, she suggested I see a urologist, which I had suggested back in April. It turns out that the urologist is also a woman, who had only heard of the term Peyronies. After her examination, she had to consult with her boss, a male urologist, who had 30 years experience. They put me on ibuprofen, 600mg, 2 or 3 times a day as needed for pain and vitamin E. This was on Dec. 23, 2010. Ibuprofen, speaking for myself is a dangerous drug, being one of the side effects is a bleeding ulcer. Back in 1990, I was hospitalized for what was thought to be my gallbladder, after 4 or 5 days there, I started with a bleeding stomach ulcer and it was terrifying to see blood coming from every orifice, laying in ICU, watching blood being pumped from my stomach through a clear plastic tube. I was in the hospital for 12 days, about 6 of those days were in the ICU. The doctors finally told my family that if I didn't stop bleeding, I had only hours to live, luckily I stopped bleeding. There's got to be a safer and more effective pain medication than Ibuprofen because of the possible stomach bleeding. I know what you're thinking, this guy just wants a narcotic pain pill, damn right, anything to stop the pain. Dr. M, I'll bet my bank account against yours, that if you or any other urologist were going through the same pain, you would be taking a high end pain medication instead of the Ibuprofen you prescribe. I would like to hear from a urologist, who is in constant pain from Peyronies and hear what he is taking.

Another risk of excessive ibuprofen. MG

I am the wife of a 61 year old Peyronies patient. He has had it for several years, but it seems stable now. He also had Dupuytrens in both hands, which was resolved using the NA (needle aponeurotomy) technique. This is where the cord which formed is severed, and the hand can straighten naturally. There are only a few doctors here in the US who do this, and we had one in our area. We understand that NA and Peyronies are related. We know of several people who have both. We also know that the NA tends to run in families, as his grandfather, his mother, and at least one brother have it. I do not know if any of the men also have Peyronies, but know other friends that have both. We have read about the Lariche technique for Peyronies, which sounds like a similar process to NA. Because of his success with NA, we are very interested in this approach. However, we see that this technique is only available in France, and even that has not had any new posts on forums in years. We were wondering what the status of it is. It would seem that with so many men in the US focused on sexual health, that this condition would be more widely known about and treated here

Unlike the anatomy in Dupuytren's, the nerves supplying all the sensation to the head of the penis are immediately on top of the plaque in PD. Blindly cutting through it with a needle (Lariche tech) risks permanent numbness of the head of the penis. MG

November 2011

I am a 64 year old male and until recently (last 2 years) very active and fit. Over the last 6 months my penis has shortened and also become bent although not to a big degree. I have no pain during intercourse but do find it difficult to achieve, and maintain, an erection. About 18 months ago I developed pericarditis which lasted off and on around 12 months. The 2 medications I was on were Sotalol and Predsolone and I am wondering if this has caused the current problem. Although slightly more tired at times I have regained my previous fitness level and generally feel fairly good. The current problem is NOT improving and I would appreciate some advice.

I would talk to your cardiologist to see about getting off the beta blocker (sotalol) if possible. MG

I see you sometimes make recommendations for PD specialists. My urologist diagnosed PD about 2 years ago and a second concurred. Both said to wait until it caused problems I couldn't bear and then my urologist would deal with it. I'm not sure either is well enough versed with PD treatment. Could you recommend one in/around Louisville, KY?

Please refer to the link mentioned last month for locating specialists in this field. MG

I have had Peyronies for about five years and it has been stabilized for at least a couple of years. I have done the vitamin E and verapamil treatments to no avail. Would neprinol be worth a try? Are there any studies on its effectiveness and are there any potential negative side effects from neprinol??

I don't think there is a significant downside to trying it, but there is no literature suggesting it would be helpful at this point. MG

I am 24 years old and for the past year or so I have noticed that my penis has started to curve sightly to the left and upward (the curve has gotten better). I do not have pain with an erection but I am experiencing pain. After masturbating I will get shooting pains in the shaft of my penis for a few days. If I ice my penis during these pains it will help to ease them but I do notice that after icing, the middle of my penis is indented on both sides forming an hourglass shape. My erection is firm enough to put a condom on but it is still not nearly as firm as it used to be and my sex drive seems to have decreased. I used to wake up every morning with a rock hard erection and now I don't think that I even get erections at night anymore. In its flaccid state my penis has a bend to the left even more so than when I am erect. Thinking back I can remember a time a few years ago when my penis was bent while erect. As well as about a year ago when I was getting a hand job and I had to tell her to stop because it hurt. I am pretty certain that this is a mild form PD because of the trauma, curve and pain. However, my main concern since the curve of my penis is not too bad and seems to have stabilized is 1) my sexual future- Will this get worse with time? Am I still going to be able to perform 2) relieving the pain- I take advil all the time 3) making sure that I am not causing more damage during masturbation- I find my self try to get erections all day just to make sure it has not gotten worse.

This will probably improve with time. Beware a steady diet of ibuprofen can cause kidney problems. If you stop trying to get erections all the time your sex drive may get better. MG

October 2011

I am 19 from the Philippines, and its more or less a year now that I have noticed a lump 2 - 3 cm long on the right side of my shaft. When I consulted a urologist, he said that this is peyronies plaque, and advised me to undergo an operation immediately as this may cause severe pain during an erection. However, at this point in time, I dont feel any pain at all during erection, but I noticed a slight curve of my penis towards the left, which is different from the experiences of others. Is this this really peyronies disease? If it is, is there any simple remedy for this aside from surgery? Will taking vitamin E helps?

Definitely don't have surgery. At your age, time and vitamin E will probably help. MG

Iam 23 years old now. i'm masturbating from my 16. 2years before i felt my penis bending left and it caused pain during ejaculation (not at erection). There is no problem while shaking but i felt pain when semen came out. But now its ok. There is no pain now. But the bend was there. Did i get out of the peyronie disease ?. I'm still virgin now. Could i make an intercourse ? Does the bent cause any problem during intercourse ? Does women didn't like a bent penis ?

Doesn't sound like PD to me, you're probably OK. MG

I was diagnosed with Peyronies a few years ago, but doctor's here in Virginia offer no help. I have been dong some reading on my own, and find that simvastatin can cause peyronies or symptoms of the disease. Is this true? I take 40 mg of simvastatin a day and I have been doing so for many years. If I stop, will the Peyronies go away? The scar I have is about an inch long, it feels like a hard vein going in a circular pattern just under the head of my penis. It has got to the point where I cannot achieve a good enough erection for penetration.

Consider seeing Dr. Jordan in Norfolk. There is no clear-cut relationship between PD and simvastatin, but you may want to discuss with your doctor stopping it and using an alternative drug. MG

Im 30 years old and I had sex 5 days ago and immediately afterwards I felt a very mild pain on the top side of my penis about mid-shaft and on the left side only. Upon checking I realised that there is a small cord like lump about 1cm in length and 0.3mm in width. Its slightly tender and I feel mild pain when I press it. I had sex yesturday and there is no discomfort though the mild pain is still present. This cord like lump seems to expand with erection and there is no upward curvature at all. Im also not sure if this was there before as i have never felt any sort of pain in this area before.

Fortunately this does not sound like PD - it takes much longer for that to develop. MG

I have had a left curving penis for as long as I remember and I have not experienced any discomfort during sex with my wife. Kindly let me know if this sounds like peyronnies to you

No, this is congenital curvature and if it bothers neither you nor your wife, there is no need to do anything. MG

30 year old male. I experienced erectile trauma from 'missing' while having sex. Not a broken penis but saw urologist. Symptoms included erectile pain, lumps in penis. Iniatially told to avoid sexual activity to let things heal, and told not to use it if it hurts. Also start vitamin e.Initally I managed to make it about 3 weeks with no sexual activity. Masturbated lightly and sparingly since then. Now 3 months later, noticing a twist in penis and indentation. Erectile pain has improved slightly however worsens again with increased sexual activity.My question: Should I be resting my penis for trauma recovery, or should I be using it to minimize future pyronies symptoms?Thanks for clarification. Ps I also read one of your answers that said while resting after trauma, try to have no erections for 7 days... how!!!? Seems like a cycle the longer you go with no sex the harder and more intense the natural occurring erections are.

You should be using it, but gently. BTW you are right it is not possible to entirely avoid erections. MG

Seven years ago, I went to my urologist complaining of a flat, subcutaneous growth about .75cm in diameter on the left side of my penis just below the glans. The doctor gave neither diagnosis nor treatment suggesting the I wait and see if it would heal on its own, which it eventually did after a few months. Now I am 52 and the growth returned two months ago. Unlike last time, however, it's slightly larger. In addition, it's causing minor pain and slight curvature to the left when I'm erect. All other functions are normal, although I'm having some discomfort during sexual intercourse. My urologist has again recommended that I wait to see how it develops. I haven't found anything online about recurrent Peyronies and I'm wondering whether I may have it.

This does sound like a mild case of PD, though it usually develops, runs its course in 12 -18 months, then stabilizes - resolution followed by recurrence is unusual but not impossible. MG

I have recently been diagnosed with PD after living with the symptoms for 6-8 months. The only advise I was given was that vitamin might help, I believe it is much too late for that.I am now experiencing significant pain with my erections and the bend in my penis is becoming quite pronounced. Do you know of any surgeons or specialists in Ontario Canada who have more than a cursory knowledge of this decease?

To locate a knowledgeable urologist, try checking http://www.peyroniesassociation.org/physician-finder/ MG

Iam now 23 years old .iam a vegetarian. i started bending my penis at the age of 15(it was that at this age i noticed that) to left during errection. by about 18 years of age a swelling appeared on the left below the head.now my penis is bend left,downwards, but all are little bit deformations no pain is noticed in this whole period. also i can feel ring like hard lumps on the shaft .i am afraid of this suggest me something immediately

See a urologist and get examined. MG

69 y o and recently sharp kink to the left in mid shaft with pain when erect. A few days later I noticed what feels like hardening in the corpora cavenosa on the left side, down towards the base. I also have Dupuytren's contractures and have had radiation on the left one. I also have had ED for about 5 years but sometime it works ok other times can't keep erection. You may know that Peyronies and Dupuytren's are related, and it appears you have both - this is not uncommon. MG Hi I am a 36 yr old male diagnosed with peyronies. I noticed pain and a bb sized bump toward the top of my shaft about a year ago. No curvature to speak of but I have lost about an inch in length. However I noticed the other day that the bump is gone but I have now have two bumps on both sides of the shaft mid way down. This concerns me as I have not had any other trauma and frankly only have had sex on average about 2 times a month. My question is will this continue to happen for the rest of my life. Also do you think since the first bump went away the others will as well? Seems strange but the only thing I have taken is vitamin e and L arginine. Also do you think any male extension medications work or techniques that are safe to try?

This will probably not worsen. The L argenine and vit E are OK, but male extension meds don't work and stretching devices are usually reserved for patients with curvature. MG

I am 25 years old. I went to my urologist about 6 months ago after noticing a small lump near the end of my shaft, about half an inch from the head of my penis - underneath and a little to the left. He felt around and quickly diagnosed me with Peyronie's disease, upon which I started taking vitamin E supplements. About 4 months later I noticed another lump but on the right side, just slightly larger (mind you never noticed this one before after thoroughly searching upon finding the first). It's also about BB sized and on the right side, just under my shaft near the head of my penis. Definitely on the shaft, not the head. Upon noticing this, I'm concerned it may be something besides Peyronie's. My other suspisions for a possible misdiagnosis from my urologist include: " I do not have any curvature of the penis [yet] nor have I in the past. " While slightly uncomfortable sometimes, I do not experience pain like most with Peyronie's do, though I also do not exhibit the penis curvature most do - my urologist never inquired about curvature or pain. " Age - while not impossible to get Peyronie's at this age, it may also point to another disease/condition. The bumps (2 total) are only noticeable when flaccid or just partially erect.

I would agree with you the diagnosis of PD is a bit suspect. MG

I am a 30 year old man who was diagnosed with Pyronies over 2 years ago. It did not make sex impossible but it made it difficult. The hospital advised me to use viagra and pain killers as i was starting to suffer pain. However, with long time between my appointments my penis began to deteriorate and i was experiencing some pain. By the time i was seen at the hospital again i had lumps half way down each side of my penis from the tip end. This causes my penis to give me discomfort daily and my penis to form a semi flacid hour glass shape making intercourse impossible. My only option now seems to be to have implants. At such a young age is this a good option?

If you do not have a great deal of length loss but only the hourglass, and your erections are hard, I would be inclined to consider a reconstructive approach using temporalis fascia as a graft. MG

September 2010

Hi, I am a 48 year old woman married to a 64 year old man and we have a fairly normal sex life. Lately I have noticed his penis is curving downward a little bit near the head. It's not dramatic but definitely more curved than it used to be. I am worried it may be the beginnings of Peyronie's. Can the shape and curvature of a man's penis change over time without necessarily being caused by a disease or condition? Does Peyronie's ever result in a downward curve? And is there some simple test we can perform at home that would reveal whether the new curve is or is not a symptom of early Peyronie's? Thanks so much for maintaining this website; it is very useful.

Peyronies can curve downward; this diagnosis would be suggested if you can feel a bump in the flaccid penis at that point. MG

I was diagnosed with Peyronie's about 8 years ago and have 2 surgeries to date aimed at correcting the curvature. Outcome from the first surgery was ineffective (Nesbit procedure); this urologist (in Buffalo, NY) has since retired. Specialist # 2 is Dr. Terrance Malloy at the University of Pennsylvania who has also performed a surgery which has straightened the penis somewhat. Oral sex works however normal intercourse doesn't as my penis doesn't stay erect. If you can, would you please recommend/suggest someone in the NJ or NYC area that I could make an appointment with to review all the facts. If I lived in CA, I would probably set such an appointment with you.

Thank you, I would suggest Dr. John Mulhall at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. MG

Can i mix pentoxyfilline and Neprinol as a treatment for PD?Will i have any side effects combining those 2?

I believe they can be used together, though you may want to check with your pharmacist. MG

Your site answered everything for me. Both the education portion, and the forum. Your answers are so clear, concise, and yet complete. What a relief. Now, I'm off to see my urologist

Thank you. MG

August 2010

Is there any direct link between this disease and "agent orange" contacted while in Vietnam??

Not that I know of. MG

I developed a 90 degree left angle bend at the base of the penis approx 2 years ago. It has also been curving. I can't say that Im experiencing any pain but I believe its also getting smaller. Without Cialis or Viagra, intercourse or masturbation would be impossible. Cannot maintain an erection, starts off ok but almost immediately, becomes flaccid. Married for 30 years and still enjoy my wife (enjoyed). I do recall as a teenager (14, 15?) was walking the rail of a split rail fence, slipped and went down on it between my legs. Dont recall too much but it hurt like a mother and not sure if related. Not really sure where to go now.

If your medical condition permits, Implant surgery may be the best answer based on the erectile dysfunction. MG

I am 61 years of age. I started having pain during ejulation. I begain to notice a curve ypward in my penius. My doctore told me it sounds like Peyronies and there is nothing you can do and it will go away. It's been a cuple of years and I no longer have pain, but my penius is bent up so much that intercouse is impossiable. I do not have pain during ejaculation. If I awaken during the night and have ericition of any kind I cannot urinate at all no matter how bad I have to go until it goes down.

If this has been present 2 years, medications are not likely to help, though collagenase (which is still in testing phases) may be a possibility in the future. You may want to consider surgery. MG

Thank you very much for this site. I've had PD for over 5 years now. I didn't seek any medical consultation as the disease was progressing from bad to worse. I now seem to be at the final stages; the elasticity almost gone. I saw two urologists in Damascus. They examined my penis with hard pinches and presses all over it as if they were looking for the plaques. Is it possible that such an examination may cause further damage to an already susceptible penis or is it just my imagination? I want to thank you separately for the list of specialists that you have compiled. What would be a trustworthy source for me to find more specialists in Europe?

Examinations shouldn't make your condition worse. I suggest you contact Dr. Arie Lindner in Tel Aviv or Dr. Manolis Panagiotou in Athens. MG

Hi I am 26 yrs old and about a month ago I noticed an indent directly on top middle of my penis when erect and it also hurts while erect. I'm guessing it's peyronis from other peoples questions but what I want to know is could taking Viagra may have caused this? And will taking Viagra make it worse? Thank you

Doubtful that this is PD, which is not caused by Viagra. The question is, why at age 26 are you taking Viagra? MG

I am a 51 year old man wth PD first diagnosed two years ago with major curvature toward the belly and pain with intercourse. I underwent Vitamin E ingestion and a series of Verapamil injections. The condition seemed to stabilize. I now have a slight upward bend with slight shortening. I have primarily used Viagra for ED, but this seems to be losing it's effect. I recently went to a local men's sexual treatment center, and they demonstrated a tri-mix injection, which was instantaneoulsy effective. However, could going to the injections exacerbate the PD?

Yes, they can so this is a subtle judgement call. They clearly work great for erections so if nothing else works you can consider using them with careful supervision - stopping them at the first sign of change in plaque or bending. MG

I am 50 years old and I have been monitoring my PD for about a year now. It started with an indentation on the left side of the base, but has now progressed to a severe curvature. Even with the initial indentation, the length was not affected and although the shaft was slightly rotated, the bending was minimal. Just under one year later, I am now severely bent, considerably shortened and noticeably curved. Fortunately, I have not experienced any pain. Still I am seeking suggestions on reversing the condition. Even before the onset, I had been taking a Vitamin E pill every day, but it has obviously not done very much in preventing or reversing the condition. About three or four years ago, I also noticed the development of Dupuytren's contractures in my left palm, although it has not gotten to the stage where it has caused any restriction in movement or extension of my finger. I am also prone to getting keloids. Does this mean that I am likely to have PD for the rest of my life, barring surgery, or is there still a chance of natural reversal?

With the events you described and your history of dupuytren's, there is little chance of natural reversal. MG

i'm 20 years old, and i have been searching a lot about Peyronie's disease. i have a curved penis downwards, and i'm really worried about it. also, i think that my penis is too big.

This is congenital curvature, not PD. If it is bent badly you should consider Nesbit procedure. MG

In Peyronie's, is there a burning sensation in the testicles and track leading to and including the penis during ejaculation?

No. MG

I'm 37 years old and I had double inguinal hernia surgery over a year ago. They used synthetic mesh. Since then, I have had painful erections which got worse several months after the surgery as I finished healing. My penis is straight, I have no bumps, and my erections are more solid than before surgery, but there is a tight cord along the top of my penis that causes discomfort. It runs right along the top of my penis and is pretty thick. When I have an erection, it almost feels like it's too tight. If I push down on my penis to try and stretch it, it does provide some relief and during intercourse I eventually get warmed up (or stretched out) and it feels better. If I have frequent sex, the pain is lessened which I assume is from remaining flexible. If I go a week or 2 without sex, when I have an erection it is more painful. Could I have Peyronies caused by the surgery? Am a drawing a wrong conclusion that scar tissue from the surgery could have caused this? I mentioned it to my general practitioner who simply assured me that hernia surgery has nothing to do with my penis area and I have yet to see a specialist. I still strongly believe it is related as I had no pain until after the surgery. What do you think? Are the two related and what do you suggest?

There may be a relationship - I would suggest you consult a urologist. MG

I just turned 60 and have noticed that within the past three months I have developed a severe curvature towards the head of the penis pointing back towards my stomach. I have also notice a shortening of the penis along with this severe curvature, but have experienced no pain during erection or non erection. Based on what I have researched it sounds like Peyronies disease. My theory is that it is age related and plague related. I would appreciate any advice from your forum as this is not an easy topic to discuss.

This certainly sounds like PD, so you should see a urologist. MG

I noticed a small lump approximately 2 months ago and recently received a diagnosis (no tests, only manual examination) of Peyronies Disease. The part of the diagnosis that raises a question in my mind is that the lump is fairly symmetrical around the urethra and there is no curvature and no pain. Perhaps it was caught early enough to prevent those problems but I still have not found anything that indicates symmetry is typical. I have been taking Vitamin E for several weeks and started Colchicine after the urologist diagnosis. Do you have any other thoughts on an alternative condition that could be considered?

A urine test to rule out primary urethral disease. MG

July 2010

3 years ago after a period of a month's abstinence, I found I had suddenly and with no obvious reason developed a pretty severe bend of about 45deg upwards, just before the glans, 1.5" lost length (top third seems not to get erect), and pain when erect. This has varied some, ever since, occasionally just about OK to achieve rather painful and unhappy sex, at other times hopeless. The financial situation has improved some, but this is much more depressing. In most respects the symptoms are classic Peyronie's but I was unable to find any trace of plaque. Still, I assumed it was Peyronie's and there was little point going to the doctor due to absence of effective treatment options. But after 3 years it really has not stabilised at all. Erections still hurt though distortion varies between a severe banana shape and the 45 degree hook, either way rather weak. I still can find no trace of plaque. The dorsal vein feels like knotty cord for most/all of its length from the base to the glans. When younger I used to occasionally get a hardened section of vein maybe 4mm long that would soften within a week or so. The whole vein now feels like this to a greater or lesser extent, although the inflammation varies, as does the pain, shortening and bend. This sounds more like Mondor's, but it hasn't resolved. Erection and/or sex seems to harden the knotty inflammation of the vein

There may be something going on with the dorsal vein, though that (mondor's syndrome) will not cause the length loss or curvature. MG

I was wondering if you've gathered any more data on these stretch devices

Early data suggest that if you can wear one for more than 4 hours per day, it may help curvature. MG

I was diagnosed about 18 months ago. I went to a urologist and he offered nothing but to come back in a year. I am 42 and have been taking propecia for about 5 years and I think that this is what contributed to my condition because it caused softer erections. The plaque was small and only noticeable to the touch near the base. I only had an indentation on the side of my penis but intercourse was painful. About 6 months ago I had hemorrhage in my penis due to hitting the mattress during sex. Now my penis has a large plaque on top near the head and my penis has noticeable bent but I no longer have pain during intercourse.I still take propecia because I figure if this was part of cause the damage is done and I also take 400 mg of vitamin E daily. Do you think my peyronies has stabilized?

Based on the time elapsed and the resolution of pain, I would say yes. MG

I'm 18 years old and just in the last few days even heard of PD. I looked up conditions after some difficulty performing with my girlfriend, concerns being the significant downward curvature, probably 20 degrees or so, starting just past the middle of the shaft directly downwards, with no deviation from side to side. There does appear to be scar tissue on the bottom of the shaft, and it's been as such for as long as I can remember. The apparent scar tissue is definitely inhibiting flexibility and attributing to the curve, but I'm not sure if I understand what scar tissue is being referred to in PD, be it inside or outside, I believe the description means inside, though I'm experiencing the contrary. I've been concerned about this for a while, but only have had problems maintaining erections recently, and the shape made penetration extremely awkward and difficult. I'm hoping to see a urologist soon, but have made no plans as of yet. Is this PD? Or something else? And how urgent should I be in consulting a physician? I'm not experiencing pain, just difficulties.

You don't have PD, but congenital curvature. If this is creating a significant problem for you, the only solution is a Nesbit procedure. MG

Hi i have been using a penus pump and vereus extention creams for a wile now but don't see any permanent resolts,am i wasting my time and monny or dose penus pumps realy work for permanent results?

Unfortunately the long term results with this method are unkown. MG

June 2010

I have a severe case of Pyronnies (I have had an ultrasound, mri scan and a dye contrast surgery to confirm this-they have told me that surgery is only option, impotence, etc. is very high, etc.-surgery is out of the question for me-I am trying acupuncture and am seeing a naturalist and am wrapping my penis with castor oil five nights a week-I am also taking herbs and supplements that supposedly help in this area-my question is this-it is my understanding that the calcification comes about due to the hardening of tissue for some unknown reason-since they are sticking needles into my penis, won't that cause trauma at the point of the needles stick, i.e. more blood into the area that could calcify and make it worse-bottom line is acupuncture a good choice-any indication it works-where should the needles be placed, etc.

I don't have any experience with acupuncture, but I don't believe the needles are placed into the penis itself. MG

I am 47 years old. I noticed a few weeks ago that I had some discomfort during erections. I checked myself and discovered two bb sized lumps on the side of my penis. I have since discovered two more lumps and have noticed a very distinct dent in the side of my penis at the base. It also has started to curve to the right. I have some intermittent pain while not erect as well. Does this sound like peyronies?

Yes. MG

A large indent to the side of my penis and a lump inside were the beginning of a lot of frustration. Visits to Doctors and Urologists confirmed the diagnosis of PD. They all offered no hope , this was 4 years ago. At 47years of age the effect this had on me mentally, was severe, the hour glass shape , leakage and shrinkage was hard to deal with. My wife was a tower of support, encouraged me continually and was so supportive. We both felt that natural medicine was the only hope. Great news is that my course of self treatment and through Gods goodness the PD has being totally reversed. Gone is the dent along with the plaque/ scar tissue and the length and girth has been restored and actually increased. The course I undertook involved the following. " Acupuncture to increase blood flow to the area. " Herbs which I have to prepare by simmering and bottling, these were supplied by my Chinese Herbalist. " Herbs and VIP cream from Lin Institute in America. " Sparing use of Mechanical Extender from X4 labs in Canada( This was to break down or stretch the scar tissue) " Weight loss and exercise program and cut back of alcohol consumption. " Positive mind set. I can report that after over 2 years of treatment I have regained the original length plus more and all that remains is a slight indentation that can hardly be felt. It I s a lot of hard work but proves that PD can be beat by Eastern Medicine, a positive outlook, support from your wife and more than all prayer.

Thanks for the report. MG

I am 53 years old and have Dupuytren's contractures in both hands, first noticed about 5 years ago. Approximately 8 to 10 months ago I rolled over on a nocturnal erection and basically "folded" my penis to a degree that was painful enough to wake me and cause me to yell and cuss and wake my wife. I noticed after a short period that erections were a little painful but did not seek treatment assuming it was one of those injuries that would heal naturally. After a while I noticed a severe reduction in size, both in length and circumference as well as increased pain when erect. I went to my doctor who said I had scar tissue but didn't recommend any action. I saw a Urologist today who explained the risks involved in surgical solutions, and I have ruled that out since I'm still functional - if you don't count being too short to be very useful with regards to intercourse - and the pain due to erections is fading as time goes on. I'm thinking of taking Neprinol AFD (systemic enzymes) and vitamin E To see if that has any positive results over time, and would like to know who makes Collagenase and how it is administered (orally I assume?). Anybody with experience with Peyronies resulting from trauma and/or related to Dupuytren's ? Collagenase or systemic enzymes?

Peyronies is clearly related to both trauma and dupuytrens. While collagenase (which is administered by injection) is FDA approved for dupuyrtrens, it is currently in clinical testing for PD. There is no harm in trying vit.E and neprinol. MG

I have PD and had an operation some 5 years ago to correct the curvature. As a result I lost 4cm in length and a fairly large area of sensitivity. If I had known the consequences of having the operation at the time, I would never have had it as although the curvature was sever, almost 90degree, it wasn't painful nor was it obstructing the sexual act. My question is about the possibility of reversing the operation which involved (in simplistic terms) pinching together flesh on the outer side of the curve. I can now feel the stitch that was used as it was explained to me that they couldn't use dissolving stitches. I am 57 years old and feel that the operation took something away that I want back!

It may be possible to remove the pinching stitches and apply a graft to incisions across the plaque on the inner side of the curve, though this would not be without risk. MG

I have been diagnosed with Peyronies by my Urologist over a yr ago. At that time, my doctor prescribed colchinine with some hope of breaking down the plac . Currently, I am not experiencing any pain with erection, but have suffered an embarrassing reduction in length and staying power during intercourse. Quality lovemaking is VERY important to me and I am desperate for help. This embarrassment & lack of fulfillment is more on my part rather than my wife ( my impression). She has not said anything about it, but it's really effects my self esteem. 3 questions: a) What has been your experience with success of colchinine in reducing the plac and reverting back to straight erections? b) Recently I saw an article on Neprinol on the net indicating that it has some good results with dissolving the plac and improving the curvature caused by Peyronies. Can you shed any insight on the effectiveness of this product and the Peyronies Disease Institute's work? c) The risk /reward of surgery concern me. Any new news?

Colchicine seems to work better to prevent progression of early disease than to reverse established deformity. There is no harm in trying neprinol, though there is no peer-reviewed data confirming it has any effect. The Peyronies disease institute is not a scientific establishment, but a commercial entity. MG

I am a 30 year old male and about 4 to 5 years ago I noticed I had a hard flat spot under top flesh of my penis (about 1 cm long and .5 cm wide) so I went to the urologist and he told me it was just a lesion, probably from a trauma during rough sex, but he told me not to worry and to just take Vitamin E for about 3 months which I did. However, just last week I went for a regular check up with a different urologist and he diagnosed me with Peyronie's Disease and told me that the hard spot was a plaque. He only prescribed me Colchicine and Diprospan but other than that he just said I should wait and see what happens since I had had the same plaque with no changes for the last 5 years with no consequences. My sex life has not been affected at all by this plaque and I have never had any pain, I do however have a bent shape when erect but to be honest I always though it was normal and never had any problems with penetration, nevertheless I am still worried because of what the doctor diagnosed. I would like to know what are the chances that the plaque will stay the same size as it has for the last four years or if there is a chance it will expand and create future problems? and also if it is wise to just 'wait and see' as my doctor suggested? Is there a chance the plaque will eventually disappear? and are there any side effects from the medication he prescribed? what can I do to avoid triggering the disease?

If this has been stable for 4 years, you have little to worry about - the chance it will progress at this point is very small. MG

I had my first noticeable sympton in Dec of 09. The lump didn't effect anything or hurt at first. Since about Feb of 09 I have had a lot of pain with every erection and it continues to this day. It wakes me up every night each time i get an erection. Sex is just too painful. I've been to my "do nothing urologist" , vitamin e, motrim etc and a few of the online products to no avail. My pain is even there when i dont have an erection. My erections are not curved or maybe ever so slightly, but there is noticeable shortning and what feels like a pulling sensation at the head. The pain can only be appreciated by someone who has it. I'm entering my 17th month, i can't get a full nights sleep in well over year and feel desperate. Is there anything for the pain i can do or take that works

Talk to your urologist about a course of verapamil or interferon injections. MG

May 2010

A few weeks ago during intercourse I noticed a very slight downward curvature of my erect penis. After searching the web I find some similarities with what I read about PD, however I am not sure. My symptoms do not include any visible scarring or nodules, absolutely no pain and no dysfunctional use of my penis. The curvature is actually more of an indention on the underside of my penis about an inch below the tip. Is this the onset of PD and, if so, I assume I should start taking Vitamin E and see my doctor?

If this curve and indent are something new, I think that would be a good idea. MG

I believe my husband has this disease. About 6 months ago we noticed his penis was bending severely to the left. I joked with him about breaking it. (We noticed it almost overnight) Now, 6 months later, his penis is much smaller in diameter, especially at the base of the shaft, and is still bent to the left. He is still able to ejaculate. However, his penis is not firm enough for me to orgasm. To save him the embarrassment, I often fake orgasm. Our sex life leaves me disappointed. Sometimes it is not erect enough to even enter me, so he has to masturbate to achieve his fulfillment. This of course does nothing for me either. My husband is only 42 years old. He has had diabetes for over 20 years. We are way to young to give up this part of our relationship. I believe he is to embarrassed to speak to his doctor about this. Any suggestions?

He should see a urologist with experience in treating PD - with his long history of diabetes and its known adverse effect on erectile function, penile implant surgery would be a consideration. MG

I am 68 years old, I was diagnosed with Peyronies Disease July 2007 and I'm in constant and variable pain during my waking hours but get relief at night even during any wakeful moments. The pain usually starts about mid morning and continues consistently thereafter. Mindful of the timescale, can you please tell me what you think is the cause of this distress. No problem with the curvature or any intimacy, it is just the pain that is affecting my quality of life.

That is very unusual - pain tends to resolve on its own after 12 to 18 months in most cases. In the absence of bending etc, it makes me wonder about the diagnosis. MG

Two months ago I tried jelqing and strectching for the first time to enlarge my penis. I will never do this again. Immediately after it became sore and I had trouble getting an erection for the next week or two. Also I used to always wake up with an erection and now it is very rare to wake up with one. My penis is now becoming quite bent to the left, and erections are becoming painful. I've been to the urlogist and he said there is some thickening of the fibres. He said take 400 units Vitamin E daily and wait. I am trying to get a second opinion. I've read that during the first few months, there is a chance of reducing scar tissue development. It's been two months and I am in alot of pain still. I can't just sit and wait to see what happens. What can I do to prevent the scar tissue from developing? Should I be abstinent or continue having sex with my wife? I kind of feel like keeping it active will be good for it, despite the pain.

No need to stop activity, just use something like advil and be gentle. Talk to your doctor about trying colchicine for a few months. MG

I have lived with mild PD for over 15 years now, the condition has totally stabilized, and I just have the 'divots' and moderately reduced size/girth. Is there anything worth exploring to get back to where I was after so long? can the new injections of the collagenase do anything for such old conditions with clear plaques? or maybe try physical devices? thank you or your help and forum

Collagenase may be capable of improving deformity in longstanding PD, though this remains to be determined. Without bending, stretching devices are not warranted. A vacuum pump may help with the narrowing. MG

I'm a 40 yo male. Experienced painful erections for a 6-month period about 6 years ago. Went to see a local urologist at that time who said he felt "plaques" mid-shaft in my penis. Sounds suspicious for PD. MG During the past year I've noticed: 1) my erect penis size has become slightly smaller and not as hard, 2) an hourglass shape forming during a "slow" erection, 3) a BB-sized thrombosis mid-shaft, erect or flacid, which may last for days at a time then disappears for days at a time.

This also sounds like PD. MG

My husband has severe curvature in two different directions and narrowing at the base. He has been diagnosed with PD. He was to have surgery but our insurance company will not cover any type of erectile dysfunction. They refuse to understand that not only is this a sexual dysfunction but also makes urinating very difficult with the problem of curvature. We have filed one appeal and have one more shot. Any suggestions at a different way to present the need for surgery?

That is a serious problem - I have seen a few insurance policies that exclude PD treatment, though the majority (including medicare) cover it, recognizing this is a physical problem and acknowledging sexual function is as much a part of normal life as anything else. MG

I am 21 years old, and considered myself to be healthy so far. Then last week, while penis was errected, i noticed a lump on a ventro-lateral lower part of the shaft. Thought it was due to intensive masturbation from a day before. There was no any other possible trauma to the penis. There was some pain -while touching,pressing the lump, which lasted for some 2-3 days. The pain dissapeared but,still when erected can feel the lump- it's there. Found out it might be Peyronie's. My penis isn't curved, it's straight both when errected n flaccid; and didn't notice any lenght loss so far. However from then, my erections aren't as firm as they were before, and for the last couple of days i havent had any woodies in the mornings. Am worried cause of that so my questions to you are : 1. do you think it's Peyronie's ?; 2. If it is, will my penis curve eventually, loose on lenght and most of all become impotent ? 3. Cause of my young age is there any chance the PD could resolve itself eventually without/with any treatment and what threatment that would be ?

Doubt this is PD. Give it a rest and it will get better. MG

I'm a 63 year old man & was diagnosed with PD 3 years ago, and was also begining to have some ED problems. After a hospital visit the specialist said to wait for 6 months & then consider surgery. However for the ED issues I was given cialis by my GP and I can get a really hard erection such that I can't believe that the option to "shorten" the underside of my penis would work, i.e. as I can't even bend it straight by hand, surely the shortening would just tear out at the first opportunity. Due to moving out of the area I had to cancel my last hospital appointment so am now in limbo. I was never offered any of the alternatives I now see on your site, so should I try vitamin E etc.

After 3 years it is unlikely vitamin E or any other oral medications will work. If you get good erections with cialis, the Nesbit procedure would probably work very well, unless you have very severe curvature or a lot of indentation. MG

I am 38 years old, and recently (no more than two months ago) I experienced some pain during erection, and afterwards even in normal status. Some slight deformation is also visible, although I would not say there is a clear bending. An ecography showed the presence of three small calcifications up to three mm, in correspondence of two small bumps that I could perceive by touching. After a visit, the urologist concluded that I have lapeyronie, and suggested to take vitamine E (500 mg per die) and six cortisone injections (1 per week), which I should start this week. I must confess that I am not convinced by the injections, also after reading negative comments on specialised sites; I know that effectiveness of remedies is anyway dubious because of the present incomplete knowledge about the pathology, but I read that cortisone injections might damage healthy tissues leading to possible atrophy of the latter, which would be obviously an additional unwanted source of troubles.

Vitamin E - OK, cortisone no. MG

Im almost 71 years old and have been suffering from erectile dysfunction for a while. Have been taking cialis etc but eventually went for a blood test and it was found that my testosterone levels were dropping. It was 4.6 but now down to 3.4 > I have been taking injections of testosterone for the past 6 months and must go for another test during tis month. In between I visited a mens clinic who did not do any blood tests but instead gave em a series of penile injections to take before intercourse, I used it about three times strictly as shown also as shown on the pamphlet but I have stopped because I noticed that my penis was bending to one side...something I never had before,. Havent tried intercourse since i noticed this. It is not painful, but the erection does not seem to be as strong as normal with the cialis or viagra. Can I continue with the viagra ? I have also been able to get the new type of cialis from my local GP {once a day type} and intend trying that. Any advice ??

Low dose daily cialis would be worth a try. MG

My boyfriend is 54 yrs old and has been diagnosed with PD. Question: We noticed the onset of symptoms coincided with him being put on medications for severe high blood pressure. He finally went to a urologist after bending of the penis. He has apparently always had some mild symptoms - could the meds have compounded it? If so, are there drug alternatives that he should discuss with his doctor? Also, what about L-Arginine supplements? Thanks!

L-argenine supplements are safe and may be worth a try. If the blood pressure medication is a beta blocker, he should discuss changing medications with his doctor. MG

I am 56 years old and for several years I have been dealing with ED. I used viagra and levitra with mixed results. In the fall of 2009 I started penile injection for ED with alprostadil - pap - phent and it worked well. Early 2010 I started a new batch of alprostadil and that first injection I got a weird reaction - one side of the shaft was swollen and I got a weak erection. I saw my urologist who suggested I just injected in a bad place. I soon tried the injection again and it worked just fine, however, soon after and I don't really remember how long I noticed a marked curvature to my penis and tightness or a feeling of the tip being binded, also it was getting painful with an erection. I saw my urologist who confirmed that I have peyronie's but he did not think it was related to the penile injection. He said we should take a wait and see approach as peyronie's sometimes heal themselves. I would like, however a second opinion if there is any corelation between peyronie's and the penile injections.

Sometimes these injections can bring on or worsen mild pre-existing PD. At this point I would stop using injections for 4 - 6 months. You may consider using a vacuum pump instead. MG

Hi, I'm 19 years old and recently noticed a slight curve to the left (around 10 degrees max.). I have always known my penis to lean to the left slightly when erect, however, im fairly sure there has not been an actual bend there before. There appears to be a ridge on either side (but not on top or bottom) of the shaft around the area where the bend is, but it is not a hard plaque, it feels soft. I have recently had some trouble regarding mild trauma to my right testiclem could it be a result of this? I was wondering, could this be anything other than Peyronie's disease? Also, how long do the full effects of Peyronie's take to manifest if this is indeed the beginnings of the disease? Thankyou very much for any response, much appreciated!

Probably not PD, but mild congenital curvature - usually does not require treatment. MG

April 2010

I am 65 and have been diagnosed with PD about a year ago and have probably had it for 3 years or more. On Vitamin E for past 18 months - PD seems stable. Using Viagra/Cialis for ED for 6 years or so. Any data or experience that these drugs worsen the process of DP? What about herbal products like P-Boost (p-boost.com) that claim erectile improvement - any concern with this product in PD?

On the contrary, there is evidence to suggest the Viagra class of drugs may actually reduce scarring and thereby help patients with PD. MG

Is Peyrotin beneficial for the treatment of Peryonies Disease. Their website boasts a100% cure rate. Has anyone tried this treatment and with what sort of results.

There is no scientific data on this product that I know of. Keep in mind that no drug known has a 100% cure rate. MG

As I´m reading this forum I´m almost shure that I have PEYRONIES. My question is if the penis is shrinking though you´re not having any change in the angle of the penis in the erect condition. Let´s say your penis is 18 cm and you don´t have a bend or o curve. Is the penis still able to shrink?

Yes. MG

I´m worried now. I need to see the doctor. I´ve been having pain in erect condition and the penis takes very long(5-15 min) to become none-erect. When it´s erect it is hard as...well.....stone. Really. The whole penis. Been having it for years but lately the pain has increased. Am I too late.?

No but you should see a urologist. MG

Has there been any experimentation with platelet rich plasma therapy for peyronies?

No. MG

I am 67 and frequently sexually active. Last week, i noticed that my penis had (within the last week) developed a curve, and apparently lost about one inch of its length. When I'm flaccid, there is no noticeable difference, but when I am erect, there is a curve to the left, as well as curving back toward my stomach more than usual. I have been taking Atenolol, a beta blocker, for about 2 years.

That certainly sounds like PD. Evidence suggests beta blockers may be bad for PD patients. MG

I'm a 30 year old man who was diagnosed with Peyronies in April 2009. This came only months after I began taking a low dose of Inderal (10mg 2x a day) for tachycardia. The urologist I saw said he was not an expert on the condition in young men, but that he does not believe that it happened because of the inderal. When I spoke with my cardiologist, he said he did not believe it was caused by inderal either and suggested I stay with it since it works well to relieve discomfort with my heart and that I'm very phobic to taking new medications. My question is this, how come the internet is practically littered with comments that Inderal can cause Peyronies, but all the specialists and doctors comment that they either don't believe that it's related, or there's no causal evidence. Considering the level of my fear of taking or even changing medications due to panic disorder, I really need some guidance here. Peyronies has been spreading over the past year, and is causing me SEVERE depression. I honestly don't think I have ever in my life become so depressed. I should also note that my peyronies is very painful, it feels similar to a heavy pinch in between the flesh of the index finger and the thumb. This is a constant pain, and the only time it has alleviated is when the peyronies settled in one area, only to begin when it reaches a new place.

As I mentioned above, there is evidence that would suggest you get off the beta blocker and use some other drug for your cardiac problem. MG

I've developed PD a year ago with 90% angle. I have no pain or erection problem, just a 90% upward curve, which looks and feels crazy... I'm thinking to get a Tissue Grafts and wander if you can help me with. Also, is it possible to make penis wider in girth while performing Tissue Grafts (I thought as long you're doing reconstructive surgery anyway why not to make the best of it)?

I have had a great deal of experience with temporalis fascia grafts for PD. They are capable of correcting areas of indentation, but cannot widen the whole penis. MG

I'm a 59 year old man in decent physical condition. I recently have noticed a lump in my penis. It is located about 1 inch forward from the base of the penis, on top. It is about the size of a small grape or a large peanut. It's not visible from the outside, but can be felt below the surface when flaccid. It is not discernable when the penis is erect. There is no bending when erect and no pain is associated with the lump. Also, I self-catheterize three or four times a day due to an atonic bladder ( T-12 spinal fracture in 1985). Sound like Peyronies disease?

This does sound like PD, which can occasionally be brought on by catheterization. Since you need to continue with this regimen of self cath, I would suggest starting vitamin E 400 units per day, which may prevent this plaque from progressing. You can also talk to your doctor about taking colchicine 0.6mg two or three times a day for a few months. MG

March 2010

I am 34 years old and in good health overall. I recently noticed a small bb size lump on the right side of the shaft. I went to a urologist who told me I may have Peyronies and advised me to take Vitamin E for 6 months or so and nothing else. He did not seem concerned whatsoever of course I am. I have no pain whatsoever and no curvature that I can notice. Since he told me this, I have been hypercritical about what I see or what I feel but overall, everything looks and feels "normal" to me. Besides the bb sized lump I cannot feel any other hard areas anywhere on the shaft. The lump appeared sometime around January 15, 2010 and at this point, I have seen no change in the size or sensitivity (as its not sensitive). I scheduled another appointment with a urologist who specializes in peyronies. Based on these facts, I wanted to know your opinion on whether you think this sounds like peyronie's?

With no pain or curvature I doubt this is PD. MG

We are a group of researchers at McGill University conducting an ethics approved and federally funded study on male sexuality. As a part of our research we are developing a scale to assess male genital self image as an important part of male sexual health. One of our hypotheses is that changes in male genital shape or function will impact sexuality through their self image. We are presently collecting information about this by having men fill out a short online survey about their genitals and feelings towards them. Would you be willing to post the link to our survey on your site to help us access your population? Our aim is to help better understand male sexuality with the purpose of improving quality of life. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards, Seth Davis, BA, PhD Candidate McGill University Department of Psychology www.binik-lab.com

Thanks. MG

I am 22 years old and healthy. Over the past year I have watched my sex life continuously get worse. I think I have a masturbation problem. For the past couple years I have usually masturbated at least once a day sometimes more, without lubrication. Recently I have noticed that there is a massive indent on one side of my penis. It is only noticeable when erect or semi erect. When I masturbate I can barely keep an erection. If i stop it goes down instantly. During sex I cant maintain a strong enough erection. It usually just fades during some point or I will somehow ejaculate really fast with a semi hard penis. The appearance is odd and i think i am smaller which is horrible. However, at this point I am just concerned with getting legitimate erections again. I went to a urologist who thinks it is Peyronies but found no evidence of plaques.

Unlikely to be PD at your age, with the absence of plaque. MG

Hello I'm 25 yrs old I think I've had PD for about 8 yrs now, if that is what I have I'm not sure! It is a bend but it's downwards and it may have been because I stopped ejaculation before by pressing on my shaft (I'm not sure if that would cause it)? Either way it's not painful and it's bent down as I said, I've had some Premature ejaculation for a few years now, could PD be the cause and can it make me lose my sexual function, other than the PE problem I seem to be fine. Should I be concerned and see a specialist?

I think that would be a good idea, if for no other reason than to give you some answers. If your problem started at age 17 I would say this is congenital curvature, not PD. MG

My partner has hourglass Peronies and experiences pain with erections. He is 35. It has developed over the last 3 months or so. The hour glass is notable and the bend is about 20 degrees. The penis shaft feels restricted at the top like a rubber band is over it. We have not seen a urologist yet. We are very scared, and feel isolated. QUESTION 1: What are the first steps to reducing the pain, and the curvature - injections? He takes Vit E 400mg every day anyway. Will the pain subside? In most cases? QUESTION 2: I have read that in some cases the pain subsides in the first 6 - 12 months, what is the percentage likelyhood the pain will subside, as the bend is not restricting sexual intercourse? QUESTION 3: From all the reading I have done am I correct in saying that the phases are: penis pain and some curvature - approx a year, followed by a period of stabilisation and pain subsidence, with curvature increasing and getting increasingly curved over time?

If the pain is bad ibuprofen will help. You are right the pain will eventually go away on its own. You may see some increase in curvature over that time. MG

What are the dangers of surgery ?

Depends on the type of surgery, but includes Erectile dysfunction, length loss, sensory loss, or imperfect correction of curvature. MG

I noticed about 4 months ago that I was having painful nocturnal erections. It then transpired into painful intercourse of which I dont have very frequently because of lack of sex drive mainly. I noticed last week that sex was ultra painful and I could feel a pea size hard mass in the middle of the shaft of my penis. I have no curvature or bend but I am still thinking it is peyronies the more I read. I started taking vitamin e and have an appt with a urologist. Is it possible I will never lose penis size or have any curve or is that pretty much a given in the coming months. What to do.

Go see a urologist. Length loss is not a given in every case. MG

Hi, im 30years old, fit active, exercise regularly. Over the last few years i have noticed a gradual "wasting" of my penis. It has become very soft, flaccid and shrunken when not erect. There also appears to be a contracting band or tightening on the shaft towards the end of my penis which can give it a one-sided hour glass shape. i have been to see my GP who thought possibly it may be peyronies disease or some thing similar. I have no pain in my penis and have no trouble getting an erection. There is no deviation/curvature in my erection. However the symptoms are really affecting me and ruining my sex life and relationship. I used to have a normal, "fuller" penis when not erect. When i was younger i was very 'rough' when masturbateing and im concerned i have done long term damage.

I would see a urologist, though this doesn't sound like PD to me. MG

I am a clinical social worker treating a patient with this condition. He is scheduled for surgery and understandably has anxiety. What are the satisfactory results of surgery? Is there anyone out there who can e-mail me about their satisfaction Are there any negatives to surgery and why is it a "last resort?" What are the other options?

For disabling defornity that has not responded to medication, there really are none. Regarding satisfaction, I'll put this out to the readers. MG

I would like some information and specific instructions on mixing, using, and applying the thacker formula.

I have no idea of what this is. Does anyone out there know? MG

After a successful hair transplant 3 years ago I was advised to take 'Avodart' to reduce testosterone, a cause of male baldness.Hair density improved considerably and life was good. A side effect was a reduced libido, and consequent reduction in erection size, strength, and ejaculation. I also noticed the now distinctive upward bend and assumed it to be the Avodart. I stopped taking the drug, hoping for my penis to gradually return to his former glory. However the condition is worsening and the upward bend is continuing to be more pronounced. I only found your site tonight by chance and now realise I am a classic P.D. case with all the symptoms. My point is that in my opinion the Avodart caused the softer penis to be damaged during intercourse and this trauma brought on the P.D.

This was proposed by a Dr. Hinman many years ago: PD comes on in the 50's when erections are not as hard, thereby causing damage to the penis. MG

February 2010

it stands to reason that some massage therapy will help with the curvature issue, by gently bending backward to stretch the plaque and loosen it. What do you think?

Controlled non traumatic stretching may be of benefit. MG

I had robotic radical prostatectomy in Sept 08 (spared all nerves) and have developed Peyronies...slight curvature..never had this before. No erection problems before or subsequent to say 3 months after surgery. Urologist put me on 400 IU daily of Vit E six months ago. Am on Crestor and Niaspan for preventive cardio with baby aspirin and fish oil daily. Sometimes it is worse than others but sex is becoming problem..no orgasms with penetration and my partner since my surgery and last nite she was in pain from my curving, which was worse than time before. Severity varies in terms of how much curving.

PD is more common in men who have had radical prostatectomy. MG

I'm 31 years old and for as long as i can remember i have had a bent penis on erection, a 20-30 degree angle to the left. I dont remember ever having any painful erections. I have a good length (never measured it but i imagine close to 8") on erection, i have spontneous normal erections and preserved libido, i can get stone hard erections but the glans never gets hard and i dont enjoy the sexual act the way i'm supposed to, i have always had delayed ejaculation when with a partner but can come easily when masturbating alone. Also I have always had trouble sustaining erections and started meds (viagra, cialis..) which have worked charms the first year but now that i'm engaged in a more stable relationship and that i use them more often i feel these meds fail me 1/3 of the time. I'm healthy in all other aspects, dont take any meds and exercise regularly, i also quit smoking with success 1 month ago in the hope that cessation will improve my ED, i feel great but the problem persists. -Is my curvature secondary to PD or congenital? And is it contributing in any way to my ED?

I think the curvature is not PD but congenital, and is probably not contributing to ED. MG

Are there any physical devices that work or are they all jus junk?

We really don't have a good answer - some have benefitted from stretching while others have just ended up with a sore penis. MG

I've some curvature in penis when it erects and some softness in the base point. What is the cause of this and is there any treatment for this diseases? Please give me pefect advice.

Best advice is to see a urologist at this point. MG

MG I am a female with a husband with this..For 15 years.We are 61 now? I didn't want him to have surgery for me, so he could feel without surgery...I would not want that on anyone Sorry,I try because,I love him. Is there a new surgery now?

The state of the art as regards PD surgery has improved over the last 15 years. MG

January 2010

I'm a 25 yr old male and have had a left-curvature for about 5-7 yrs. I believe it happened after I started having sex (I had fairly aggressive sex), but cannot remember if it existed prior to this. The curve exists when my penis is soft or hard...and I am not getting hard as much or as long as I used to. Can this be a psychological thing? Or is it because I have developed ED? Or both? This problem has affected my relationship with women as I am somewhat embarrassed to show them my penis. I have seen a urologist and he wasn't too helpful. I do NOT have any pain while having sex. But in the middle of the night I tend to get powerful erections which I make an effort to straighten with my hand. Will trying to straighten an erect/curved penis cause more scar tissue? Do you beleive this is Congenital Disorder or PD? And since I do get really hard during sleep, does this rule out ED?

This sounds more like congenital curvature, which not infrequently will cause embarrassment or other self-image issues. You will not correct this by trying to force the curve into straight configuration. MG

I was diagnosed with PD in October. My penis is bent up and to the left perhaps 45 degrees when erect. I saw a Urologist in early November. He prescribed verapamil 15% twice a day, told me to check back in 6 months. On my own, I am taking 1000iu of Vitamin E. I see no change so far. I use Viagra 50mg. for the ED. I have some burning pain with erections. Should I just wait it out for 6 months? Would daily low dose Cialis help? I'm taking the Viagra about once a week now. Would one of the penis stretchers like Andropenis really help? I hate to just sit back and wait, only to discover that 'uh oh, its too late to fix it'. On the other hand, the stretcher isn't cheap, nor would be daily Cialis.

There may be a theoretical advantage to using Cialis or Viagra, but as there is no controlled data proving their benefit, they would have to be considered equivalent. The evidence for stretcher benefits is also somewhat thin, and if cost is an issue I would pass on that. MG

I am a 33 yr old male. Back in August of 09' I foolishly used a penis extender hoping it would add some length on to my member. I only used it a few times, but must of over stretched my penis. Afterwards my penis was left somewhat desensitized & tingly. I went to see a urologist who examined me and told me that I probably bruised/stretched some nerves, but that he thought I would be okay. about 3 weeks ago I noticed a smooth lump on the right side mid-way down the shaft of my penis. I currently have no bend or pain in my erections--but I am worried that this might be the start of Peyronie's. I plan on seeing my urologist next week, but was wondering if you thought this was just some scar tissue left over from my injury or the start of something worse?

Does not sound like PD - will probably go away. MG

In November 2009 I went to the urologist for having to pee alot and at night and to get a prostrate exam which was ok. He gave me some medications to try and they helped a little but generally didn't work. He wanted to determine bladder volume content and suggested some tests. A catheter was inserted on 2 ocassions,once with a scope. I was not having any penile curvature problems before this. Some ED, but No curves. In December I thought I must be crazy, cause I thought I was shrinking. Now it is January and I am having an upward curve upon erection along with the shrinking. What action should I take? I don't know if I want to go back to this doctor, although he was supposed to be competant. Why did this happen?

Peyronies Disease may follow catheterization or instrumentation of the urethra, though this is a very uncommon complication. MG

I have had peyronie's disease for 8 years. I had received care from these doctors: Tom Lue, MD - UCSF Kessler, Robert - Stanford Jacob Rajfer, MD - UCLA I'm writing to find the best doctor in the world. Who is the most recognized doctor for treating Peyronie's Disease?

I guess I can't nominate myself...those are all good doctors for PD. MG

I am thanking you in advance for your public service of donation of your valuable time. I am a 47 year old white male serving in Iraq. About 6 months ago during masturbation I thought I noticed a "dent" in the right hand side shaft of my penis. I dismissed it as my imagination. Two weeks ago I started to have pain in the penis during nocturnal erections. I became concerned and really gave a good inspection to my erect penis. I do believe there is a dent on one side The nightly erection pain has gone away 2 weeks later but not the dent. I have absolutely no nodules or plaque that is detectable. I have spent several hours now trying to detect lumps or plaque but I can not. When I have a very hard erection I do seem to get some form of pain though. I can recall no injury to the penis. Does this sound like PD without the plaque? Thank you Doctor, it is not possible where I am to see a physician.

Tthis sounds like a mild form of Peyronies. when associated with indentation only, without siginificant curvature or plaque, it usually resolves spontaneously over 6 -10 months. My only reccommendation at this time would be to get on vitamin E 400 units daily. MG

I am 60 years old. Although it may have been emerging earlier, I was first diagnosed with peyronie's 10 years ago. The diagnosis followed my noticing internal plaque-like hardness at the base of my penis. Gradually that seems to have become less noticeable, but over the last year or so, my erections point to the right at something like a 45-degree angle. During intercourse (and the need to straighten my erection) I am aware that my penis withdraws almost as if the tightness causing the 45-degree angle continues to bind in such a way that as my penis is straightening it pulls the erection back resulting in a considerably shortened erection. Recent conversations with my primary care doctor and a new urologist didn't provide me with any useful information. I wasn't convinced that they were familiar with peyronie's diagnosis or treatment. I am not using any ED medication. Is it possible that this symptom would change if I did start doing so.

PD itself can cause shortening, though you may have less of this curvature-related effect with the use of E.D drugs. MG

I'm 51 and have had Peyronie's disease for about 4 years. I believe mine was caused by trauma. I have the same symptoms as most on this board. No pain. Sex is fine, but would obviously like to be back to normal! We've all read the herbal remedy stuff on the net. Is there anything to any of the products? They all look the same (hokey) to me.

Unfortunately I think you're right; there is no great evidence that these herbal products work. Interestingly, the new drug that Auxilium Inc. is developing for PD (Xiaflex) is a "natural product", as it is a naturally occurring enzyme produced by bacteria. MG

I have recently discovered a tiny pebble-like nodule at the top of a thin firm vein-like structure on the top right of the corpora cavenosa. It appears to be just below the skin. There is no pain/discomfort or signs of bending. PD?

This sounds more like Mondors syndrome, which is localized clotting in superficial veins. It is innocuous and self-limited. MG

My pd and my wife's lower libido have really done a number on my penis. i'm wondering if our now infrequent and less fulfilling lovemaking is exacerbating my pd. is there anything short of surgery (poor choice of wording) i can try, like a medical pump, or do i just have to deal with it? it's surprising to me that there hasn't been more successful research on "curing" peyronies "disease" considering the quality-of-life issues involved.

Many people share your frustration with the lack of productive research on this issue. There are reported successes with the use of vacuum pump, though there are no medications that the FDA has deemed "effective" in the treatment of PD. MG

I then was diagnosed with PD, and put on Tamoxifen and Vitamin E (800, then 1000mu). Between October 2009 and early December the condition weekly got worse and my Penis became more upwardly bent on erection, and it was painful to have an erection. Seeking alternatives, my Doctor put me on Homeopathic medicine, and I have been taking Thuja (Once daily), Thisomanum (twice daily) and Sulphur 30 (twice daily, once a week). I am glad to say that since the 3rd week of December, I now have no pain at all on erection and the curvature upward has stopped at about 20 degrees. I am completing the course of Tamoxifen and Vitamin E though through my own choice, which was agreed by my Urologist who recommended now to stop, and if it stays like this and doesn't progress I will be happy to live with it as is. Can PD come back at a later stage in life or if you have had it once is that it? I am currently 36.

PD usually runs its course in 18 months or so, and is unlikely to return. MG

I am 56 and have all the symptoms you list. Hard flat spot under top flesh of penis. Shorting of penis Bend to the left Pain during erection. Slight burn upon start of urination. I have a fairly constant dull aching pain when even just sitting. Rubbing of penis against loose underwear aggravates this pain as well. This pain is not intolerable just there. Is this PD. Should I start with my family doctor or go directly to an Urologist?

It sounds suspicious - I would recommend a urologist. MG

My son who is 19 was prescribed 400 mg of Pentoxifylline 3 times a day for his PD. Comments on such a prescribtion?

This drug improves blood flow and has been used for PD. It is relatively safe, though there is no controlled data proving its effectiveness. MG

I recently had a very successful needle aponevrotomy for Dupuytren's with Dr. Charles Eaton. http://www.handcenter.org/ Like may DD patients, I have PD. I know that you were initially skeptical, at least as a gut reaction, of the Leriche Technique, but it and needle aponevrotomy seem to be based on a similar concept. Any further thoughts?

Unlike the palmar anatomy, critical neurovascular structure are too close for comfort in the penis. Using a needle to cut a penile plaque can injure the nerves immediately above it and cause numbness of the head of the penis. MG

About eight months ago, I overdosed on Viagra (200mgs). The next morning I had an erection that didn't subside completely, but still was only half erect. It was not painful, and I was concerned, but didn't seek help because I didn't think of it as a priapsim. It lasted about 12 hours and subsided. The next day, I was sore. My urologist said that it was not a priapism if I had even a little flaccidity during the erection. Since it was up and down all day, he ruled it out, and said my corpora were sore. He said the pain would fade in a week, and so it did. About two months later, the pain resumed, and I have had it for about 6 months. Urologists tell me that the trauma of a priapism is not the same sort of trauma that is known to cause PD, and that priapisms don't cause PD nor does viagra overdose. I have also noticed that there is a slight hourglassing an inch below my glans, but it is gone when I'm 50-100% erect. It hasn't gotten worse that I can tell. My questions are: Can priapism/viagra overdose cause PD? Is a slight hourglassing that is visible when only a quarter erect a symptom of early PD?

I don't think this is PD, and hourglass of semi erections is not a symptom of early PD. MG

I am 63 years old and developed PD 2-3 years agoWith Cialis I can get an erection adequate for intercourse but often lose it during intercourse (but not always). I tried a penile constriction ring which allows me to maintain the erection better, although I have not tried it with intercourse yet (I am concerned about ejaculation with the ring on). I believe my pathology may be a venous leak due to the PD. Do you agree with my diagnosis for the ED or should I have additional testing? Does ED due to venous leak caused by PD ever improve with improvement of the PD?

I agree with your diagnosis and although venous leakage due to PD may improve with resolution of the Peyronies, at 2 - 3 years duration I doubt this will happen. MG

December 2009

I am 60 years old and in good physical condition.I take no prescribed medications and am very active overall. About 3 weeks ago I noticed that the end of my penis had suddeny deveoped a bend upwards. No pain, just a 20 degreee angle about one inch from the tip. I went to see a urologist and he said take 400mg E twice daily and an anti-inflamatory (I take Advil twice a day) and to come back in 6 months. He also examined my penis and said that I had cassic Peronies thickening around the tip. I had no trauma to this area and I am quite sexually active. MY Penis still works ok but I am very motivated to address this issue especially as I hear that in the early stages treatment may be more effective. The doc says he coud not detect calcification as this time. I have been reading the forum and can see there are many medications and treatment options floating around out there withour much clinical evidence to prove effectiveness. My question is what can I do NOW to minimize the chances of it getting worse and hopefully restore myself to my former shape ?

Keeping sexually active without traumatizing the penis will help, and the following supplements have their adherents (though you are correct in stating that hard clinical evidence is lacking): L - Argenine 1000 mg twice daily, acetyl - L - carnetine 500 mg twice daily. MG

I am 42 years old. I began to notice painful erections about 5 months ago. I went to the urologist after 3 months of noticing the pain and also noticing a hard spot on the base of my penis. When erect, my penis curves sharply to the right. There spot in my penis seems to have a hard, thick side and a smaller thin side. The urologist started me on colchicine. I have also been taking vitamin e. I am supposed to follow up with my urologist in 3 months. He told me that he maydo an interferon injection. I have been taking the cochicine and vitamin e for over a month. I have not noticed any real improvement. I have read about neprinol being used for PD. Would that be wise to take the neprinol as well as the colchicine? Also, should I attempt to persueade my urologist to start the interferon injections sooner.

Neprinol has helped some patients, though there is no formal clinical trial - based evidence that it works. Many authorities believe that starting medical therapy (i.e. interferon) early is beneficial. MG

I am a 45 year old male. Six months ago I was diagnosed with Peyronie's Disease. I rarely have pain and I have a noticable band around my penis about 1.5 inches below the head which is getting worse. I also have a slight bend backwards. I am taking Vit E however this does not seem to be working. I just read an article on Neprinol stating that this enzyme digests scar tissue associated with PD? Does this really work and should I speak to my doctor about this?

See the response above - the problem is, we don't really know if it works. MG

I am a nurse and spoke to a Urology Resident about my husband's symptoms (curved penis) a couple of months ago and based on what I told him he said it sounded like PD. Unfortunately I didn't start researching the disease until 2 days ago and now I am worried that since we took so long to do anything (he has had the curve for several months) that permanent damage may have occurred. The last time we had sex (a week ago) he was unable to stay in me due to shrinkage. It also seemed to me that it is becoming harder for him to achieve an orgasm, something that has never been a problem in the past. He says he has no pain and has never had any pain with erections. He also says that he doesn't feel any lumps. Is there any other problem that could be occurring?

Waiting a few months will not have caused any damage, and this sounds like PD. I do not believe there is any other problem occurring. MG

I'm 20, and when erect my penis bends slightly downwards no more than 30 degrees. My penis also narrows very slightly towards the middle. I've had this since I could remember, and my penis head does not "pop out" of its foreskin like most guys when erect. There's no pain or anything and I can have sex fine. But it's an aesthetic eyesore, I was wondering if you could tell me what condition I might have and what treatment is possible.

This is congenital curvature, which can be corrected very effectively with the Nesbit procedure. MG

Over last 5 years or so, my penis has developed an upward curvature, loss in length and loss in diameter but no pain. It's really quite embarassing and I have subsequently lost much interest in sex.I and my wife really would like to have a sex life but the "little feller" just isn't up to it. I feel like a grown man with a boy's penis. I saw a urologist but all he had to offer were drugs for ED which gave me quite a headache and didn't do anything for length or girth.

Loss of interest can occur in PD, due in part to embarrassment and loss of performance. Unfortunately the loss of length and girth in this disorder may not be reversible. MG

I went to the dr after a few months of painfull intercourse. I was scared that I had an STD. Turns out that I had PD. I have had PD for about 6 months now and sex is still extremely painfull. My uroligist said that he couldn't do anything about the pain or the PD for about a year. The bend is right below the base and I now have about a 90 degree bend when I get an erection. The dr said that it would be a risky surgery and may leave me impotent. I obviously don't want that. The real problem is my wife. We used to have great and wild sex and I know how much she enjoys that kind of sex. I try and find reasons to not go to bed when she does so I don't have to perform. She is very supportive and I know that she knows that it hurts when we have sex but I know that she is not as satisfied as she used to be. Is there anything that will help with the pain or is there a way that I can get back to my "old form" without as much pain.

I would recommend taking ibuprofen an hour before sex. Fortunately, the pain of PD will eventually resolve on its own, though this usually takes more than 6 months. If the severe bend persists for more than a year you may want to consider surgery - by someone with experience in this particular problem. MG

I had corrective surgery in June of 2008. I have noticed a decreased sensation and have trouble maintaining an erection. Although Viagra helps with the erection it does nothing for the sensation. Is there any treatment to help?

Sensation may be temporarily reduced after surgery, and B complex vitamins may help it to recover. Since a year and a half has passed since your procedure, it seems unlikely for further recovery of sensation to occur, though in some cases nerve recovery can take well over a year. MG

November 2009

I have a hernia located in my groin area and I also have a mild case of peyronies. I have two questions: 1.) Is there a chance that the scar tissue that my body creates as a result of the surgery repair will spillover into my penis? 2) If I do not have the hernia repaired will my brain keep sending messages to body to create scar tissue in this area of the herniation and than this may also cause the creation of scar tissue in my penis?

These two conditions are unlikely to affect each other. MG

I was diagnosed with peyronies over a year ago and the condition is now stable. I am 59 and up until then had a healthy sex life but now my penis has shortened by 2 inches with an upward bend of at least 35 degrees plus I have indentations (hour glass) either side but not opposite each other. This causes my erection to be narrow and painful at times. My wife has noticed a considerable loss of satisfaction during love making due to the shortening and bend in my penis. Do you know anything about the Penile Dermal Flap (Krishnamurti) Operation for Peyronie's Disease and is it different to the tissue graft method and more effective?

This method uses a tissue flap and has certain advantages, though it cannot be done in a circumcised man. Unfortunately no operation for PD will restore lost length; they will only help to correct the deformity. MG

Is there any evidence that taking "Cialis Daily 2.5mg" caplets over time has any effect in the treatment of PD? The low dosage appears to have helped me return to normal daily sexual cycles while nearly completely eliminating side effects of other higher dosage ED drugs.

To date there is no controlled clinical trial evidence, but many specialists are recommending it as in addition to the improvement in erections, it may play a role in counteracting scarring. MG

I'm a 55-year old male who has been on lifetime anticoagulation therapy for three years (artificial aortic valve). Two months ago I had a significant retroperitoneal bleeding episode that also caused severe bruising of my groin, scrotum, and about 2/3 of the length of my penis. Coincident with this occurrence, I now suddenly have two indentations, a moderate upward curve, and an ache when erect. Does this sound like true PD to you or is it something different? Do you think that its' onset was caused by the retroperitoneal bleeding or is it just coincidence? Generally, is PD associated with anticoagulation therapy?

This does sound like PD, due to the hemmorhage. Anticoagulants are not associated with PD. MG

I started to develop a slight bending of the penis about 6 years ago, but it has gone more pronounced over the last year. I'm now 55, which seems to fit PD from what I've been reading. It is not painful in intercourse. It just looks a little strange. I had a vasectomy procedure in 1987 that involved cauterizing the vasal ends (I believe this is what was done). Could this procedure develop scar tissue that leads to PD?

There is no evidence to suggest this. MG

What is your expectation regarding the outcome of the Xiaflex collagenase trials based on your prior studies? Do you think its worth putting off a Nesbit proceedure in hopes that collagenase will prove effective? When Xiaflex is approved for Dupuytren's, as it likely will be, do you anticipate that it will be used off label for Peronie's before it is offically approved? Is that reasonable now before the trial? Would it be reasonable if the trials are sucessful but before actual approval???

The phase II studies of Xiaflex in PD were encouraging, and phase III studies are in the planning stage. Even if all goes well, it will be several years before this drug is approved for the treatment of PD. Whether xiaflex will be used off label for PD depends on mediolegal concerns of the treating doctor, experience, and the consent of the patient. MG

I just noticed in the last few weeks that when I have an erection, that my penis, just behind the head, bends left a few degrees. When it's flaccid it looks totally fine. No knots, bumps or dips in the shaft. It did look like it had a bruise at the bend. What's going on? It's like the skin is tighter on the left side causing the head to bend to the left.

This could be PD, or just a temporary inflammatory state. The lack of bumps or nodularity is reassuring. MG

Went to see a local mens clinic who prescribed penile injections I used it about 6 times but no dramatic improvements. I noticed about a onthe or two ago that my penis has developed a fairly sharp curve {about 20 degrees] to the left. Not painful, not rigid but can the injections be a cause of this. I never had any problem like this before. My testosterone levels are also very low 3.9 to be exact and have seen a urologist who prescribed sustanon injections for 6 months. Ive had the injections before but it did not seem to help. Looks like something shut down somewhere!

Local injections can cause scarring that leads to PD. MG

I am currently 48 and I started feeling the onset of peyronies symptoms in the summer of 2008. My penis began to get so painfully hard I thought it would explode. Sitting in the hottub only made it harder and more painful. My penis was well over seven inches long, and also had a very nice circumfrence to it. By the winter of 2008, it had began to take on the hour glass shape on the left side and orgasms were very painful all the while slowly shrinking. One day I woke up to a 4 1/2 penis that was half of what it use to be in girth. I am certain my sex life played a key role in this happening because I use to have some really rough sex that would last for hours at a time. Yes, I really liked sex and would go for hours. Alot of the time my partner would be on top and when she would move a certain way my penis would sometimes get bent hard and fast and man was it painful. I am sure scar tissue built up as time went on. It has been over a year now and i am on the down-side of it and can see some natural healing and improvement but nothing worthy of calling a break-through. I experience erections all throughout the day and wake up to them all the time. I tried different kinds of vitamin E creames but found that masturbation works better than anything else to help keep it stretched. I am looking and praying everyday for a cure to be found so I can get my original penis back. I want to get back to it like I use to.

Rough sex, particularly with partner on top, can cause the type of injuries that lead to PD. MG

I read a FDA report about Jes-Extender and X4Labs where it is commented that this device is not allowed to be imported and distributed in the USA. My question is..how is it possible that some known doctors such as Dr. Levine and Dr. Giunta are selling these prohibited devices currently? what are the risks of using these not approved devices?

I am not sure about this, but I think Dr. Levine was studying the Fastsize extender. Another device used in this country is the Andropenis extender. The jury is still out as to whether these help PD, but are probably not harmful if not used to excess. MG

I launched a peyronie's disease website a few months ago, in part due to my own need to communicate about the disorder, and also since there is a disappointing lack of peyronie's disease sites out there. I'm emailing to ask if peyronies.org would like to exchange links with the site (http://www.peyronies-disease.co.uk). Your link has been added to the link page, and I will be limiting the number of type of sites I link to

Thank you for the links. MG

I have had a downward bent penis for a year. It does not hurt and has no discomfort. But it hurts my wife. Do you think this is peyronies?

If it has only been present for a year and you were previously normal, yes. MG

I am a 57 year old male an have self diagnosed myself with Peyronies disease. I have the classic symptoms. my penis is starting to curve up and seems to change almost daily. I had be taking glucosamine and condroitin which I stopped after reading your forum. I will be seeing my doctor soon. I have started taking 400 mg vitamin E. Do you know any other treatment such as Peyreton to be effective?

There is no clinical trial - based evidence that Peyreton is effective. MG

October 2009

Many sites state like you have that "correction of curvature that has been present and stable for more than a year or two is very unlikely ". If this is the case, then what can be done in the first few weeks or months to prevent the plaque from forming or to prevent things getting worse?

Medical treatments (verapamil, interferon, colchicine, pentox, vitamin e, neprinol, l-argenine etc.) are all given with this intent, though data demonstrating their effectiveness is thin. MG

I have suffered from Peyronie's disease for 10 years (I'm only 35 years old). I also run a website development company in the UK and I had an idea for a web based project to investigate the disease. Indeed I hope to include other diseases that have been neglected by the research community as well. My idea is that over a 12 month period I will collect theories into the causes and treatments for Peyronie's, I will test those theories anonymously with a questionnaire and then I will visualise the data in lots of innovative ways. Hopefully we will find epidemiological patterns in the data which will provide as a catalyst for further research. The project can be found at www.healthpatterns.org and the website includes much more information about the project and the opportunity to participate anonymously.

Thanks, I'll post your message. MG

I have a slight bend in my penis that goes to the right but can straightens out when I pull it a certain way, which i have to do during intercourse. Regardless of the curve I have been having regular sexual intercourse without any problems, but feel recently that the curve has gotten worse, which could be all in my head. My main question is are there any effects or things to be worried about when taking products such as Extenze and a curved penis? I have recently ordered a supply of Extenze natural male enhancement products and have seen in some places that the increased blood flow may help PD and cause it to straighten a bit bc the increase blood and expansion of the veins allow it to straighten. Is this true? Can male enhancement pills help to straighten a curved penis? Or could it even have a reverse effect and bend more because of the increased bloodflow?

Male enhancement products will not straighten a curved penis. You should be aware that there is no good controlled scientific data showing any of these products "increase blood flow." MG

Hi. I'm a 26 year old. And I've had a "bent penis" at least since I was about 13. I might have had it for longer, but I never noticed. Then again, maybe I didn't have it. I don't remember any pain at any point in my life in that area. But my penis has a downward curve of almost a full 90 degrees. It looks like Gonzo's nose from the Muppets. It seems like over time my penis length has gone down too. I distinctly remember measuring when I was in middle school and reaching a full 7.5" in length from base to tip. But it has shrunk at least an inch since then. I can bend it straight with my hands with enough force, but to maintain it like that after a time, it begins to hurt. I am not sexually active, but will this be a huge problem when I do become active? The erection itself doesn't hurt at all though. It only hurts if I try to straighten it too much. Anyway... are there any options besides surgery? I don't want to have my already shrunken penis get even smaller, and I don't want to have to take erectile medication at my age.

You have congenital curvature. With a 90 degree downward bend, you can expect some difficulty when you become sexually active. Unfortunately, the only way to correct this is with a Nesbit procedure (surgery). MG

hi im pete im 24yrs old and i have a bent penis that ive had all my life, born with it. i doubt that i have peyronies disease because i got no penis pains and there is no hard lumps or scars. i saw a uroligst and he didnt say whether or not i have peyronies but he ended up doing a nesbitt procedure on me. i had a severe bend (if 180 degrees is straight, then my penis was 90 degrees, a complete L shape) Now after the surgery which i had about 3 years the bend is less, about 140 degrees but im still not happy. i still find it hard to have sex with women and my girlfriend complains that the bend huts her while having sex. I need to know if there is anything i can do to straighten it a bit more and i dont want another surgery because i think that will cause complications. Would pumps work? i own a straightening device that lengthens it over time but i dont know if it would work, id have to wear it 9-10 hours a day for 6 months. also would peyreton work for me, its some pill witha guarantee, at peyreton.com. also i heard if i suppliment having primrose oil capsules it has an ingredient that makes the penis more elastistic so that might help. Anyway could you tell me what my options are, and what you think and please give me some feedback as in dont tell me it is normal and to live with it because i cant.

Medications don't work for congenital curvature. You do not have Peyronies disease. If the surgery was done by someone who didn't completely correct the curve I would recommend you see a reconstructive urologist with experience in this area, as a minor revision (by someone who does a lot of this work) is your only real option. MG

I am 65 years old man and I noticed the first symptoms of PD 16 months ego. There have been several stages of deformations, mostly the first three four months and a very considerable shrinkage but I believe that it has stabilized now. There is an upward bent of almost 35 degrees making it almost impossible to have intercourse but the worrying part is the lack of erection probably on account of my psychological state. My question is, during the last 16 months I had never had any pain or even discomfort at all and I cannot detect any lumps or any kind of thrombosis on my penis. Could you explain it or recommend anything

I would recommend you see a urologist to start on some type of medical therapy as well as a phospodiesterase inhibitor (viagra, levitra, or cialis). MG

About two months ago during masturbation I noticed an instant change in my penis. A vein that goes from base on the top-side of my shaft and wraps around has become swollen. It's very prominent even when flaccid.. especially after erections.. Since then I have noticed that when an erection is going down the head of my penis becomes smaller and goes off a bit to the left while the base area seems larger (almost like an arrow). Full erections seem normal, but when they go down it feels like everything is out of place and many veins become swollen. The Corpus Cavernosum of the penis is also very solid when flaccid (certain areas moreso than others). This usually occurs after an erection, but sometimes it happens without one. Sometimes just sitting a certain way can cause it to flare up. There is a lot of pain that comes and goes. (throbbing and burning sensations). It's an awful pain that travels throughout the entire penis and is almost unbearable. (Note: I have been tested for STD's and blood clots). I spoke to a doctor and he told me I have Peyronies. I have been taking Vitamin E and Ibuprofen for the past week.

That may the case, though this is somewhat unusual - Peyronies does not cause veins to become swollen. MG

I am 69 and diagnosed with Peyronies disease five years ago. It has been stable for the last three years. While I have more than one "spot" the major problem is a 70 to 90 degree upward bend about a third of the way from the penis tip. I have lost length and some girth. Mayo Clinic has strongly advised a Nesbit procedure. My wife and I are sexually active and only one position works at this time. I am apprehensive about having surgery as we are "getting by" and my wife is ok as is. What is the technical success rate for a Nesbit procedure and what is the general psychololgical satisfaction level from a Nesbit?

The rate which we see erectile dysfunction after a nesbit is less than 3 or 4%, though some patients will be unhappy with the length loss if they were functioning well prior to surgery. The procedure is very likely to fix the curve, but with a 90 degree bend you can expect an inch or more of length loss. MG

i went to urologist 1 yr ago , where i suffer from penile curvature down with 45 degree, he told that my case is pyronee disease and ask me to get potaba .5gm as a medecine but i couldnt get this medecine here in jordan or in dubai ' i am working in dubai ' in order to get this medecine i went to another docor in dubai but he said my case is chardee and i need a surgery for correction. now i am in vacation in jordan , i went back to my first doctor , he insist that my case is pyronee not chardee, and he insist to get potaba and he warned me from the surgery, my case is , 45 degree downward curvature during erection , which cause failure in sex process that preven me from penetraion , i dont remember when this start with me but i remember it is from many years , i am now 33 yrs old , suffering this many yrs go....

Considering the long time you've had this problem and the downward bend, I'd guess this is not Peyronies but congenital curvature - which requires surgery. MG

I am 60 have had PD for 9 months now. My urologist suggested the veperamil cream and vitamin E and I have seen no results. I have a 90' bend with hour glass shape at the bend. At the last visit he asked if I was ready for surgery, an implant. I declilned as I know there are other more suitable operations available. Are the injections worth persuing? Is there anythingthat helps at all?

Implant surgery is good if you have no erection - if you do, a reconstructive procedure with grafting is a better option, provided it is done by someone with experience. It can correct the curve and allow you to retain your own natural erection. MG

I my concern is with my penis and if i might have PD. In 2005, i noticed the penis appears to be narrower in the middle of the shaft when limp.Sometimes when limp it is very hard and short. When erect, there is indentation at these narrow parts (left and right of the shaft). No pain or discomfort. The indentation is about 2mm wide and 2mm deep as felt by hand. Also, at one of the indentation there is a painless bead (calcium deposit?). My question is, if it is PD, is it already in passive stage, or will it continue progressing?

This sounds like PD, which at this time would be expected to be in the stable passive phase. MG

September 2009

My penis bends to left and sometime it can be seen from pant, which looks wiered and bad in front of others. Even the shape of the pants from front side looks different from others, when I walk on the road people look at my front side of the pant which looks diffrent for them from others. Can u plz tell me how can i rectify this problem so that i can also have same shape of my pant like others and my penis doesnt seen from the left.

I don't think you have Peyronies disease. MG

My boyfriend is 24 and was diagnosed. It has been a little bit over three months. The pain has started subsiding but the plaque is still there. He has tried aggressively to get treatment but when his family doctor sent him to a urologist he said he needed to wait. He went back to the family doctor to ask for a second recommendation where the doctor refused and sent him back to the same urologist. He went on Monday, and was told the same thing to wait…. I keep reading that you need to take care of this in its early stages but as you see that is not what is suggested. The only thing the urologist prescribed was Viagra, which by the way did not do anything. Please help!

You are correct in stating medications seem to work better earlier in the process. A more aggressive approach at this time would be to start on colchicine and vitamin E orally, as well as a series of intra plaque injections with verapamil. MG

Good day, I am glad to share my experience with this disease (Peyronie's). I am fastly approaching 55yrs and I cannot remember experiencing any trauma in that area, On the morning of 2nd August 2009, I went to the bath room and after urinating I felt a sharp pain and saw three (3) swollen lumps on the top vain of my penis, the pain became worst as the days progress. I visited my PD and he recommended me to an Urologist (21/8/2009) who identify the problem and started me on Vit. E (1000). Presently I am without pain and the sollowen bumps on my penis vain have all subside. I have an appointment with my Urologist in two (2) weeks time. Apart from using the Vit. E, I also munch on a few pieces of aloes and also use a hot rag on the area and use Dolobene Gel. I hope my testimony will assist in someway.

Thank you. MG

I am a 19 year old man who has undergone the nesbit operation. I read on the internet that you shouldn`t mastrubate until 6 weeks after the operation, but i also read that you could mastrubate by pulling only the foreskin and not using the whole hand 2 weeks after the operation. so I mastrubated in this manner. I was very careful and only used my fingers pulling the foreskin and never with my whole hand. My penis is now almost straight and sometimes I have some mild pain in my flaccid penis after mastrubation but it goes away fast. I am wondering if my penis could have been even straighter and that my scar could be looking better, and that I would have no pain if I didn`t do it?, and I can`t stop thinking about it. I had a bend between 20-25 degrees downwards a little under the penis head so my penis kind of had a hook shape. I also have an houglassshape in the middle of my penis that comes along when I am semirect but goes away when I become erect, when it appears the skin is a little darker around the area.my penis also lean a little to the left when erect starting from around the area where the hourglassshape appears when semierect. Could this be peyronies? I am also wondering if the stings in my penis will most likely hold my whole life or not.

This is congenital curvature, not Peyronies. The discomfort will resolve and the cosmetic effect will improve over time. It takes several months. MG

I am 45 years of age. 2 months ago, I started to notice that intercourse was starting to become a bit painful but very slight initially (I have sex about once a week). Each week I noticed it would gradually get worse until last week, the pain was at a point where I had to stop (This pain came quite abruptly considering the prior week the pain was still somewhat slight). After doing a self-examine, I noticed a small pea size lump deep inside my penis about 1 inch from the base, right side. I went to a Urologist the next day and he diagnosed my situation as PD. He recommended a series of verapamil injections saying that he has had very good success with his patients. I currently do not have any curvature of the penis. Does the Pea size knot sound like a typical symptom and proper diagnosis?Should I wait before doing any injections and see if the problem will resolve itself?Should I refrain from sex (will this worsen the situation)?

This sounds like Peyronies to me. Verapamil works best when used early in the course of the disease. There is no reason to avoid sex, if you're not too wild.MG

I am 47 years old. Diabetic for 22 years now. I was diagnosed with PEYRONIES 2 years ago. I started to feel the pain during erection recently and the intercourse is more difficult nowadays. Shortening of the penis is really bothering me. What is your advice? If surgery can help, please direct me to the best doctor in the US.

Unfortunately, surgery cannot correct the shortening caused by PD. MG

I am a mid-20's otherwise healthy male presenting with 42degree to the left. I am hoping to undergo the Nesbit procedure in 3-6 weeks. Before this takes place I will have a final assessment with my urologist. After a brief initial discussion his feeling was toward the Nesbit procedure with non-absorabable sutres. Information on sutre types regarding specific procedures seems to be thin on the ground - I suspect I would have to be subscribed to various Journals to obtain the information. I'm slightly confused as to the preference for non-absorbable sutres and how post-operative curvature recurrence actually occurs - how does this happen when the excess length has been excised in one or more ellipses? As a non-medic in my mind the lengths are now 'equal' and the sutres are merely holding the newly-exposed surfaces together while they heal. I see the removal of excess on the longer (right) side to be a permanent, immediate redress and cannot fathom how curvature can recur, leading me onto the issue of sutres; is it the postoperative scarring/healing between the newly exposed surfaces as a result of removing an ellipse(s) that ultimately yields the strength to 'hold the whole thing together'?

Experience has shown that the use of absorbable suture in the nesbit procedure can be associated with stretching of the ellipse site and (partial) return of curvature. I recommend a 2 layer closure, using a few interrupted non absorbable sutures under a running line of absorbable material. MG

Hi, I'm a 45 years old and have had PD for about 1-year with lumps are close to the left base of my penis. The web-site is very helpful but doesn't have information about stretching techiques, which I have heard helps. Do you think its worth trying and what techniques would you suggest?

Some have reported improvement using the fastsize or andropenis stretchers, which are available on the internet. The Augusta company makes a vacuum device with graduated cylinders that accomplish a similar effect. MG

I was just diagnosed with PD. I don't have much bend, my penis is just about 1 inch shorter and the head and upper shaft don't get firm. The Plaque is located in the lower part of the shaft. Would ED meds help firm the top half of my penis?

Yes they will, and there is some evidence that these medications help to reduce scarring as well. MG

hi i had sex and in middle of sex heard a pop sound no pain or swelling after but now 3 weeks later have seen a darkening to the middle of my penis and it seems longer and thinner when flacid and when getting hard goes thin in the middle like a waist band then when fully erect is normal again what can i do is stressing me out and am worried

Give it some time, this will probably resolve. I does not sound like PD. MG

I am a 62 y/o male; had an MI in 2/09 w/x4 stents. Thereafter I started metoprolol 25mg BID. In the past few months I have noticed my penis is acquiring a decided bent shape on erection. It is not painful, just not fully erecting to its normal fullness and decidedly bent; making it increasingly awkward sexually. I read somewhere on the internet that beta blockers can have this particular side effect. If so, will it get worse w/continued use of this medication? What would be the course staying on the medication? If this is indeed the case, will d/c this particular beta blocker resolve this issue? Don't worry, I'd rather treat the issue the metoprolol is for, than to have a straight penis; I'm a long term married person and my wife and I both realize that love is very different than sex and life is very different from a fatal MI! But, I am interested in the course of this apparent side effect of beta blockers. It's my only penis! Thanx for your input.

Various evidence suggest beta blockers can contribute to PD. If your cardiologist can switch you to a non beta blocker, it would be a good idea. MG

Dear Doctor Gelbard , have you heard of anyone having success with PD by taking Neprinol? It is suppose to dissolve the scar tissue according to their information on the WWW.

There are reports of it helping, though nothing in the way of controlled scientific studies. MG

. I am 34 y/o and noticed some minor pain when erect approx 8 months ago. Probably a week or two later I noticed a bend had started approx an inch from the head of my penis bending upward. Now the minor pain has for the most part subsided and the bend does not look to be getting any worse (other than I have lost approx 2 inches on my erection) I believe i have Peyronies and I am wondering will the bend get worse or will the pain come back? It has not effected my sex life with my wife but I also have not mentioned any of this to her (shes pregnant so our sex has slowed down a bit)

August 2009

After 8 months it would be unlikely for the pain to come back or the bend to get worse. MG

August About 2 months ago I woke up with "the curve". It goes about 30 degrees upwards and I have pain when I have an erection. From what I have read in the forum Here are the remedies: 1) wait and see plus Vit E remedy 2) suggestion of Potoba for 3 months. 3) Verapamil injections which apparently cause some bruising. I have not been to a urologist but from my symptoms it seems very obvious that I have PD. I am 58 years old and this occurrence has been very disturbing. Any suggestions regarding initial treatment.

I would suggest vitamin E plus colchicine, in conjuction with a series of verapamil injections. MG

I am a 56 year old who is very active sexually with my wife and in the past 3 months I have had some soreness, redness and lesion around the head of my penis and sometimes to the point where I feel like the skin of my penis becomes really raw and sensitive to the touch. Is this PD?

No. MG

In your most recent reply, you stated that "[…] correction of curvature that has been present and stable for more than a year or two is very unlikely with any medication." Does that mean that there's no use for vitamin E-treatment when the accident has already happened a year before and thus, scarring has finished? In other words, may vitamin E only help during the period of healing, i.e. inflammation?

Most evidence suggests the early use of medical (as opposed to surgical) remedies; they seem to be most effective in the first (inflammatory) phase of PD. MG

Can daily moderate exercise such as walking and swimming help facilitate the problem of decreased blood flow as a result of Peyronie's ?

Although Peyronies may be more common in men with conditions contributing to decrease in blood flow, the disorder itself is not usually considered a cause of this. Of course, exercise is always recommended for the preservation and improvement of circulatory status. MG

I am 26 years old, and approximately 9-11 months ago, I noticed that I have a curvature in my penis, which fits the exact definitions of PD which I have seen everywhere, including your website. I haven't experienced any pain during erections, and have been able to have regular sex. On very few occasions, I had experienced softening during intercourse, but I am worried this will increase. I believe I got PD from several encounters with my girlfriend where we would get agressive sexually, but with our clothes still on, so maybe all the extra friction (perhaps zippers, buttons) caused some sort of trauma. I am thinking of trying the vitamin E solution on my own, but are there any off the shelf ointments you recommend?

Some physicians advocate the use of vitamin E containing skin lotion, in addition to the usual 400 unit capsule once daily. MG

Can you send me the names of doctors who specialize in the treatment of peyronnies in the New York City or Connecticut area?

John Mulhall MD at Memorial Sloan Kettering. MG

I'm 15 years old. My penis is curved to the left side. The degree is about 25-30. I don't think that my penis is hour glassed but I am kind of scared. I remember once or twice that I felt pain at my penis during masturbation. Three years ago I remember that while I was playing football the ball hit me at my penis and I got ache for the next 2 days. Is this normal, if not what should I do?

This sounds normal to me. MG

I am 70 years old. 18 months ago I noticed a curvature starting. It slowly increased but seems to have stopped about 6 months ago. I had a smaller than average size penis and seem to have lost a bit of length. I have not got any pain and do not see any abnormal signs of any thing else. For years I had a very slow urinating rate but this was rectified with prostrate removal 9 years ago. 6 months after the op the problem started again and I had a second op being told this was due to scar tissue. The problem was resolved except for first thing in the morning. The rest of the day is OK. The urologist who did the 2 ops has retired. I consulted with my GP who states he has no experience with peyronies and can only give me the name of an urologist about 150 km from the small town I live in. Can you comment on this and give any advice?

After 18 months there is unlikely to be further progression. If you are able to maintain sexual activity, I would probably not recommend surgery as loss of rigidity is a more common complication in patients over 70 years old. MG

I know there's no proven study that vitamin E will cure my PD, but I gotta try. In my research another supplement that I read about was Neprinol. Looking past the sellers self proclaimed success, are there any concerns I should have with the enzymes nattakinase & serrapeptase contained in this supplement?

Vitamin E is commonly used even though proof of efficacy is lacking. I have heard some related improvement following the use of Neprinol, but there are no controlled studies confirming this. In the final analysis, they are unlikely to harm you. MG

Could you comment on the Heat Therapy process for PD? Is it simply a hot bath at 104 F or what?

I've never heard of it. MG

July 2009

I am 23 years old, and I've had a curve of about 30 degrees to the left for the last 5 or 6 years. I've lost about an inch in length some girth also...from what I've read I believe this to be Peyronie's. I was wondering if you've had any experience with Peyreton from Gordon's Herbal Research Center? They have a herbal formula (you can view a list of the ingredients on their website - Peyreton.com) which they claim has a 92% success rate. They also have a 30 day money back guarantee, if results are not noticed within 30 days. I have searched far and wide for information about 'gordons herbal research center' and 'peyreton', but I can't find any 'unbiased' opinions or testimonials! What do you think?

Unfortunately claims made by the seller mean nothing. It's up to you to decide, but correction of curvature that has been present and stable for more than a year or two is very unlikely with any medication. MG

I'm 62 yearsold and have always wanted to know about my bent penis. Thanks to Clinton I found out that it was a disease.

OK. MG

For about three months now, I've experience moderate pain along the top of the shaft of my penis when having an erection. I am also more sensitive during intercourse to the point where it is very difficult to endure unless my wife is fully lubricated (usually with a gel). There is no curvature of the penis that I can observe. I do not remeber any injury. I also have had BPH for several years. I'm 63 yrs old and was very sexually active in my youth prior to meeting my wife, during which time I contacted genital herpes which is controlled by stress management and the use of a daily tablet of lycine. My wife and I have had, and continue to have, a regular and satisfying sex life for the 35 years we have been together. Is this likely Peyronie's disease or are there other possibilities?

With the degree of pain and its relationship to erection / sexual activity, PD is likely. If the pain was due to herpes you would have seen some skin lesions by now. MG

I am a fifteen year old haemophiliac, and sexually active. After noticing some pain in the top of my penis during erection i assumed it was something to do with my haemophilia interfering with blood vessels in my penis, possibly an internal bleed due to overly vigorous intercourse. I waited a week or so, and i found out that the pain was connected with vein-like structures in the top of the shaft of my penis. I ignored these for a few more days, and found that so long as i left my penis alone i did not have the pain. Then, yesterday, i realised that the vein-like structure i had noticed was extending along the top of my penis, and causing a lot more pain. So i looked up "painful vein during erection" and i realised i probably have Peyronie's disease. This is, obviously, extremely disheartening for me to hear as a fifteen year old boy, and i was wondering about the long term effects. I have not noticed any curvature on my penis, but it is becoming painful to pull on while flaccid.

This is not PD but superficial vein thrombosis or Mondor's Syndrome, which will go away on its own. MG

My problem is located on top about three quarters down. Is there a topical sauve or ointment that will soften or break up this area?

Vitamin E and Verapamil have both been used topically, though there is little evidence they will break up the plaque. MG

I am 62 and have had a mild form of Peyronies for the past 10 years with no pain for the past nine years. In April, I suffered a hernia in the groin area about two inches from the base of my penis. I have put off having it repaired until this fall and have not had any pain from the hernia but have noticed that my peyronies is getting worse with some pain. I am concerned that the hernia may be affecting my peyronies and when I have surgery will this affect my peyronies even more. My question is can a hernia effect peyronies and is immediate surgery the right thing to do?

I have heard of Peyronies disease coming on after a hernia repair with plastic mesh, but have never seen aggravation of existing PD due to an inguinal hernia repair. MG

I noticed a curvature and PD symptoms around Jan. 2009. The bend was slight, but still bothersome. The doctor easily found the scarring on my left side and wanted to just start me off on Pentoxifylline (400mg) 3xday and L-Arginine (500mg) once a day. I also decided to take viatmin-e once a day on my own (as suggested by reading the forums here). Luckily I was also able to obtain a pump from my doctor and have been using it every other day for fifteen-minute increments. I have not noticed any improvement, and it appears to be getting slightly worse (granted it has only been 1.5 months on the pills and 1 month with the pump). Getting through to my doctor/nurse is a bad experience. I think his nurse doesn't take my calls seriously and it takes 48hrs to respond to me. Eventually I just skipped the nurse and called scheduling directly because the doctor is usually booked 3 months out - and my follow up isn't for another 2 months! If things are getting worse (even slightly) I want to do something about it! I called to see about an earlier appointment or to set up ultrasound treatments - and finally the doctor called me back directly! I expressed my concern about the underlying scar worsening and my overall concerns - especially with curving, tension/tightening and hour glassing. He told me not too be too worried about the time before my appointment and that "the scar is going to do what it is going to do regardless (of intervention)." that just sounded like a bunch of BS to me! If there was treatment now, I think it would prevent things from getting worse - attacking it now while it is in progress would be the best thing to do (using my logic)! Should I seek help elsewhere ASAP?

I think at this point a second opinion would be a good idea, if for no other reason than to find a doctor you can communicate with. MG

June 2009

I am 22 years old male, some time ago I started to "train" my penis. I was doing kegels and exercise which push blood into penis to extend tissue. I have not been doing them for a few days now. After 4 days, my penis shrank, and became kind of stiff in flacid state, especially at edges of the base. Now it is sometimes OK, sometimes it gets stiff. The head of penis, the top of it is cold as if it was something with the blood circulation. It also hurts sometimes in the base kind of impuls ache. Can it be PD?

No I don't think so. Maybe you should train some other part of your anatomy. MG

I am a 65 year old male who has Dupuytren disease contracture and Lederhose disease. I now have Peryonies disease. Vit E does not help, I was normal about 7 inches now I am 4 inches no curve, no pain but size does make a different. I have had surgery on my hands, the Lederhose disease really has not affected my walking, so have done nothing. What is the best way to increase my length?

Surgery will usually not restore length lost to PD. You could try one of the traction devices available over the internet, such as Andropenis or Fastsize. MG

My GP just diagnosed me with PD and have recommended that I see an Urologist that specializes in PD. I've had the problem for about 7 months and wasn't real alarmed because I didn't have any pain when flaccid. Right or wrong, knowing I had an annual physical I just waited. I've read that vitamin E orally may help (nothing proven clinically). I was wondering what you thought about messaging vitamin E on the outside of the affected area? Would you know of danger/side effect just trying?

There would be no harm to using a topical vitamin E preparation. MG

I am 61 years old. Suddenly, during sexual activity, my penis had a pronounced indentation near its base. This dent might measure about 1/2 inch. I also have had some mild pain while being erect. This indentation was not visible just 24 hours earlier.

This would likely be Peyronie's if you were able to feel a plaque / nodule near the area of narrowing. MG

I had peyronies 30 years ago and it eventually corrected itself. It has recently reocurred ( less than 3 months); at a different site and with differing impact ( there is less curvature and more indentation). My GP and I have decided on an aggressive treatment protocol. It consists of daily dose of 5000mg Vitamin E, daily doses of Pentox as well as daily low dose of Cialis; any comments on the efficacy of our proposed remediation?

Your approach makes sense, as all 3 agents are currently being used to treat PD. Unfortunately, despite a fair amount of clinical use, there is no published data on the effectiveness of these drugs in combination. MG

May 2009

Could you tell me how much Vitamin E I should take daily to help treat PD?

400 IU per day. MG

I'm 28 years old and about 6-8 weeks ago felt a dull pain in my penis during erection. This pain has progressively gotten worse, to the extent that erections are too painful to have intercourse. A couple of weeks back a notices a downward curvature to my penis that did not exist before. I went to a urologist about 3 weeks back, but he didn't diagnose me with PD. Given, there was no noticeable curvature at that time. I'm hesitant to blame the doctor, but I definitely feel he did not do his job. I plan to visit another doctor for a second opinion soon. However, my primary question right now is regarding the pain. Can you please help me and recommend something that will control the pain so I can be sexually active again? Also, can sexual activity worsen the condition?

Not likely to worsen with sex - ibuprofen will help with pain, which will probably resolve on its own with time. MG

During sex over two months ago I experienced a very unusual pain. I saw a urologist and he checked for scarring but came up negative, checked my urine and that too was negative for anything. I then had an ultra sound done and that too came up negative. My penis now bends upwards, starting half way towards the tip and my erections are pretty painful. I also noticed that the more sex I have the more painful it gets. Any Ideas? Should I get a second opinion?

Yes, this sounds like PD. MG

Have there been any studies of the Krishnamurti penile dermal flap operation for Peyronie's that is being performed in India.?

No additional published studies that I know of. Most reconstructive urologic surgeons use free grafts rather than flaps for PD as they eliminate placement problems that can be an issue with flaps. MG

My husband is 67 and in the last 6 months treated with radiation and seeds for prostate cancer, which is now taken care of we hope. We have been married for a year and sexually active for 3. He has always said that he feels he is "hitting" the back of my vagina during sex and has to pull out somewhat so that ejaculation can take place, or he thinks it will be blocked. He has mentioned it feeling painful to have full penetration sometimes. In the last few months we have noticed a dent in the lower half of his penis that was not there before. Could this have been caused by hitting the back of the vagina and bending the penis? Do prostate issues or treatment cause anything like this? And finally he has no other bumps or changes so is the Peyronies and what are the odds it will heal on its own or get worse?

I don't think this is due to "hitting" the vaginal walls; the indent and pain sound somewhat like PD to me. With the lack of curvature I do think it will heal on its own. MG

I am 17 and my penis curves downwards when erect. It goes straight for about 2 inches and then it curves down and the straight part is skinnier than the downward. When i am soft you can see that the beginning of my penis is skinnier than the rest (as if it has less 'meat'). Sometimes my erections don't last long or they'll be hard and then slowly turn soft. Can i still have sex?

Yes. MG

My penis has been curving to the left ever since I can remember. I had surgery as a young boy to correct a urinating problem. Would the scar tissue from that procedure be causing the curve, and could it be corrected.

Yes to both questions. MG

I am 59. My questions are 1) has anyone with PD had a penile pump installed in them that you work manually and was this a successful procedure? 2) Has anyone with my age, health problems etc just let PD progress and what happens when they do? 3) I live in eastern Iowa and am 3-1/2 hours from Mayo and 4 hours from Chicago so is it worth it to me to get a second opinion and where would you suggest I go? 4) I'm not quite in the acceptance stage of this yet and from my research I don't see a lot of success stories out there. What are the chances of any procedure working for a person my age with severe peyronies?

Inflatable implants can be very successful in the right candidate. Getting a second opinion is always a good idea prior to surgery. MG

I have an enquiry and i was wondering if you could help me. My husband has been diagnosed with PD disease, he is 58 years old and his problem started in december 2008. Mu husband has never been circumcised, but it has never been an issue for any of us. his doctors says the first he is required to go for a foreskin operation, before he is treated for his PD treatment. I would like your opinion on this, since his surgury is schedule for July 2009 and time is running and my husband would like to start doing something about it before the surgury. We have ordered Niprinol and Serra and we have also thinking of buying the vacumm pump machine, i was wondering what your advise would be. Also is it true that recovery for the foreskin operation is between 5 to 6 weeks?

Sexual activity can usually be resumed about 3 -4 weeks after a circumcision. I would agree the neprinol and pump are a reasonable course of action at present. MG

I am 58. For the last 6 months my wife has had to hold the base of my penis during intercourse because of "soft" erections. I figured because of my age, I could no longer expect rigid 18 year old erections. Two weeks ago, I took 10 mg of Cialis and to my dismay there was a 60 degree dorsal angulation of my penis. My urologist suggested vitamin E for the next 12 months and then possible surgery. Any other suggestions ?

That sounds like a reasonable proposal to me. MG

Being diagnosed for 6 months, I have been on a daily of 400 ui of vit E along with L-arginine 1000. with no significant change. I have been given one opinion that Verapamil 15% Gel applied 2X daily along with hot tub treatments for 3 to 6 months have shown to have a fair succes rate. Any coments?

Unfortunately none of those medications has good peer reviewed data proving effectiveness. So if they're not too expensive, a trial is worthwhile. MG

My boyfriend has been diagnosed with Peyronies for about a year now and I was wondering what would be the best ways to support him. I don't want to mother him but at the same time if i go about life like normal he seems to get offended and feels that i am not supportive. What is the best way to go about this. I want things to get back to normal because it's affecting our relationship yet i want to give him the support he needs to get through this.

Acknowledge the problem and see if he wants to talk about it, but if it doesn't have a bad effect on your sexual relations you should reassure him about this. MG

after dealing with PD for about four years I located a very experienced doctor in Philadelphia who had done a number of surgical grafts and plications for Peyronies. I was hoping for the tuck (plication) because it held the least amount of risk, but the doctor told me that due to a narrowing or indentation on the side of my erection that I needed a graft. The surgery was done in November of 2007. The doctor told me to wait at least six weeks before attempting intercourse. When I finally did I found I needed the Levitra he prescribed most of the time. The improvement from the surgery was acceptable at first, but after several months my wife began to complain of pain again due to the curvature returning somewhat, maybe to about 15 or so degrees. I was pretty upset, thinking that I went through the surgery in vain. My wife and I had gotten to the point a few months ago where we simply decided to have only manual sex to keep her from having pain and to allow us some semblance of what we once had. Ironically, during the manual sex period, we discovered, due to experimentation with foreplay, that I was getting a better erection without Levitra than I was with it. So we then attempted intercourse without medication. The problem was that although the erection was generally good, I would lose it at the moment of attempting penetration. I wasn't sure if it was performance anxiety or not so I contacted my doctor about an erection ring as I had read that this was a way to keep an erection if one was possible normally. I discovered that the erection rings sold on the internet were pretty much junk and you could actually hurt yourself with most of them. My doctor recommended a product called Actis which can be found at www.vivus.com/actis. It's an elastic band with a small ball at one end that acts as a stopper and a small slider that snugs up against the ball to keep tension on the band. I would not use it until just before intercourse, making foreplay more natural. This device solved our problem. We have been having intercourse normally for the past three months and my wife has no pain anymore. I don't know why except that although the curvature is still there, but to a lesser degree, and my erection feels more normal to both of us. Sex finally feels normal again and we are so relieved to once again have what we had lost for over six years. I am not affiliated in any way with the Actis company and my story is pretty unique as I imagine most stories about this disease are. I would like to add that I have been working out at my local gym regularly for the past three years and it's possible that this may have helped my condition. I did notice that I no longer have to get up once every night, as before, to urinate and the weak stream that had been frequent now occurs only on rare occasions since committing to regular exercise. I want to let other sufferers know that surgery can be a good option when all else fails, but that patience is of utmost importance, as is having the hope that success can happen even after several years of frustration. Most important is to find a good doctor with plenty of experience with whom you can place your trust.

Thanks for the submission. MG

I am 52 and have recently been noted to have PD. After taking propranolol for 15 years for benign familial tremors, is there reason to believe stopping the drug will allow reversal of the disease (if it is indeed the cause), or the plaque is what it is, and stopping the drug might prevent further disease process only.

If the PD is progressing, it would be wise to stop the propranolol. If it has been present for more than a few years and is stable, there is probably no reason to stop the medication. MG

I started to notice a slight bend on my penis about 10 months ago. I havent taken any medication or any seen doctor. I would like to highlight that i am only 19 years old. Now i think i have quite a significant bend of about 30 degrees to the left from actual straight erection. I am still a virgin and really dont know what is to be done. Could i turn impotent?

I seriously doubt that. Probably a good idea to see a urologist. MG

April 2009

April 2009 My husband recently had surgery to correct his peyronies curvature. The surgery was a success and the curvature has been greatly reduced. The issue isn't with the surgery but with the cost of the surgery. Our insurance company had approved the surgery; however, six months after the surgery was completed they are now saying that the surgery was for cosmetic and sexual performance and are refusing to pay for the surgeon, hospital, etc. Has anyone in this forum experienced a similar issue and found a way to get their insurance company to pay for the surgery. We are very pleased with the results of the surgery but we weren't prepared to pay almost $20k for all of the medical bills. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'll put it out to the readers. It sounds like you need to vigorously pursue an appeal to your carrier. MG

My husband of 40 years developed PD about 5 years ago. It was a physical and emotional blow to both of us as we had always enjoyed an very active and satisfying sexual life. For the first year or so we tried to avoid intercourse, me for fear of causing him pain and him for fears of not being a satisfactory lover. We have both more or less accepted and adjusted. I think I just want others to know that it's not the end of the world. Yes, things happen and life changes but the intimacy can still be part of your relationship.. Get creative and find other ways to please each other. Thanks for this forum.

Thank you for this contribution - I think it will be helpful to some. MG

Hey, Whats up Doc. How are things progressing with the trials for Peyronies . Im looking to--I guess be a --well yes, ha--to be a guinna pig---so to speak. We mailed to and fro a while back---hopeful and still waiting here patiently.

It looks like things are still moving ahead - I believe Auxilium will be sponsoring a phase III clinical trial for Xiaflex® (collagenase) in 2010. MG

i'm 18 years old, and just went to a doctor today, and i figured i must have peyronies, and have had it for as long as i can remember. erections curve to the left slightly, and bend upwards about 170degrees. the inconvenience just bugs me moreso than the actual pain because i dont know if it's going to cause something serious. at the moment i've just left home, and i'm doing an apprenticeship and only have around 50 bucks spare/week. one website said they can sell me tablets for $90 (www.peyrotin.com) that are guarenteed to treat the disease, should i buy these or what do you recommend i do?

First off, you don't have Peyronies, so don't buy any pills. If you have a problem in the future with your congenital curvature, you'll have to find someone to perform a Nesbit procedure which is very effective in curing this bend. MG

i' m 16. My penis is bent approximately 45°, but i don't have any pain on erection. does tis necessarily mean i have peyronie's disease/ No, you probably don't. This sounds like congenital curvature. MG how do you know whether penile shaft bending is peyronies or just bent penis? mine bends off wildly to the left, and also points down, and does give me a degree of pain on erection. would just like an answer after years of not knowing. cheers x

Peyronies usually comes on in middle age, sometimes after sexual trauma, in a patient who previously had no curvature. If bending has been present since adolescence, this is likely not PD, but congenital curvature. MG

In June 2005, I suddenly had a bent penis. As best as I can recall it occurred overnight. I believe it may have been caused by entanglement in bed clothes during nocturnal erection. However, that's just my speculation. I believe as possible contributions to the condition might've been my lack of use of vitimins and dietary supplements. At that time I had developed some osteopenia which I believe was either caused by or contributed to by defective digestive abilities. At that time I wasn't using digestive enzymes to aid my body in its ability to process nutrients. I looked up information about Peyronie's and started dosing with vitimin E. This helped straighten the shaft back to a reasonably straight direction, but ever since my penis has been three inches shorter than it was. My penis always measure 7 1/2 inches (19cm). Now it's about 4 or 5 inches. I spoke to my doctor and also to an urologist about this. Either they were doubtful, or didn't know what to tell me. I saw on this site that one can indeed lose penile length.

Length loss is common with PD, and despite the improvement with curvature one can see with different treatments, unfortunately restoration of length is unlikely. MG

Hey, Im 23 and i have a 20-30 degree bend to the left in my erect penis. The right side of my penis is alot bigger than the left side. Also my flacid penis bends hangs to the left. Ive noticed the bend for about the last six months. I now have a big vein running on the left side of my penis right next to my vas defrans i never noticed till about 2 months ago. I have no pain or erection difficulty but my penis is constantly hanging left even when flacid. Its becoming very uncofortable for me to just sit because i always feel my flacid penis hanging to the left, and feel like im constantly adjusting it. I cant really feel any bump or plaque in my penis, i can feel the new vien i was just talking about though. Also if i put my limp penis to the left it will just stay but if i put it to the right it will go back to left as soon as i let go. I doesnt seem to be getting any better. Does this sound like pd or something elese? I appreciate any advice you can give me thank you

This does not sound like PD to me. MG

I have had ED for several years. Viagra worked well for me. About 5 months ago, I slipped in my kitchen and my penis was rammed into the kitchen counter with my body weight behind it. It hurt for a few days, but I didn't worry. Last week I finally went to a urologist and he found 2 hardened areas on both sides of my penis, and diagnosed it as PD. The lumps are hard. My erection is deformed, not bent. It only engorges with blood about half way up the side of the penis when erect, then it looks like an hourglass, with the head of the penis slightly enlarged. He ordered blood tests to see what the cause of the ED was. Anyways, he suggested I use a vacuum pump a couple of times a day. I always forget to ask doctors questions. My question is the purpose of the vacuum pumping. Is this to enrich the penis with blood, pulling more blood into that area in an effort to increase blood flow, or was he suggesting I use the pump prior to intimacy? If the purpose were for sexual intercourse, it doesn't seem to be working. Would massaging the plaque help to reduce it's size?

The vacuum pump is to help stretch out the areas constricted by scar tissue. MG

What do you know about Verapamil cream. i was told by someone at a male clinic that some doctors are finding that it really helps and a lot of people are getting cured. is there any formal research on it?

There are no good peer-reviewed scientific data proving that verapamil creme works. MG

March 2009

three yrs. ago I became aware of a small bee bee size bump kinda near the base of penis shaft. I researched on line to finally find out about peyronies. to a doc I went and -no testing -verifyed I had Peyronies-said maybe I should try vit E and in some cases it just goes away. In time -I called his office again and found that he had gone away but peyronies wasent. for the record -I never experienced pain-couldnt remember an injury to the area. I have always wondered about some of the physical extreme feats I accomplish-As a framer -monstorously heavy lifting-As well -some 15-20 mile back country runs--maybe a severly torn calf muscle from a basketball game bleeding internally and gathering in the foot and ankle---added to the above-taking glucosamine and condroiten to help to counter for the physicality at age 51. Ive seen 6 doctors with no testing -really all saying come back in a year--Its been three years- Can scar tissue (now having been inactive ) physically and sexually for three years continue to grow and change penis structure-Its apparently happening but makes no sense to me--Penile prostesis--Does anyone know about --normal sexual sensation-satisfactios and drive associated with such. ???

Peyronies can continue to change the penis shape / structure over this time, though it usually stabilizes after 12 months or so. There may be a relationship between taking glucosamine & chondroitin and getting PD. In cases of severe function loss due to PD, a penile prosthesis can substantially restore function and satisfaction. MG

I am a 37 years old and have had a curveture of the penis since about 13 or 14. I believe it was due to a trauma to my penis by being kicked.My penis curves approx 45 degrees to the left, and the curve starts at the same spot where the bruise was.Sex is uncomfortable in certain positions, but it is painful for my wife. If there is scaring and damage, will surgery correct this?What do you recommend?

As this has been present more than 20 years and causes discomfort in your wife, I would recommend a Nesbit procedure. MG

I am a 22 year old male. I am not very active, but I do try to eat healthy(drink alot of water, not so much junk etc). I woke up one day with a pain in my lower left torso. It kinda felt like a balloon. It wasn't till 4 days later it started hurting. On my way to the doctor, I felt my penis contract and when I reached down I felt a big ball at the base of my penis. Sorta like it was a ball, then the penis started. I freaked and thought it was a kidney stone and went to the hospital but CT scans and urine and blood tests told me I was fine. I still have lower left torso pain that was starting to creep up to my side and my lower left back but now my penis really hurts. I feel like something hard on the sides of my penis and it feels like it's just contracting alot. Could this be PD?

I don't think this is PD. MG

I have been diagnosed PD by my doctor (a General Practitioner). About 4 months ago, quite suddenly, I lost erectile function in the end inch of my penis. My wife noticed it first, saying my glans seemed not to be so hard anymore. I first thought a band 1" wide just under the glans was constricting the penis from expanding, as there is a 'shoulder' at that point where the normal width stops. I took a photo of this while erect (not easy) and showed it to my doctor who was at first perplexed but then, considering some other of his patients who have had recent right-angle bends occurring, typically PD, decided I probably had Peyronies. In recent months I experience a definite cut-off point an inch below the glans where the erection stops and the rest plus the glans is quite flaccid. I have experimented with compressing the erection (like a cow's teat) and trying to extrude the blood along into the flaccid bit, but worry I might make it worse. It's a worry to me as another apparent effect is that erections dissipate more quickly. So during sex a slight erection drop-off seems to make penetration more of a problem. Is this a result of pd?

If narrowing of the corpus cavernosa occurs due to PD, structural weakness of the erection can result from the failure of this segment to expand to normal diameter - it is a consequence of elasticity changes in the wall of the corpora, not restricted blood flow. MG

I'm 17 years old and have had a bend in my penis for a while now. At first, I thought it was due to masturbation since it is bending to the left when erected and turning slightly clockwise, but PD seems more likely now. When limp, it is a bit larger at the base and it still bends a bit towards the left. Do I have PD?

Sounds more like congenital curvature. If this creates a problem for you, a visit to the urologist would be a good idea. MG

I was in an automobile accident last May 2008. I was diagnosed, among other things, as having abdominal pain when examined in the ER. Upon having to urinate in a receptacle in the ER, I told my wife that I had no sensation of urine coming through my penis. She assured me that it was. The next day I developed what i described as "groin" pain, which worsened over the next couple of weeks and seemed to move to my tailbone before disappearing altogether. In early August I noticed that my erect penis was "bent" at the base. I went to my urologist who diagnosed me as having Peyronie's disease. Under the assumption that from approximately nine months prior to the accident until now 03/09/09 I have not had sexual intercourse, would it be reasonable to conclude that my Peyronie's was caused by the accident?

That does sound reasonable. MG

I had PD corrected 12years ago with surgery that went quite badly. I had a gross haematomy and severe stretching of my penis and was not fully sorted until about 4-6 months after the surgery. The problem I know have is where the surgery corrected the bend I have 2 halves and they have pulled apart slightly and they sit slightly right and left of each other. Where the problem is, while erect I have an area that sticks out on the right hand side quite sharply and it causes some discomfort when using a condom as it rubs on this area. Also I am causing pain to partners as this area becomes hard when erect. Is there any medication I could use, or would this require further surgery to sort?

I would recommend you get photographs of the erection and visit a urologic surgeon with particular experience in reconstructive & peyronies surgery. MG

I am 20, about two weeks ago I noticed a very, very hard small lump on the right underside of my penis close to the head. It seems to feel like it's attached to some kind of cord. I think this could be related to masturbation as i can remember maybe 3 weeks ago being a little rough. I am now experiencing a litlle bit of pain, but its it tolerable. No change in shape of my penis. The lump has not increased in size in the following two weeks after I noticed it. I was wondering if there is a chance I will be stuck with this small lump (which does not bother me), or does this scar tissue always increase in size? If so why is this? I have an appointment with a uro coming up, and fear that I will be diagnosed with this. Is there any reward in early diagnosis with this problem?

It appears that medical (pharmacologic) remedies for PD work better in early cases. MG

I am a 39 year old male who has Dupuytren disease contracture and Lederhose disease. I am fearful now of contacting Peryonies disease as this falls into the same class of diseases. I am not a big fan of surgery. For my dupuytrens, I choose a non surgical procedure called needle appendectomy. Since my lederhose disease really has not affected my walking, I have done nothing as I have not found any non surgical treatment for it. In the event I do get PD, I have been searching for non surgical treatments and have found only one that has some scientific evidence to back it up. Does anybody know anything about this? They claim to be FDA registered. Not sure what the difference between registered and approved is? www.androman.com

There is a different standard for drugs and devices. Registered means the FDA has been given data about this device, but that the FDA does not attest to its effectiveness. There is some preliminary evidence that stretching devices such as this may reduce bending due to PD. MG

I am 45, I developed PD 2 years ago. I have around 30 degree curvature on right with indentation in the middle of shaft on erection. I am taking Vit E 400iu daily. Length and girth significantly reduced. Do you think these Traction devices will help to reduce the curvature and increase the length and girth. Is there any harm to use them or can they worse the PD?

Please see the above submission. If used properly, these devices should not cause harm. MG

I've heard about verapamil cream from a doctor at a male clinic. he advised me that he had a dr friend that has been using it to very good effect on patients. what do you know about it?

It may help PD, though the data on topical preparations is somewhat conflicting. MG

February 2009

I am 55 and just about 5 months ago I noticed a curve in my erection for the first time. Since then it has progressed to an irregular shaped erection. It is normal from the base out for 2 inches then there is a bump or ridge on both sides that is about 1/8 inch high and 1/8 inch wide. From that point on my penis is only semi hard and a noticably smaller in diameter and a little shorter when hard. I can't feel or see anything unusual when flacid except it feels mushier than when I was younger but that has been happenig gradually as I aged. I have also been using viagra or callas for the past 5 years most of the time for sex. I don't think I had any trauma other than the time I was painfully cathed after my thyroid was removed year ago. Is there any thing I can do to fix this and what does the future hold for this. Could having sex with a very weak erection on the front half of my penis add to the problem?

This does sound like PD, which is likely to stabilize within 12 months but may produce some permanent deformity. I would suggest you continue to use viagra or cialis as intercourse with a weak segment may lead to bending and further trauma. MG

I am only 18 years old and a urologist diagnosed me with PD. It started around a year ago with a faint pain in the tip of my penis when I had an erection. It developed very slowly to a more noticable pain, and then once I noticed curvature about 6 months later I went to see the urologist. they curve got worse to about 30 degrees but then I noticed that that part of my penis wasn't as rigid any more during erection. I have a large hard bump near the head ofmy penis and it still seems to be growing (but I might be imagining it). I really don't want to lose my sexual function so early, what should I do? I am taking vitaimin E since I saw the urologist. Is it likely that the disease will continue to get worse and worse?

Not likely, it will usually stabilize within a year, and at your age considerable improvement would be expected. MG

can you use viagra if you have peyronies

Yes, and there is some evidence that this class of drug actually may have a beneficial effect by inhibiting the process of scar formation. MG

I am 28 and now i notice the curvation of my penis. Now i am doubting whether or not it had always been there. The curvation is strongest when my penis is 'half erected'. Then it bends firmly to the left. I notice the curvation gets less when my penis is totally erected. Then it feels like it is difficult to break 'through' till i have a total erection. Till now, i feel no real plaques and no pain. But i do have some erection problems now and then. This could have other reasons then PD.

This sounds more like congenital curvature, not PD. MG

I am 63 and recently found my penis to be shaped differently. I used to have a slight curve to the left and similar circumference for the entire shaft. Three months ago I discovered my penis to be shorter,much narrower at its base and larger in the center. I have no bumps. I am able to have sex however penetration is difficult because of the bending at the base because of the narrow shaft. My urologist advised I have peyronies, that there is no pill or cream that will fix it. He suggested a pump to help stimulate the narrow area at the shaft. He suggested only time will tell if I will be cured. I read about different types of medication and creams in your posting. Is this pump a reasonable approach. Do you recommend a second opinion with suggestions towards medications or creams.

The use of a vacuum pump is a reasonable approach. A second opinion regarding the various pharmacologic remedies used would also be a good idea. MG

I have been scrolling down your web page hoping I would find that sufferers of this condition have been taking (like me) an anticoagulant (e.g. Warfarin/Coumadin) for a long time. I have been taking this medication for over 20 years and have developed in the last 3 years an upward bend in my penis about one third from the base. My GP said that it was fairly common and called it, something like, "Priapus" or the closest medical term, but not what you refer to it as. She suggested that I do nothing and that it may cause some sexual disadvantage but at my age (70) that is not an issue. It is true that my penis size has decreased a little in length but only the part from the bend to the tip of the penis. My philosophy is to make do, the best you can, with what you've got, when you can. Sex isn't everything, and it can certainly make you a slave to it, if you let it. Just wait 'til you get the the "prostate" part of your life and the "bent willy" will seem so insignificant.

There is no known association between the use of coumadin and PD. MG

I have read many of the e-mails and feel for the people involved. My question is a little different. I have been dating a 60 year old man for a touch over a year. He has PD. It curves upward and back toward his tummy. He has erections and release however, it is a challenge sometimes to find a position that allows him to enter. As well, more and more afterwards I am finding that I am sore in a strange place (this would be where his curved penis hits) and it takes a couple of days for it to go away for me. Could this be damaging me as I even feel this soreness when I urinate. I have gone to the doctor and I am fine but did not tell her about this. Any suggestions? Is it possible that a severe case of PD can hurt a woman?

PD cannot damage a woman, but it certainly can cause discomfort if the bend is significant - usually irritation of the urethra (burning with urination) due to upward bending. Using a lubricant such as astroglide as well as a bath afterward with domeboro bath salts (both available over the counter) will help. MG

I am 68 years old & have had little difficulty with erections. About 2 months ago, out of nowhere, my penis was bent about 45 degrees and was painful during erection. At the location of the bend, I could feel a hard core which was very narrow & less than a half inch long. I was shocked. Since then, the curvature seems more pronounced & the hard core is a little longer, but the pain is very slight. Does this sound like Peyronies & does the sudden nature of it appearing suggest early stages? What next?

Yes this sounds like PD, and it would be best to consult a urologist. MG

I am 38 yrs old and about 6 weeks ago felt some pain in my penis duing sex discovered a hard pea sized lump inside the shaft about midway up, it is not visable but can be felt by squeezing the penis when soft. I can still get an erection however it is not as "hard" as it used to be and seems "deflated" in the area where the lump is, there is no bending or curving in my penis. The areas before and after the lump are normal when erect. The pain is now pretty much gone, the lump has not changed and I am able to have sex although it seems to take longer to get an erection and it will go soft quickly it not stimulated and sex is most certainly not as enjoyable because of that. Given my age and symptoms Is it likely the condition will worsen, improve or stay the same?

At your age and with six weeks of duration, it is likely this will improve over the next 12 months. MG

i am a 52 year old male, i recently noticed what i can only describe as a bulging area an inch or two above the base of penis, it feels like cartilage has been split or broken i have this on both sides when flacid, when an erection is obtained it is not felt, but erection seems shorter and it feels stronger at base then on tip, almost like something fell back, there is no bending. but some pain at times, i am diabetic, and have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and take meds for all

This sounds like it could be PD - probably best to be examined by a urologist. MG

January 2009

I have had peyronies for about 9 months now, 70 degree bend..ouch. My question is: Do you know why the the Lariche Technique they are using over in Europe that, for some reason is not being used in the U.S. and if it is going to be used in the U.S.. and what else do you know about it, if anything. Here is a description of the procedure. Operative technique: Patients are operated on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia, after location of the plaque by intraoperative ultrasound of the penis with erection induced by phsiological saline. A percutaneous tear of the plaque is performed with an 18 gauge needle.

Although there have been successes with this procedure, there is a very real risk of nerve injury, as the nerves providing sensation to the head of the penis are immediately adjacent to the plaque (and to the blind incision created by the needle point). MG

I am a 54 yr old relatively healthy man I got this curse about 6 years ago, the reason I call it a curse is simply because it wasn't bad enough to have a small penis-then I come down with this thing-I have treated it with 400 vitamin e-with no change-I don't really know how bad I suffer from ed because of the pd doesn't help my self esteem ,while I show signs of ed I realize my age is probably most of the reason-and some lifestyle choices i.e. smoking and not enough exercise but this curse just makes me feel like I am falling deeper and deeper into depression and I know that has a lot to do with ed-so if I could find a cure or at least some relief-all would be well with the world

The repercussions of PD on self-image & esteem are real. I think the current research being done by Auxilium with the use of collagenase is promising and should provide a degree of encouragement. MG

The areas of plaque seem to have moved, is this normal?

Yes, although the plaque doesn't "move", it's just that different areas of the affected tissue get firm. MG

About 6 months ago I devolved either pd or a fractured penis. About a week or two after I noticed this I also noticed blood in my urine. I believe I did this by masturbating. I am 57 years old. My penis is now hour glass shaped bends slightly upward and is at least an inch or more shorter. What is causing the bleeding?

This could be due to an associated injury, but there are many other causes and any case of blood in the urine should be investigated by a urologist. MG

I am 44 and about two months back i noticed a harp pea sized lump on the left side of the shaft near the base of the penis. I visited the urologist who said it was PD and started me off on vitamin E 400 units per day. There is no noticeable curvature till now, or pain during erection, but i have noticed surrounding areas ( around the lump, on the shaft more towards the base as well as towards the glans) are also somewhat harder now over these two months. Does this sound like PD to you?

Yes, as time passes the hardness may appear in different spots, and then may resolve in the same fashion. MG

I am a 44 year old male who started experiencing moderate pain during morning erections about two or three months ago. Two weeks ago, I noticed two hard lumps behind the tip of my penis. I have no other symptoms, and my erect penis appears unchanged. I saw a urologist who diagnosed Peyronie's and told me to take 1000 units of Vitamin E each day and come back in 6 months. I'm wondering if I should expect the disease to progress, and if I should be taking any other measures to prevent further symptoms.

Vitamin E has been used extensively, but has no placebo - controlled confirmatory data. Neither do the following drugs but they are worth considering: colchicine, neprinol, trental, L-argenine, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors (Viagra, Levitra, Cialis). MG

I am a 23 year old of Cuban descent. About a year and a half ago, perhaps even 2 years, I noticed my penis points/curves to the left approximately 30 degrees when erect, may have lost a bit of girth when erect, and also appears almost twisted to the left when flaccid; I cannot tell if it is curved more today than when I first noticed. Additionally, when both erect and flaccid I can see and feel a small lump on the left side that I do not recall seeing before, which 'gives' a bit when touched but remains in the same location. When I first noticed this, intercourse with my significant other was painful (though only after; getting an erection was not painful unless it was directly after intercourse), though currently I do not experience pain with erections or after intercourse. May this be peyronies disease? If so would it be wise, in the interim before seeing a urologist, to try to bend my penis opposite of the curvature and/or massage the lump (my significant other has dupuytren's contracture, and was advised to massage her scar tissue to help break it up and slow its progress), or would this aggravate the condition?

This does sound like PD. Stretching or mechanical traction appears to help in certain preliminary studies - as long as it is gentle and not traumatic. MG

I'm 50 years old and have had PD for about a year and a half.It has really put a strain on my marraige.My penis went from a "normal" 7 inches to around 4 inches.It is straight but small at the base to normal size at the head. It also bends downward,but always did.It just doesn't straighten like it used to.I've been to a ureologist,but he just said surgury was the only way he knew to fix it.Ive read about stretching,but wanted to talk to my regular doctor before I tried that.I've also had a problem with premature ejaculation since this started.I never was able to go for "hours" anyway,but was always able to do just fine.So,should I try the stretching route

Yes, that would be worthwhile. You should talk to your doctor about using Zoloft or Paxil for premature ejaculation. MG

Around the end of summer I noticed I had an hour glass shape to my flaccid penis after swimming. Then recently within the past few months I have began to notice that often times it remains in the hourglass shape while flaccid, although I have not had any difficulty with my erect penis. I have not experienced any pain and do not seem to have any lumps on my penis. Also I have noticed that my penis seems smaller but it could also just be in my head. Does this sound like Peyronies?

No. MG

I imagine surgery can fix my condition of a curve in the shaft. Can surgery also fix a twist, or disconnect of a portion of the base of the penis? How effective is the surgery? What are the chances of it returning after surgery? What are the chances of surgery making the condition worse? would surgery risk shortening of the penis?

Surgery can correct twist as well as bending, but the risks depend on the anatomical location and severity. For instance, the risk of postoperative erectile dysfunction is higher in men with downward bending. MG

December 2008

my penis started bending when i was going through puberty. I am now 20 years old. If a perfectly straight penis is at 90 degrees when erect then i bend at around 160 degrees. I have no pain when having an erection however if i push it down to 90 degree position it does hurt some what. is it peyronies disease? and what can i do to correct it and make it straight? (so its 90 degrees from the body).

If this creates a sexual problem, surgery can correct the bend, though angulation of the penis upward at 45 -60 degrees is considered normal. MG

I am a 53 year old and about 6-8 months a go I began to experience some pain on the left side of my penis during intercourse. On the first occaion that I noticed it it felt like my penis severly bent during intercourse maybe causing some damage. Prior to that I had begun to notice some visible discoloration on the left side with what appears to be dark purple blotches. In the course of the past six months i now bend to the left at about 30-45 degrees and girth and length is reduced. I have been taking Lopid, Niacin and Lipitor for Cholestorol and Liprinisil for BP. In Feb 2008 I also had a stent put in y diagonal artery. This seems to fit the bill for PD. Can any of these medications cause the problem and can it be reversed if so. If not, should surgery be recommended at this point or will meds be more effective?

There is no evidence to suggest these medications cause PD. I would recommend you take some form of drug therapy for at least 6 months before considering surgery. MG

A little more than a year ago I had lasik surgery on my eyes. I have unusually large pupils and post surgery was having a little difficulty with night vision. My eye doctor then prescribed Betmonidine Tartrate drops which is a glaucoma medication that has a side effect of reducing pupil size. I also think that this drug is a beta blocker. For a good six months I was using the Bet. Tartrate drops almost everyday and sometimes twice a day. About four months ago, I noticed a hard lump on the inside of my penis around the top portion of the shaft and a little under the gland area like so many others describe. I notice some pain in my penis when I have an erection. There is a very slight indention near where the lump is but all looks pretty normal when fully erect..no bending and no loss of size. Other than the pain, all else seems fine other than my being completely paranoid that the condition could worsen. I started taking vitamin E but will have to wait to see a urologist because I'm currently in China and don't return to the States for a couple of weeks I have two questions: 1) I stopped taking the drops about three weeks ago and was wondering if ending the potential cause would likely reverse the peyronies lump and the pain or if the condition potentially brought on by the drops is one that can stay forever. In other words, if I stop the cause, will the effect reverse? Or can the scarring from the initial onset be just that..scarring that remains and I could have pain continually? I know I'm making a big assumption the beta blocker drops caused the problem and I do realize that it is still unproven. But I've never had any trama and other than flax seed, fish oil and regular vitamins, I don't take any other drugs. 2) If beta blockers are linked to Peyronies as a potential side effect, then do you know why there is not one word in the Bet. Tart. drug literature that mentions this? I'm really angry that it takes me doing my own half-baked research on the Internet about beta blockers and Peyronies to discover that while there is no proven link, there is a correlation between the two that goes unmentioned and does not even give me an opportunity to make an informed decision of whether or not I should risk taking the drug. That's just insane!

You are correct, taking beta blockers has been associated with PD. MG

I'm 46 and have recently developed an hourglass deformity. My Urologist recommends several medications including Pentoxifylline, Potaba and L-Arginine. He says there is no harm using all three at once - does that sound safe to you? A Naturopathic Doctor also recommends L-Arginine, but insists that a low dose will do nothing. No, he is not selling L-Argine. He recommends a very high dose - at least 3 grams per day and working up to 21 grams per day! Do you know of any risks to trying this? The Mayo Clinic reports L-Arginine can increase lung inflammation and worsen asthma.

The above drugs and supplement are widely used for PD. I would recommend avoidance of "megadoses" such as 21 gm per day. MG

I am 30 and was diagnosed with Peyronie's two years ago. I have a small lump near the head of my penis, on the left side. I also have another one on the base of the left side but no curve. Erections are Not painful, but when flaccid both areas are sensitive to the touch. Also, I have a dull sensation on the left side of my lower stomach that has been prevalent for a while. my whole left side seems to be effected, are these conditions related?

While PD is not known to cause abdominal pain, it appears that your genital pain could be a trigger point for something else. MG

I think I have always had a slight curvature to the left, but never thought much of it. I have since looked this up on the Internet several times. Now, I am somewhat concerned about the distinct bend on erection that occurs sometimes, more pronounced than the general curve that is always present. Reading about damage that can cause PD, I am aware that I have a history of occasionally intentionally bending a morning erection all the way to the left in order to urinate when sitting, as urine would otherwise go everywhere. Is this related to the problem? I have not had problems with intercourse. I have not experienced pain on erection. I do not feel any lump or spot that seems related to the curve.

I don't think bending the erection has been harmful. You have slight congenital curvature, not PD, and I would suggest you "live with it". MG

All my life I have had a slight curve to the left in my penis, I am 47 now, but it never caused any problems and was enjoyed by my partners. In August of 2005 I had a double fusion in my lower back from L4-S1. The surgery was unsuccessful. I am now disabled with failed back syndrome. During this procedure a cath was used and left in for a couple days until I could get out of bed. Since then I have been diagnosed with PD. I have an indentation about an inch and a half below the head of my penis and it also bends significantly to the left and erections are painful when I get sexually excited. I have lost length and girth. As a result my sex life is nonexistant. I have two questions: 1. Could the cath used during my surgery, or the sugery itself caused my PD? Remember I had no problems till then. 2. Do you think accupuncture or some other type of nonsurgical procedure could help me?

While there is no likely relation to the back surgery, catheters can precipitate PD. I doubt acupuncture will help this. MG

Have I gone so long with celibacy, that I won't work again?

One of the challenges with PD is to remain sexually active - long periods of abstinence can reduce erectile function. MG

I am 63 years old, have had PD for over 4 years and my penis curves upwards about 30-40 degrees. My wife finds sex to be uncomfortable and so we do not have sex anymore. I have done the verapamil ointment and the injections twice. Neither treatment improved the situation. I saw a post from several months ago about someone considering acupuncture. I did that earlier this year, two treatments a week for two months with no improvement. I have not done the Vitamin E before. Is there any reason to start doing it now?

With PD of 4 years duration, it is unlikely that vitamin E will reverse the bend, but there would be no harm in trying it (400 units daily) for six months or so. MG

November 2008

my boyfriend suspects that he has PD. Nothing has been said between us until the other day when my OB asked me why I wasn't sexually active given my age of 45. My boyfriend is 57 and had a history of depression. We started going out for almost 4 years now. In the beginning of our relationship, I noticed that the shape of his penis is like a banana, really curving downward towards his anus. I haven't seen one like this before but I've heard it is congenitally normal, so I did not pay much attention to it. However during our sexual intercourse, his penis comes out a lot due to this curviness and a lot of times I have to guide it with my hands so not to frustrate me. We rarely have sex ( 2-3 x a year) during the first 2 years and then according to him about a 1 1/2 years ago when we were having sex and his penis was not totally erect and I was on top of him and he felt a severe pain but did not tell me. Since then we have not have sex and have loss our intimacy and he tries to avoid the sex issue whenever I tried to hint him. I thought at his age he is beginning to have ED since believe it or not I haven't seen him ejaculate not even once! The pain went away after several months but he noticed a sharp angulation to the left ( 45 degrees) even if it is in flaccid state. I told him to seek medical advice but he is embarrassed of obvious disfigurement not to mention taking pictures of his penis in an erect state which we both know is emotionally distressing. This has really undermined our intimacy and relationship. Can that incident of mechanical force create a scar tissue that can lead to PD?

That type of incident can definitely cause PD. Perhaps if you accompanied him on the first visit for "moral support", he would be willing to see a doctor. MG

In the surgical procedure to correct Peyronies' curvature, tissue identified as "temporalis fascia" is used in the process. Where is this tissue found? Is it taken from the patient? I am considering surgery as a corrective action

Temporalis fascia covers the muscle above and in front of the ear, the one that moves when you chew. It is an excellent graft material and works well in the repair of PD. MG

I have slight indentation on the right side of my penis when erect and was diagnosed with PD. I have a strong sex drive and firm erections and am not even 40... I am in the early phases, one month- Also, I'm starting VERAPAMIL gel this week as well as vitiman E. Was wondering what the proper dose would be for that and I was wondering if masterbation was a bad idea. I am in slight but managable pain.

The gel is usually applied twice daily. Masturbation is not harmful to PD. MG

I am twenty-four years old. I started noticing an erectile curvature in the spring of 2007. Since then the rightward curvature has increased but stabilized. I've seen a urologist who diagnosed me with PD and prescribed me Vitamin E, but the vitamin has had no obvious effect. My wife and I have noticed a marked loss in interest in sex on my part. When we do have sex, I am worried that we will do something that will cause me pain. That, I think, is the reason for my lack of interest. But recently, I have begun to notice a reduction in rigidity, which makes sex even more precarious. Not only that, I've noticed a lack of interest in other areas of my life (e.g. school, hobbies, etc.) which I've suspected was related. I'm sure part of my problem is psychological, but how does one overcome it? My urologist said I have only a "slight to moderate" bend to the right. The bend occurs at the base of the penis, and there is a noticeable bulge of tissue (plaque, I suppose) at the base on the left side. When erect, I cannot push down on my penis without pain. I can straighten it, but if I push any further to the left I experience great pain. And too great a stress on the shaft from straight ahead causes me significant pain at the base on the left side, and it feels like here it is trying to move to the left slightly. When I contract my muscles, too, the base moves slightly to the left. Is all this normal for PD? Does PD effect in any way the penis's anchor to the pelvic bone?

Psychological or emotional effects often complicate PD - and they tend to resolve as the process stabilizes. Plaques close to the body can affect the way the penis is anchored to the pelvic bones. MG

I was recently diagnosed with PD after noticing a lump two months ago. It could have been related to trauma from about 5 months ago. My urologist prescribed 400 units of vitamin E twice daily which I just started today. Within the last three or four weeks, I've experienced a buckling or hinging at the location of the plaque which is on the left side and a little on the top near the base of my penis. My penis is not even bending, but I have some indentation where the plaque is located. It's very slight and doesn't bother me. I have a few questions for you... 1) What are the chances (percentage) that the buckling will go away on its own just from taking vitamin E? I'm 35 years old. 2) My doctor gave me samples of Viagra just in case. Can this help with the buckling at all? I am still able to have intercourse with my wife, but I have to hold the area during initial penetration to keep it from buckling. 3) My orgasms don't seem to be as strong recently. Is that a symptom of PD or is it just in my head?

Buckling will usually resolve as the diameter restriction improves - though Viagra can help in the interim. PD does not directly affect orgasms, unless you have painful erections in which case they are temporarily inhibited. MG

I am fifty three years old and have diagnosed PD since age 40. It occurred within about a week after I had a vasectomy, during which the doctor seemed to be inordinately rough during the procedure. About five years ago I saw a site on the internet advertising a "male health clinic" in Toronto, Canada, offering shock-wave therapy. It showed a photograph of a multi-storied building that I assumed was the clinic itself. Having been told of the dangers of surgery and having tried several other topical treatments, I signed up and journeyed to Toronto. When I got there, I found out that the "men's sexual clinic" was not the building itself, but only a small, rather shabby office located within the building. The owner of the clinic, who had sounded so sympathetic on the phone, was not a doctor or even any type of medical professional. There was a waiting room, and when you entered the small treatment area there was actually a bedsheet hanging on a line that closed off the ultra-sound machine, or whatever it was, treatment area. This raised some red flags, but since I was there and had already invested several thousand dollars in treatment fees, hotel bills and airline tickets, I went ahead. A doctor that apparently was a contracted medical student did the treatment. During my first treatment, he had another young man that he was training to do the procedure that had never done it before...I was his first patient. I was told that the young man in training would be doing my second and third treatments, which I had already paid for. I balked at that and told them that I would not accept this, and that the I wanted someone who at least knew what he was doing to complete the three treatments, which did happen. Well, after these treatments and spending a few thousand bucks I went back to Oklahoma with no results. The internet site had said that I would be followed up with for a report that this "clinic" would be making to some sort of professional medical council. Of course, I never heard from them. I just wanted to write this to caution my fellow PD sufferers to exercise caution in these matters. Since there is no really effective treatment for PD, and we all get very frustrated because of this. we are vulnerable to the offerings of people trying to hold themselves out as something they are not. I have read that ultra-sound treatments have been effective for other people. Are there any doctors in the Oklahoma area, or close-by states that offer this treatment from bonafide doctors?

Thank you for this report. Scientific data does not support the use of shock wave therapy (lithotripsy) in the treatment of PD. Ultrasound has been used for years, but has never been proven effective in double blind studies. MG

I have had PD for 10 years. I am 66. I can't recall any trauma but I started on a Beta Blocker around that time. I masturbate a lot and enjoy having erections and feeling complete. My curvature isn't that bad although I can't say how many degrees. I use Cialis on a regular basis and I am able to have intercourse without difficulty however I find my length has reduced over the years. When using Caverject injections I maintain a strong erection without any pain. I use between 10 and 20ug. What I would find helpful in judging curvature would be photos of real cases. Is there any chance in this digital age of getting photos on to this Forums?

Perhaps in the future I can post (anonymous) pictures. MG

I am 49 years old and recently diagnosed with an early stage of PD based on pain I was experiencing (but no noticeable curvature). My urologist prescribed a combination of Potaba, ACL and Vitamin E which I have taken for about a month. (The Potaba has not done wonders for my stomach but I am tolerating it.) The pain has decreased somewhat. This week I saw another urologist who is recognized as an expert in PD. He also believed that I had an early stage of PD but wanted to immediately put me on a combination of Trental, L-Arginine (1 gram) and Viagra (50 mg). He did not think that Potaba was helpful, but I could continue with it if I wanted. I feel awkward calling my first urologist about the other doctor's recommendation. Also, I am very reluctant to take Viagra on a daily basis. I checked with my primary physician and he had some concerns about that as well. I have read that Trental has had some beneficial effects for PD, and even my first urologist told me it was an option (along with the Potaba/ACL treatment) although he had reservations because some people had side effects from it. Have you heard of any experience with the Trental, L-Arginine/Viagra treatment? If so, does it makes sense to change the course of treatment after a month, or does it make moer sense to add Trental and/or L-Arginine as part of the current treatment. Finally, have you heard of Viagra (or similar ED medications) being used for PD and are you aware of any risks from using Viagra on a daily basis? Finally, both urologists think that I may also have BPH (some incontience, weak stream in the morning) but want to deal with the PD first. Is there any relationship between PD and urinary/prostate problems?

Many urologists are using a similar combination of trental, L-argenine and one of the erection drugs like viagra - they all seem to have an anti-scarring effect, though there is no good clinical trial data on this yet. There is no relationship between PD and prostate problems. MG

I am 46 years old, about 3 months ago I had pain in my penis when erect, almost like it was bruised. The pain went away but now I have a "dent" and bend to my penis on the left side. I also seem to have lost length and girth. Should I see an Urologist? If yes can they help or can I go on like this?

It would probably be a good idea to see a urologist, in the interest of stabilizing the situation so it doesn't get any worse. MG

I was diagnosed with MS about 4 years ago. I use Interfeon theapy and recently have developed Peronies.

Intereferon is currently used to treat PD - I am not aware it precipitating this problem. MG

October 2008

I am 57 and developed PD after a prolonged illness, almost 9 months, and severe weight loss, 60 pounds in two months, and severe muscle break down of muscle tissue, very high creatinine levels, and kidney failures with severe dehydration. I have fully recovered....yeah!! Mine developed as a hard curve to the left and thining of the base of the shaft on both sides. Went to a urologist and he confirmed the PD and also prescribed the use of a vacuum pump. To my surprise after two months of regular use the pump eliminated the curve as well as increasing the blood flow. Yes it tends to be a bit erotic but THIS IS A GOOD THING. It aso removed most of the pain involved. I still get some discomfort when things get "cold" and the tissue compresses. I've done alot of reading on the subject and I can only say that it really does have a great deal of effect on PD and the curvature.

Vacuum pumps can be helpful in managing PD - thanks for the report. MG

49 year old man about 6months ago i noticed my that my penis was starting to bend to the left i have some hard lumps along the shaft of my penis and i cant get a full erection i am a diabetic so i am not sure if this as anything to do with my diabetes

PD is somewhat more common in diabetics, though not as common as erectile dysfunction. MG

I'm 22 and my penis has had a slight (probably about 30 like other people have posted) curve upward as long as I could remember. I don't have any pain with erections or during sex. Is this peyronies? If so, can I just pick up vitamin e pills without a prescription to cure this? If not, is there a a way to cure this curve anyway? Medications will not cure congenital curvature. Usually surgery is required, but if the bend is minimal, stretching devices may help. MG Is there anyway that a penis pump could help with Peyronies? Yes, see the response in the previous month. MG Mine started after the 3rd of 3 TURPS or Transurethral Resections of the Prostate. Any statistics on how common this is for TURP patients to develop? I head somewhere it (Peyronie's Disease) was 16 times more likely after a TURP.

I'm not sure about the factor 16, but PD is definitely more common after endoscopy of the urethra. MG

I would like to send some pictures of my problem for a professional/doctor to give me an opinion on what problem I have, and how I can fix it(without surgery). I did write a very long message previous to this, and so I'd appreciate a reply and helpful information. note that as i still live at home and am not independent I will not go to a doctor anytime soon, so spare me the "a doctors the only way".

Perhaps one of the Doctors in your area can help. (see links or forum entries for referral sites) MG

i "broke" my penis while having sex. in the heat of the moment i "missed" the vagina and slammed my penis into the area between her vagina and anus. about a month went by and i noticed that my erections had a curve to them. i immediately went to the doctor and he told me it was o.k. painful erections? sometimes. able to have sex still? yes. he then said i should be fine; no need for surgery; be on my way. now, a year and a half later i was having sex and (not sure what happened) but in the middle of it something happened and it became very painful. a day later i had a bruised penis and there is a bulging vein the can be clearly seen when erect. it is painful to touch. i wanted to inspect my penis while erect so i masturbated and every time my hand went to the base of the shaft and touched upon the vein it was painful. i have all symptoms of peyronie's- curvature, painful erections (not so much anymore) and shortening. a year and a half has gone since the initial 'break'. what can i do now? im of course concerned with the pain, but the shortening is of great concern as well. will/can the length be restored?

This sounds like PD, which can be brought on by sexual trauma. It is difficult to restore the length lost to this process. MG

September 2008

I’m 60 years old and have had PD for 6 years. It started with an accident. I fell over a chair and caught the top rail in the groin. I have been treated by urologists locally and at Mayo. Basic answer is if you’re still capable of having sex forget about any other treatment. My doctor at Mayo prescribed Viagra so I don’t think there is an issue with PD patients taking it. The do nothing approach does very little to overcome the mental aspects of the disease. Today there are numerous procedures done with a scope. Has anyone attempted to remove the scar tissue in this manner?

No, this approach has not been used in PD surgery. MG

I'm 39 years old and happily married. About 2 years ago, I started noticing a change in my penis. Mines different, it's smaller at the base and bigger at the head. About half way, I noticed 2 knots, on each side, left and right. It's straight, but because of the base not increasing during an erection, it's not as long as it was. Just had a physical and in good health, except my cholesterol is high. Been considering going to a urologist, but so expensive. My question is, do I have Peyronie's Disease and how did I get it? What can I do to break up the Plaque? I've read that sometimes it can go away on it's own.

This sounds like PD to me. In most cases we are unable to find a cause. It may resolve on vitamin E at 400 units per day. MG

tengo 18 años.. y creo tener este problema, ya que mi pene erecto presenta una curva importante hacia abajo, como la imagen de wikipedia aproximadamente.. Me gustaria saber que tengo que hacer, y si puede que no se trate de esta enfermedad, y que sea otra cosa.

You have congenital curvature, not Peyronies. An operation can fix it. MG

I was diagnosed with Peyronies disease about 9 months ago. The bending occurred almost at once, not over a period of time. I do not have pain with an erection, but do not recall whether or not I had some pain at the time the condition first presented itself. My concerns are this: The indention is on the left side, more towards the underside of my penis, about 1 ½ inches long, starting from the base of the penis, resulting in a narrowing at the base. Is this an unusual location for the condition? Secondly, can I expect further extension and/or expansion of this indented area? What, if any, is the chance that PD may start to heal and the indentation becomes less prominent? Can any of the medications I am taking have adverse effects on Peyronies.

Expansion of this area is unlikely. I would recommend you get off of atenolol, as beta blockers may aggravate PD. MG

I understand clinical trials are starting. Is it possible to participate? Dr. Lue says it is the only medication which he is receptive to. Do you have a viewpoint and do your readers have experience/success rates with other medication? I am now taking pentoxifylline 400 mg; 3x per day. I take 400 units of vitamin E also. Is there any evidence that mega doses are helpful? I have a double curvature (down and then to the right)and a band of reduced erection half way down my penis.

Preliminary (phase IIb) Collagenase clinical trials have started, but at this point are fully subscribed. If and when further studies create more openings, I will post a notice on this site. Mega doses are not helpful. MG

about three years ago- i noticed that my penis seemed to be "broken" bending to the left when erect about an inch down from the top- i went to a urologist- but when flacid he couldn't tell (he was gruff and not cool anyway- so i didn't feel he was helpful) he suggested l- carnitine- I am bummed because i feel my penis (which used to be big and straight) got smaller and is bent- is there someone i can see- something i can do?

You need to see a urologist with an interest in this condition. Try referral guide inhttp://www.peyroniesassoc.org or http://www.ImpotenceSpecialists.com. MG

any thoughts using the stretching of the penis device like fastsize?? have there been positive results?

Early studies suggest they may be helpful. MG

I am 52 years old and have a healthy sex life...for a 52 year old. However the last several times my wife and I had sex it did not feel like I had become as erect as "normal". I just shrugged it off to being tired and getting older. The other evening I used a condom (we were going out) and I noticed a distinct lump or mass on the left side of my penis just below the head. It looked almost like a small varicose vein, but it was hard. There was some mild pain associated with intercourse and when I was washing up I could feel what could be described as almost a small string of pearls running along the top of my penis then wrapping to the left under the head. I immediately thought that God had cursed me with Penis Cancer or something equally horrible, so I Googled the problem and found your site. There is some mild pain associated with touching the area which eventually fades if I don't touch it of course. So several questions: Does this sound like PD?

No, this sounds like Mondor's syndrome, which is a temporary benign condtion involving clots in the superficial penile veins. Have a urologist check you. MG

At 51 years of age, the symptoms as described have come on quite quickly. I noticed the feel of plaque a few months ago (almost like cords in a whiplash neck muscle, except quite distinct: I can feel the actual sites along the left side of the shaft, and thy are like beads in the form of squares on their sides)...the penis, when erect, bends incredibly to the left and appears thinner, almost emaciated but certainly still workable...some distracting pain, but nowhere near severe... The funny thing was that I went to the hospital...had x-rays and sound wave "x-rays"...despite my direction to the site they dismissed it and looked elsewhere, missing the whole thing altogether... I will begin the vitamin e and see how it goes... As for the curvature which is very acute, I'm marketing it as a really unique experience...make a positive of it all is best I think...as such, we should call it Peyronies condition, not a disease !!!

I agree, it is not really a "disease". MG

For the past four months I have been experiencing painful erections, which increase with the degree of firmness of the erection. The pain seems to be coming from within the penis, behind or near the glans. On palpitation in the flaccid state, I can feel a very very small ridged area about one inch behind the glans. It is not especially painful. During erection, there's a slight elevation, a kind of line I'd call it, extending in front of and behind this point. When erect, this area becomes somewhat more painful, or tender. I also notice that it is harder under there than on the bottom, and the hard area feels closer to the surface than on the bottom. I have had some problem with an inflamed or swollen vein on my glans, which has subsided somewhat over the past few months and which was also painful, but this area seems very distinct from that. I am 59. Does this sound at all like it could be Peyronie's?

Perhaps, though this could also be Mondor's (see above). MG

I recently contracted a sudden onset of peyronies as a result of treatment for kidney stones involving urethral catherization and cycstoscopy. I am attempting to determine whether the physician utilized adequate care and diligence in the procedure. I have significat internal scarring which is manfested by several hard lump seven when not erect. It is apparent to me my case is rather severe as I often experience pain when not erect. I am totally unable to have sexual relations. The onset occurred almost immediately after the medical procedure. I am considering legal action. Is peyronies typical after such procedures?

Urethral instrumentation can cause PD. MG

I'm 32 and recently woke up with pretty intense pain in my penis. After months of STD screens (all negative) and courses of various antibiotics (without effect), my third dermatologist noticed a very small (about half the size of a pea) lump in the right side of my penis near the urethra just below the head. A urologist thought it may be PD. The lump causes a sharp stinging pain which fluctuates from mild to fairly intense. The pain doesn't seem to get worse (or better) with erection or sexual activity. There is no distortion of my penis or reduction in my ability to get and stay erect. 1) Does this sound like PD to you?

No. MG

Is there anyone who has ever been cured? I have had it for two years in feburary. I have been through Varapmil injections with the pnis stretching thrapy and the curve is now more pronounced and I think the traction tharapy has made it worse. I have not neutropol. Seems that you have the same line about it anyone that knows says. I am hopping to be able to try the cologenase injections. As of June I was not a candidate for the trials that were ending. I have 2 injury sites one on the left and one on the rite. It really is breaking me inside. I my wife and want a divorce. I also blame myself and am wanting to die. I now live with the greatest fear I never knew existed. Pain when ever I am aroused. I just have no one to talk to. My Dr. is a uroligist so this is not his concern. He is busy trying to to figure out how to cure this disease. My wife dosen't care it is not her problem. Plus she had kids so if her femininity is damaged she dosent care about mine. It sucks eveymorning waking up to pain in my penis from my usual morning erection.Just has anyone ever been cured?

It is possible to fully recover sexual function lost to PD, though after 2 years this disorder can cause permanent and irreversible changes in the elasticity of certain regions of the erectile mechanism. MG

I am 58 and have had PD for about 9 to 10 years now. It started off with blood coming in my urine and slowly there was a loss of sexual activity. Probably I do remember my wife violently sitting on me and my penis started paining. The blood continued for over two years, but not every time I urinated. Then I noticed calcification as three lumps developed at the base of my penis. I met a doctor friend who advise a scan, which I went through and three clear calcified lumps exist at the base of my penis. At this point the penis circumference had reduced and the length of my penis has decreased from almost nine inches during my university days to a mere five inches now. I met a specialist who prescribed harmone tests. My testosterone level was almost zero. So her prescribed medicine and it rose to 5. My this time my penis was bending upwards and the pain has gone. Now I can have normal intercourse with my wife, but the frequency is about one a month. Sometimes when we are on holidays, we have intercourse twice a day and even for two or three days running. I know the ‘glory of old’ cannot return, bu I am convinced I can enjoy my sex to the full with some assistance on how to proceed

Sounds like you had a penile fracture. If your testosterone was that low, you'll need to continue on hormone replacement. MG

I am 34 years old and I realized that I had PD a little more than a year ago. It started out as a simple bump near the top and a few months later developed the curve and eventually moved down the shaft. It seemed to me that I was fortunate to have the curvature just be an exaggeration of the normal bend, so it did not effect my sex life drastically. Now it seems the main issues that I have are the length and thickness have reduced dramatically. The very low base portion is thick as it once was, and the remaining 90% is simply a resized version of what I once had with a bit more arch. Firmness during intercourse is not a problem at all. It may be crazy, but would something like an enlarger/pump improve circulation to increase size?

Vacuum pumps can be helpful in improving expansion in men with PD. MG

I am 25 years old and recently (3 days ago) injured my penis due to jelqing for the first time. I will never, ever, do this again. I immediatly after completing the session had sore discomfort, especially bilaterally just above the ring in the middle of my penis. I also noticed a wrinkling of the skin there, as if the area retracted slighty inward (less noticable when slightly flacid, but still appears strange). These areas feel very stiff and painful under the skin without an erection. I have not tried getting an erection since the incident, and started taking vitamin E. I saw an emergency room doctor and am scheduled to see a urologist, as the ER doctor said this was overuse, and I should use ice, refrain from trying sexual activity, and see a urologist if the pain persists. I have the following questions: should I use Ice? Would light stretching while not errect be a good idea? When would trying to induce an errection be permitable, or should I rest as long as possible?

Ice would only be helpful in the first 12 - 24 hours. I think rest without stretching or erection for 7 -10 days would help. MG

I have a curved penis that points downwards. Seems to have always been this way since I can remember having erections. I don't have painful erections, but it is difficult to perform certain positions. It is very difficult to do it from behind due to the way it curves, which is a drag cause that is how my girlfriend likes it the best. I recently was reading about some treatment for that in which there is a cream that is used and can have straightening results within about 6 months or so. How do I know if mine is just a normal bend or if I have peyronies? I don't really feel any scar tissue per se, but that build up should be inside the penis, right? How does one tell if it is normal or peyronies?

This is not PD, but congenital curvature - it will not respond to medications, but can be corrected with an outpatient surgical procedure (Nesbit). MG

I'm 61 years old and noticed several of the symptoms mentioned in the posts, including a venous fibrous dense lump near the head of my penis..been there for one-two months and causes pain in an erection. Recently, last two attempts at intercourse failed..either the erection goes away or perhaps the pain is a de-motivator. There is no really obvious curvature. I have taken Levitra for 4-5 years due to erection difficulty. Also, I have Deptryens (spelling?) in both my wrists..my Dad also has this so I probably inherited...and read that there's a connection. Could this be early stage PD? Will it go away eventually? Would Vitamin E 400 IUs help? I read a Google ad about Neprinol..a kind of collagen dissolving agent..is this for real or an unproven come-on? Have not seen my doc yet on this. Any comment would be appreciated.

There is a genetic component here, with the family history of Dupuytren's. That makes your condition less likely to resolve spontaneously. While there is no placebo controlled data on Neprinol, there is anecdotal evidence that it can help. MG

August 2008

For years you have referred to clinical trials underway for treatments such as collagenase. However, you've never mentioned the results of these trials - just that they are ongoing. Why don't you give some details on the results of the trials or list sites where results may be obtained? Be specific - where are the trials taking place, how many participants are there, is it possible for men to participate, etc. You are entirely too vague. Surely, some of these trials you've referred to in the past have concluded.

The current trials are showing promise, but since they are being conducted by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (a drug company), all investigators are under a confidentiality agreement not to disclose specific data or results until the study is published in a peer reviewed journal. The last published study (by Dr. Gerald Jordan) appeared in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2007. MG

I'm a married man, 47 years old. I was diagnosed with Peyronie's disease 10 - 11 months ago. Initial symptom was a hard little lump -much smaller than a green pea- around 1/3 penis length from its base. I consulted and urologist within a week or so and by examination (touching) gave his diagnosis. He prescribed colchicin and vitamin E; because I have digestive problems I took only the vitamin E and sought homeopathic treatment, which I initiated. After two months a second lump developed and I started feeling pain when my erected penis was pressured, for instance against my bed. I had no pain during intercourse. Doctor suggested a new treatment consisting in injections directly on the affected areas. He would attend a seminar where the procedure was to be presented. I have not seen the doctor since then, and I didn't tell him I was not taking colchicin. Things were pretty stable until in mid June (8 - 9 months after diagnosis) I noticed my penis curved upward during erection. When it was flaccid the two little lumps felt the same but in the recent days (early August) I have noticed something like a hard cord or very thing plaque, perhaps ending in one or both lumps. I still can have intercourse with no pain, but feel a little bit inhibited to have sex. Another doctor suggested I resumed taking vitamin E and started taking PABA (is it the same than POTABA?). What would you suggest as a next step? How can I assess my penis' curvature in degrees?

A course of Potaba would be reasonable, though I have not seen many responses to this drug. Make a tracing of the erection then use a protractor to measure the angle. MG

Recently I noticed a curvature to the left of my penis. No pain, erection is ok. There is shortening. I am embarrased to go to the Urologist. I would take care myself. Is Verapamil cream Potaba and Vitamin E are available OTC?

Only Vitamin E. MG

About 2 months ago I woke up with pain and a noticeable contortion at the tip of my penis. There seems to be some sort of scar tissue forming under the head which is drawing the tip downward during erection. It came on rather suddenly, although I don't remember being injured. Could this be Peronnies? I saw a urologist and he said there was nothing I could do except surgery to correct this problem. It just seems to me that something that came on so rapidly could be so permanent. Out of desperation, I started taking Neprinol. It's only been 4 days now, and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with this product?,, and is there anything else out there that may work before going under the knife?

Neprinol is one of many therapies that are safe but unproven. Most PD patients will never need surgery. MG

I am 63. My urologist has diagnosed me with PD. Very painful when erect and noticeable hardening areas at sides and top of shaft. He is starting me on verapamil injections in two weeks. My question is: what is the prognosis with verapamil and what are the risks?

Risks are mainly discomfort & bruising. It helps approximately 65 - 70% of the time. MG

I am 40 years old and have had an indentation on the right side of my penis for a few weeks now(causing an a partial hour glass). It is about an inch from the base. It does not cause any pain and I can still achieve a erection. I am healthy but I have had a little loss in firmness in my erections for about 1 to 2 years. I also take propecia for hair loss. I am not sure of what I should do next. Should I consult a physician or should I take a wait and see approach?

I would see a urologist. MG

I am 29 years old about 11 days ago I noticed my penis was bent with a dent near the bottom, it now bends to the side after researching the web I have determined it is most likely pd, there is a hard bumb near the dent, I was wondering since it is still early are there any measures I can take to limit the severity also is there a chance that more then one curve will form it appears another may be forming near the top right, and it also apears to have a bb sized bump forming too, what should I do and are more then one curves common.

Start on vitamin E 400 units per day, and see a urologist. MG

If it's all right, I'd like to get an clarification of the term * Peyronies Disease* When a person accidently but seriously injures themselves on or in the penis leaving a bend or curve especially during sexual intercourse, why is that injury referred to as a *disease* I can understand why it would be classified as a disease if it happened naturally. Last year I wrote in about my problem that developed because of improper use of a constriction ring during intercourse. Basically, I didn't take it off quickly enough ( just before ejaculation). The ring was being used because a certain medication ( Advair Inhaler for Asthma) that I was using caused me to lose my erection mid way through sexual activity. I was told that things like that could happen with that medication as well as other similar medications. The constriction ring was used to help my penis stay rigid. The next day after this accident I had serious black and blue bruising on the side of my penis which ran the length of my penis and as it healed over a period of one month I was left with a curvature that had never been there before. I was told that the only possible corrections to this problem would be to try out all of the different methods that are spoken about on this forum, yet it was still catagorized as Peyronies Disease. I then tried the different suggestions mentioned short of surgery and injections. Nothing helped and to this day erections are somewhat painful which has forced me to have less sexual contact with my wife. An example--If a person accidently breaks a leg and is left with a permanent limp it's not referred to as a disease.

You are correct, "disease" is a poor choice of words. MG

I’m 48 and exhibit all the symptoms of PD for the last few months. I’m taking Vitamin E and hoping that this resolves itself as neither the pain nor the bending are severe at this point. Will sexual activity (intercourse and masturbation) exacerbate the situation or is it okay to continue this on a normal (i.e. relatively frequent) basis?

There is no reason to avoid sexual activity. MG

I am 22. My erect penis has a 30 degrees curvature to the right and 20 degrees (roughly) upwards. It first appeared when I was 18, in the beginning it was bent 90 degrees, no less. I cannot remember any trauma that could have caused it, nor dit it developed gradually, in fact it emerged "over the night". The following weeks it gradually regressed to the present 30 degrees bent. Is this PD ?

Sound more like a variation of congenital curvature. MG

I am currently 40 yrs old. Approx 4yrs ago I was in a severe car accident that left me temporarly on life support due to many fractures and injuries . One of them being a badly broken pelvis. About a year after my accident I notice pain in my erections and during intercourse. I have no troubles getting erect or ejaculating. I have noticed however , a change in the size of my penis . I have lost length and girth . I now have an hour glass shaped or bottlenecked penis just below the head, After reading on line , I'm positive I have PD. After leaving it this long , am I going to be able to do anything to reverse or stop further damage?

I doubt further damage is likely at this time - reversal of the deformity will be a challenge, however. Best to see a urologist. MG

I am 35 year old, male, living in India. Almost 6 months back, i started having pain in my penis while having erection. No problem when the penis was flaccid. I had no other problem and sex life was OK. But almost 3 months back (in April 2008), while having sex, my penis got pushed on the worng side during erection and there was a small sound. Within next few days i noticed, that my penis has become crooked, while erect. While erect, earlier the tip of the penis used ot be towards the sky. But now on erection, i notice that at one point it suddenly bents inwards towards stomach. So it become something like "J' shaped. I continued to have the pain while erection. Currently the pain has reduced and only if i try to bend the penis in the opposite direction, do i get the pain. Penetration during sex is difficult, but managable. I went to see a Urologist who got the scan and the Xray done (assuming it to be Pyronie's disease). But in the scan as well as Xray, there was no indication of plaque calcification. He now wants to himself see my erect penis by giving some injection, before coming to any conclusion. He may probably call me for this procedure, in next 7-10 days My rigidity, girth and the size of the penis has reduced. I also feel that it does not get erect as easily as it used to earlier. I feel that i have Pyronie's disease.. Whats your conclusion? What do you think could have happened? What do you think should be the medication for this?

This does sound like PD. Discuss the medications available to your Doctor - there are many possibilities. MG

I believe I have P.D. because about 4 to 6 months ago I noticed a 90 degree upward bend in my erection about two thirds of the way down the shaft towards the head. I have no pain, can find no hard tissue, and don’t recall any trauma to the penis. This bend seemed to appear overnight. I’ve seen a urologist who seems perplexed that we can find no hard tissue in the penis. I’m taking 400 IU of vitamin E daily and the urologist wants to use a 15% verapamil gel. Originally I thought this condition might be caused by frequent masturbation and I tried manually bending the penis in the opposite direction. Then I read that bending the penis might only worsen the problem so I stopped that. Now I read in your forum that some are trying the manual bending technique. Would trying to bend the erection in the opposite direction worsen the problem? Or could it help?

Early data shows streching / traction devices may help, though there is much to be learned about these techniques. MG

Why not admit that like most terminal cancer,there is no cure and stop giving patients false hope? I am 55 ,diagnosed a year ago. The first urologist,while I despised him because he admitted there is no hope and said I was depressed and to deal with it.Cold but true. I refused to give up,researched Peyronie's at the hospital medical library where I worked as well as internet info. I asked my PCP for an auth for a second opinion. The second urologist now gives me more hope,basically because my PCP called him and said I was a friend as well and he has known no one who was more sexually prodigious(close to 1,000 women in 35 years). The second doctor prescribed 8000 mg of Potaba and 20% Verapamil topical b.i.d..I also purchased on my own a vacuum penis pump in a vain attempt to break up the plaque. I have been celibate for more than a year, have no libido,have major depression often with suicidal ideation. I have been seeing a therapist for help. My self identity has been so closely linked to my sexuality, I have not been intimate with my wife,am ashamed to show my self to her(she has no idea about this) and there is not a day that passes that I do not think about my disfigurement,and loss of almost half of length.It is extremely distressing. I find myself drinking more,taking sleeping meds and benzos just to cope with a loss that is on par with a family death or job loss(which I have just experienced).Life can be cruel. My PCP, tries to minimize my situation by telling me he has to tell people they are going to die everyday. Somehow that does not make me feel better about my situation. Right now I am doing my best day to day,taking anti-depressant medication as well as the regimen I read has minimal if any effect. I am seaching for a new raison d'etre. My despair is turning to hopelessness. Thank you for your compassion and this forum.

You are welcome - I hope information herein is helpful in some way. MG

July 2008

I am 34. Six months ago I noticed a hard lump in my penis. It can be felt, but is not visible on the surface. When the penis is erect, it is slightly indented on both sides. There is no pain and no curvature. I have been told it is PD and that within a year this long irregularly shaped lump will disappear. Is it likely to disappear really?

In your age group, spontaneous resolution is likely, particularly since over 6 months you have developed relatively little deformity. MG

I am 58 years old and recently experienced a sudden curve of about 30º to the left and about 2 inches from the base of the penis. I have no pain, no plaque or any other symptoms that seem to be associated with the disease. I initially thought that the curve had developed due to regular masturbation (I am right handed) but was curious enough to do an internet search and therefore found your site. I have not yet seen my family doctor. My wife has not noticed as we rarely have sexual relations, but the condition does not seem to interfere in any way. I hoped that the curve was from the masturbation because that is something I could control. Within the last 2 years I have begun taking Lisinopril for mild blood pressure elevation and Lipitor for cholesterol. I also take alegra for allergies. I also tried viagra just prior to the onset of this curvature. Is there any possibility that this is not Peyronies, or that drug combination may have caused/contributed to these symptoms? Thank you for your web site, it helps to know there are others who have this problem and that mine is a mild case by comparison.

I don' think this is drug related - nor does it appear to threaten your activities or functional level. MG

I am facing sex problem almost 8 years. I am 27 year old unmarried man. 8 years before i done sex with boy. after this homosexual, pain had been start on my penis. I taken medicine, pain stop but often i have night fall and bottom side of my penis is very week. after that i also tried of sex with girl but i discharge early. if i eat some hot things like fish, egg, again pain start in penis. on every night fall i awake due to pain. I can't sleep after nightfall until i does not go to bath room. after erection my penis look very week and it bend to down side. I am very worried because after few months i am going for marriage. Can you please tell me Is it normal or these are the symptoms of PD.

These symptoms do not sound like PD. MG

I've been less and less interested in sex. I now think its because of the mind trip I've been on because of this problem. I used to be a proper size when erect but I've woken up in the morning with erections of 4 inches when I remember measuring twice that when younger. I attributed this to the fact that people say you shrink with age but this is ridiculous. I've tried the wait see, it'll fix itself method but it hasn't really corrected itself. I can have sex. Its not bent in any direction now, it just has shortened length and girth and the hourglass shape. I think this comes and goes because I felt it was better at one point, but that might have been wishful thinking. My wife has only recently noticed the hourglass shape (since I've had little to no interest in sex apart from quick masturbation by myself for easily 6-9 months) and wants me to get to a doctor NOW.

Your wife has the right idea - sorry but I don't know anyone in your area (Japan). MG

I am 31 years old and have a penis that curves to the left while erect. A new girlfriend was concerned that it may be related to Peyronie's Disease. I have told her that it has been that way since puberty. I feel this is probably a result of tighter clothing during puberty (tightly whities). I also noted that I have not had any discomfort during intercourse; she noted that it was not an issue for her - she was concerned for my health. I searched the web and tried to do a self examination (but of course I’m not doctor). I could not feel any areas on the penis that felt like there was a build up. Should I see a Urologist to confirm that it is not Peyronie’s Disease? Also would any Urologist be able to diagnose the problem or are there specialists?

If this curvature presents no problems to your girlfriend or yourself, I wouldn't worry about it. Some penises are not completely straight. MG

I got peyronies disease on one night of sex while using Viagra. If there was any sign of it before that, I didn't know it. I had sex that night and could feel my penis bending but just thought that the Viagra wasn't all that effective. The next time I got an erection, I saw that my penis was severely bent to one side. I have since been to a urologist who diagnosed me with peyronies. Is there any evidence that Viagra can cause this disease?

No, there is no evidence for that. MG

I'm a 37 yrs old, and I don't know what to make of my condition. I suffered some traumitization to the penis after hard sex late last August/early Sept. I noticed what was I thought was bruising on the bottom side of the penis, but the urologist didn't necessarily agree. That said, I was in severe pain for a few days, which then moderated. While I didn't lose any length or girth, I noticed that my penis now angles to the left more than it use to. I always had some curvature, and I noticed it doesn't curve that much more (perhaps a little). The penis itself is pretty straight, but it's not at 90 degrees with my pelvis anymore. The urologist said he felt some slight plaque build up on the right side at the base of the penis. During a follow up appointment, he then said he felt it on the left side, which would make a bit more sense. Needless to day, I'm getting a second opinion. When I feel around there, I don't feel anything quite frankly. I started using Verapamil 2x, and I was responding to it very well. Or just healing nicely. But prior to this I would feel better then relapse a bit, feel better, etc. I was getting stronger and stronger, and it was getting a bit straighter. One day was doing some stretches whereby I had my left leg crossed over the right when I felt something almost give. I regressed almost back to the original injury, but it's felling better three weeks later. I really notice the pain and sensitivity around the top most part at the base of the penis and down about 1/4 of the way, and I notice this sometimes after light masturbation. I also notice some discomfort about a few inches to the left and right of the bladder. There is no bleeding, no incontinence, and my prostate is ok. The physician also ruled out that I tore something, but I'm not convinced. And I'm not so sure this is PD. Does this sound like PD?

Yes this sounds like PD secondary to coital trauma - a common cause. MG

I am 30 years old and had a Nesbit procedure at the age of 20 to correct a severe lateral curvature that I had had since the age of around 14. The operation left me with a functional, though crooked and bent to a lesser degree, penis - as the constricted side of the penis remained so, and the other side developed two bumps over time, seemingly where the Nesbit procedure was performed. Surgery is not warranted by the curvature that I have now. However, I have read with interest about the reported effects of traction devices that are available, on the reduction of constricted tissues. I am wandering if it would be safe/wise to attempt a traction biased to the constricted side of my penis - in order to lengthen and de-constrict the shorter side having had a Nesbit procedure?

I think a trial of a traction device (such as fast size or andropenis) would be reasonable. MG

I HAD SURGERY TO CORRECT PEYRONIE'S 1 YEAR AGO. IT APPEARS THE CONDITION IS RETURNING TO THE SAME CURVATURE I EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THE SURGERY. IS THIS POSSIBLE? AND IF IT IS IN FACT RETURNING WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? THE SAME SURGERY AGAIN OR IMPLANT PROCEDURE?

It depends what surgery you had initially. I would reccommend a second opinion from someone who does a lot of PD cases. MG

I have had this condition for the last two years without being able to have sex not due to pain. I have no pain and I get an erection. The more erect the greater the bend. I calculated a 45 degree upward bend. I first went to my urologist about 6 months after I developed this condition. One of the group of doctors recommended vitamin e but did not specify the quantities. He also prescribed colchicine 0.6MG one a day and to see him in 6 months. I started on the medication but did not take them the 6 months as prescribed. When I went back to the same doctor he brought in the surgeon that works with the group. I showed them a picture of the curvature and he said that surgery would correct it. I told him I would think about it. Six months later I went in to the same clinic for a prostate check which was fine and the third doctor which is the oldest and my original urologist did the check up. I mentioned the Peyronies condition and what his opinion was for surgery. His reply was that he did not feel that it is a good way to go and that they have not had good results in his opinion. Now I don’t know which way to go or who to go to. Looking back I think this condition accured when I was having sex and we had a little incident where the penetration did not occur and the penus accidently bent back or upward causing a little pain at the time. I can still get an erection but the angle prohibits penetration due to the existing bend. I have lost faith in my doctors and am looking to find a solution I am 72 years old and have always been very active with sex and at this point of my life is causing me physiological discomforts not to mention my mate that is 30 years younger. If you could recommend the best doctor who is In my area or anyplace else.

I would recommend Dr. Greg Broderick in Jacksonville. MG

My husband was in an accident (head on - motorcycle -vs- pickup truck). He suffered a lot of bad bruising in his midsection from below breast to above knee. That was nearly 4 years ago. About one year ago, he found a small lump in his penis and we also started noticing a 'bend' in his erections. This bend is now pretty pronounced. The Urologist claims it is Erectile Dysfunction (ED). We disagree, as many of the symptoms are noted in the Peyronie's disease information we read, as opposed to the symptoms of "ED". Do you have any insight?

Sounds like PD to me. MG

I understand that the same laser treatment used for destoying kidney stones has been used to treat peyronies, it was stated that this laser and ultra sound treatment destroyes the calcium plaque that has gathered and caused the bending, If this is so, can you provide the name of the hospital or specialist that preforms this proceedure , thank you

Unfortunately these procedures are not effective. MG

Hi, my boyfriend is 24 yers old and four months ago started having problems with his penis. First he told me he didn't feel as well as before while having sex, particulary on the left side of his penis. We went to see an andrologist, who made to him an ultrasound not during the erection and afeter that he resolved my boyfriend was not soffering from PD as he was thinking. But even after that he continued suffering from a lack of feelings, a pain in his penis when it's not erect, difficulties to maintaining the erection ( even if not always) and a little increase of the bend of his penis that he have always had (to the left). So, a month and a half after, we went to see an urologist, who, after an other ultrasound ( this time during a driven erection), resolved that he was soffering from PD. Now my boyfriend has been taking VITAMINE E and doing ionoforesi for a month and a half and laser therapy for a month, but he's still suffering from a lack of feelings on the left side of his penis and difficulties to maintain the erection, especially when he is alone. The bend of his penis is increased to the left, but it's not more then 30 degree. I would like to know if there is a possibility to have an improvement of his feelings and erections after this medical therapys and if you think there is the possibility that the problems with the erections are caused by a psychological stress more that by the PD.

The onset of bending does suggest PD, though I think you are correct regarding a psychological cause for the erectile problem. MG

I had surgery to correct a congenital downward curvature and I've been OK for 14 years. A few months ago, after intercourse I felt e little pain and since then the penis has developed a slightly more pronounced curvature. Recently, during climax, I felt something "giving up" in the penis, with some pain, and now my penis hurts when erected and when touched and it looks a little more curved. Is it that what was stitched together 14 years ago has given up?

That sounds likely - I would see a urolgist for evaluation. MG

I am an 18 year old male. I have no trouble getting with females but I do have trouble explaining them something. My penis curves down at about a 30 degree angle. It has been like that since I remember and does not hurt during intercourse. I can see that it is quite rigid on the top. Do you have any idea of what this condition could be and if there are any ways to help or cure it. I have not consulted a physician at this moment but I may after I recieve this response.

This is congenital curvature, not PD - see a urologist. MG

I am 58 and somewhat suddenly (about 3 months ago) found my self with an exaggerated and consistent bend down and to the right about 3/4 out on my erection, while from that point to the head it remains somewhat soft. I also now have a sensation of discomfort (not quite painful) at the point of deflection. Historically, perhaps 12 years ago, I developed a small pea sized lump on the right side of my erection which disappeared about 5 years ago. At about that time (about 5 years ago) I developed an hour glass like condition as my erection was forming which would disappear once my erection was full but could remain if not thoroughly aroused. I recently asked my physician (an interist) about this condition explaining both the problematic angle and lack of firmness as well as my sensation of a subtle discomfort and thickening at the point of deflection. After his physical examination (feeling my penis between his fingers) he indicated he felt nothing.

This sounds like PD to me. MG

I have felt some pain at the top of my penis for about two months when I get an erection. There is no bending, hard/soft spots, or change in size. I am 31, have never had a real injury, but this pain comes and goes. Sex can be painful at first, but gets better after a few minutes. Do you think this is PD? I'm going to see a doc, but I'm trying to get an idea of what this is.

I doubt this is PD, though I agree with your plan to see a doctor. MG

Hello, I am a 26 years old. About a month ago I noticed that when I urinated it looked like my stream was going left. I got out a mirror to look at my penis closer and it looks like my head is slightly twisted clockwise. If I twist my penis straight I can urinate in a straight stream. Also when erect the head is still turned a little to the left but doesn't look as twisted as it does when flaccid. I can not find any plaques but my penis does look like it has a dent in one side and a lump in the opposite side like it is kinda shifted over. I don't remember any trauma, I had a std test with a swab 4 years ago and a year ago and I had 2 ct scans of my stomach for some pains I was having. Could any of these things cause this? Does this sound like peyronies? Do you have any idea what may be the cause of my twisted penis and crooked urination?

Sounds like a visit to a urologist would be a good idea. MG

June 2008

i am 16 years old and when i have an errected penis it cureves upward more that 30 degrees (i think) and it herts when i try and push my penis down, i can straighten it out but will it effect me when i have sex??, i am embarresed about it, should i be??

No. MG

i'm 28 years old, i had an Nesbit operation in Feb 2008. the erection seems to be good now but im still worry about the pull-back force of this procedure against the erection force, is it the reason cause ED after 10-20 years when i become weak?

No, there is no need to worry about that. MG

I was reading through your forum and did not see any questions regarding a young adolescent. My 12 year old son has told my husband that his erections in the morning bend down. He was concerned enough to mention it, so it must be by more than by just a few degrees. Do we address this now with a doctor or just wait and see? I am his mother and have Dupuytren's contracture in both hands. One operated on when I was 45. Both my parents have it in one hand. I saw in one article that men with Dupuytren's contracture tend to have PD. Could I have given him this?

If the urethra opens in the usual place (on the head of the penis), it would be best to wait and see as he gets older. If it opens on the underside ("hypospadius") you should talk to his pediatrician. He does not have PD but congenital curvature, which unlike PD is not related to your family history of Dupuytrens. MG

It appears from everything I've read, that I have some form of Peyronie's Disease. This came about rather suddenly—over a period of just a few weeks. My penis bends to the left and almost appears as though it is "broken," about an 1 1/2 from the tip. Strangely though, I haven't seen it mentioned that anyone's penis (those suffering from Peyronie's) easily bends at the point at which it appears "broken." I can easily bend it to the left at the point where it appears broken, but not to the right (as with any erection). It makes it difficult to insert at sex because it bends so easily at that point.

Even a slight reduction in diameter at one point can cause a tendency for the penis to buckle or "hinge" at that spot. MG

After being diagnosed with peyronies nearly three years ago the results for me were not completely catostophic as I thought they might be at the beginning. I took 1200 units of vitamin E per day for the first 18 months. I now still take 400 units of vitamin E per day. I have no pain when errect but I have lost 2 inches in length and 1 inch in girth. The situation seems to have leved off and I do not think it is getting any worse. I have never read any other comments regarding whats down road for peyronies patients so I thought my factual data might help new comers to this disease. I am not looking for any opportunity to regain length or girth because I would truley worry that what I have left would be gone.

Thanks for putting this out to the forum readers. MG

I'm 17. My penis is curved at the base slighty to the left and around 45 degrees upwards. I'm still a virgin. It's been that way for as long as I can remember. Do I need to see a urologist?

Might not be a bad idea, if this is bothering you. MG

I just realized that I must have PD. I am 55 and am experiencing pain with a full erection and also minor curvature. Also, some shrinkage and very little sexual drive which I relate to the pain. All this started about 2 months ago, what do you recommend for treatment. I just started taking a vitamin E supplement, 400mg/day. Is that enough and will a creme help as well? Anything else I can do at this point to stop the pain?

Vitamin E (400 I.U.per day orally) is an accepted treatment option for early PD. Fortunately the pain will resolve on its own, but this will take months. You may want to take ibuprofen prior to sexual activity. MG

I'm 20. My penis is bend downward, has a thick band of hard tissue on the underside and i have a normal fingers. But when my penis erect, it doesn't hurt. But after the ejaculation, everytime it's erect, it's start to get hurt. Is it a PD?

This is not PD, but congenital curvature. If it is severe enough to be a problem, surgery is the only remedy. MG

I have had PD for more than a year now. When I get an erection my penis feels huge but when I touch it or masturbate it's smaller than the 7 inches that it use to be. Do other men have the same sensation of a big penis when they have an erection or is it my imagination?

I'll put this out to our readers. MG

My dick bends downwards when erect. But it has been this way since I have known. I do not have any pain when erect.Have good ejaculation. But I am just concerned about the downward curvature. Is there any treatment to make it straight or can I leave it the way it is. I am also planning marriage at this point. I am 28.

You can leave it the way it is. If problems develop with your congenital curvature, you can decide whether you want to have a repair at some point in the future. MG

May 2008

I used to think my curvature was due to peyrione's but now I am leaning towards it being congenital after having read some of the messaged on your forum. My penis bends very straight upwards (towards the sky) upon erection. I can bend it a little bit downwards only, and it won't bend completely straight. When it is flacid, the penis has no curvature at all. I am 23 years old, and I have had this condition ever since I can remember. Is this congenital, and if so, do I have any treatment options besides surgery?

In a word, yes it is congenital and no, there are no effective nonsurgical remedies. MG

I'm a 54 year old male and otherwise in good health. About 6 months ago I suddenly developed a right curvature to my penis. The curvature is sort of dramatic compared to my penis' normal state. In combination with this on the right side of my penis near to my pubic area the circumference of my erect penis seems to be "defalated" or smaller than say and inch of so beyond that area nearer to the head of my penis. Through self examination I noticed a lump about the size of small pea on the right side in the corpora cavernous of my penis. Since I'm not a doctor and don't pretend to fully understand this part of my anatomy, I'm a little confused about where this fibrous thickening takes place exactly. There seems to be a long tube running along the right side of the penis and this thick area the size of a pea is located in this tube, whatever it is. From looking at the diagram on your site and others I can't determine what this tube is, and whether or not the thick area I'm feeling in this tube is perhaps caused by fibrous thickening or something else like a cancerous tumor. I don't have any pain during erection but because of the sever curvature of the penis it is uncomfortable to have sex. I'm also embarrassed by this sudden curvature that I have developed. In your opinion is this Peyronie's Disease or could it be something else?

Sounds like PD to me - I'd suggest seeing a urologist. MG

I'm 21 years old and think I have PD. It started when I injured myself. For three weeks I had painfull erections. Then all of the sudden it started to bend. Over the last few weeks the bend does not appear to be any worse(has not gotten any better though). Also the pain is still there although it has dulled down considerably. Also I can stil get erections quite easilly. I am trying to see a urologist as soon as possible, but I don't have insurance. What should I do? I am very worried about long term effects as well. Also I assumed it would be a good idea to abstain form sexual activity.

Start taking vitamin E 400 units per day, resume sex when pain is resolving. MG

I am 19 and I have had about a 20 degree curvature downwards as long as I've had erections. It is extremely rigid when erect and painful if attempting to do anything requiring flexibility. First, is this PD? Second is it likely that it can still go away if it's been this long? Third, what is a good, non-surgical, treatment?

This is not PD and it will not go away on its own. At this time there are no non-surgical remedies for congenital curvature. MG

My husband is 58 and has recently been diagnosed with PD - my question to his urologist was does increased sexual activity help the vitamin e work more easily - the answer was no to us - so how can I help my husband deal with this - it obviously has affected his ego and willingness to be intimate? I understand the pain involved is quite intense, but I do not understand how we are to know if the vitamin e is working. We were told about 6 months of use and we might see signs of change - does the vitamin e cure the PD or will he always have to take it to reduce the build up? This has been a very unique situation for us since we are 12 years different in age and our intimate relationship has always been a very active one so the change in our sexual relationship has, not put a strain - but a different twist on things. Any suggestions other than the vitamin e? Would reduced use of tobacco help this situation. He rarely drinks alcohol so I do not need to ask about the reduction of its use. Any further incite would be helpful - he is not the type of person to ask for help and I am since this has impacted our life on the most personal level.

Maintaining a good level of sexual activity, reassurance, and open communication are essential. Avoidance and loss of intimacy are always a risk in PD. MG

Could you ask your readers if any of them have had the "graft surgery" personally and could you or they explain their experience. What degree of success; how long to recuperate; what, if any loss of sensation or impotence as a result of the surgery. Is the potential for impotence high? Does impotence mean the inability to get an erection? If so, does any of the usual aids; rings, Viagra, etc., help with impotence after graft surgery? I believe there is graft tissue taken from the inside of the thigh. Can you confirm & describe that procedure and what type & size of scaring are you left with on both the leg and the penis? Also, one of your readers indicated that they were helped with acupuncture. Is there any way to get more information on this process - which herbs - how do you find this acupuncturist or one in my area that would be knowledgeable to perform the same procedure?

I'll put this out to the forum readers. MG

What degree of curvature should necessitate an operation? My penis was about 7 inches erect and the condition has shortened it to 6, if I measure it underneath from base to tip, but 5 if I measure it on the top side because of the curvature. How much does Nesbitt's procedure shorten the penis? I have read that it can shorten it by 1mm for every degree of curvature. In my case this would mean that it would 45mm, i.e. nearly 2 inches! Would the rigidity I experienced prior to suffering from the condition return to the penis post op?

The mean shortening in one study was about 2 cm. Correction of a 45 degreee bend would not be expected to reduce length by 2". Your original rigidity may not completely return. MG

a few months ago my boyfriend and i were having sex and his penis made a popping sound. the popping sound seems to have been the result of us moving in opposite directions, causing it to bend. his penis used to be straight but now it seems to be gradually curving to one side (the shape of a "J"). the curve is noticeable during erection. he felt pain at the moment when it popped, but he has not been feeling pain since then, although the curvature is noticeable. there is no swelling or bruising of any sort. should visit a doctor about this? are these signs of PD? is it possible for this to develop into PD?

This kind of injury during sex can lead to PD. It might be a good idea for him to see a urologist. MG

I am 43 years old and had surgery (Nesbit procedure) 16 years ago. The surgery was unsuccessful and I still have a 30-45 degree downward bend. I continue to have good erections and sensitivity, although somewhat diminished after the surgery. Would you recommend a second surgery? Have there been any new procedures or improved techniques in the past 16 years which may increase the chance of success?

Your situation is not terribly uncommon - sometimes severe (>60 degree) congenital bends are incompletely corrected. If the current deformity presents problems, a surgical revision would make sense. Techniques are still very similar - make sure your surgeon is experienced in this field. MG

I used to have a dime sized bump on my penis.It came after my wife go to rough during sex.It was painful .It caused an 45 degree upward curve.After 4 to 6 months it was mostly straightened out with most of the curvature gone.I was straight, close to normal for me.The bump was gone .It is eight years later.I never participate in rough sex anymore but in the last 2 years my penis has curve upwards again . It is about 90 degrees up.I do not feel any bumps .This problem makes sex difficult.I am 44 years old is there any hope for repair.

The long time span and severe bend decrease the chance medications will work. Surgery may be a consideration. MG

I have recently been diagnosed with peyronies and have been put on a regiment of verapamil cream, Potaba and vitamin E. I have also spent a lot of time on the internet researching it. I have come across a herbal drug called Neprinol which claims it can help along with vitamin K2 have you heard of this and is there any truth to it?

There are no good, peer-reviewed clinical trials confirming its effects. MG

For the last 2 years I have been struggling with the fear of Peyronie’s disease. I first discovered the disease in my Pathphysiology class when I saw a picture about it. In terms of symptoms there was a period in 2005 for about 1 month that I would have sudden pain in my urethra (not when it is erect). I assumed was something I ate, or drank (I was taking some diet drugs at the time that includes Ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin) I have never noticed a sudden change in my penis curve/shape. A part of me thinks there has been a change in the curve since I hit puberty till now (I’m 22, and I started about 12-13). There has never been any pain, or swelling in my penis shaft in my life (in terms of the outside). I don’t have any hard plaques but I noticed small bumps on the bottom half of my penis/under it. It curves to the left some. During a non-erect state it hangs on my left side of the testis, about the middle/bottom of it. I’m proposing to my girlfriend to marry me in August, and we plan to be married on June 6, 2009. We both are virgins….and it has been a deep fear of mine that if I have Peyronie’s Disease that our wedding night would be ruined or that it would be too painful for her/me to have sex (Yes, I understand the first time has some pain due to tearing of hymen). I want it to be a pleasurable, and amazing night that was worth waiting for. I have researched some on the internet from to time. My plan was/is to go at the end of the summer to a Family Dr, and possible see what he thinks. I am paying for my own health insurance, and trying to save all I can for her ring. From the sounds of it, does it seem like PD?

I don't think you have PD. Save your money for the ring and I bet things will work out. MG

April 2008

i'm 45 yrs old today and about 18 months ago i noticed and hour glass shaped penis i didn't know what to do so i wwent to my fathers urologist he said i had peyronies and it would take time to heal and for the last 13 months i have been taking 4 packets a day for 1 yr of aminobenzoate potassium,2 grams i have gotten all shape back about 85-90% what i'm worried about is he is about 3/4 of a inch shorter and im worried my penis wont get its full length back i will take this medicine to 2 yrs but do you know if i will get my full length back this whole peyronies thing has hurt me sexually mentally and physically.

Unfortunately, lost length is usually not recovered, even with surgery. MG

I've had PD for about a year, having had pain for the first six months with no other symptoms. I visited a urologist last October who suggested 800 IU's of Vitamin E daily...this had little effect, the PD worsening steadily. I still have pain during and after erections, but approximately six weeks ago a noticeable indentation began on the left side and has progressed across the top center of the shaft causing the first signs of curvature up and to the left. A second urologist prescribed Potaba, but with the expense and warning of G.I. distress, I am looking for other options. My question...is Neprinol as effective as touted?

Neprinol is an option but there is no peer-reviewed, placebo controlled data showing it to be effective. MG

I am 21 years old. My penis started curbing downward when I was about 16-17 years old. About 6 months ago I noticed a small lump under my skin above the left corpora cavernosa visible only during erection wich disappeared after a week or two. Recently the lump reappeared in the exact spot. It is located about 4cm under the head, it has the size of a rice bean and it's movable in any direction to about 5mm. I don't feel any pain during erection or intercourse. Could I be having Peyronie's disease?

Don't think so. This sounds like Mondor's syndrome, which is a temporary, self limiting blood clot in the superficial penile veins. MG

I am a53 years old man and I started on a drug called atenolol 25 mg 2 years ago, and within 4 months I started noticing a curvature and shortening of my penis. I asked my family Dr. and he told me I was just getting old and that the drug had nothing to do with it. I started doing research on the net and noticed that when I typed in side effects for this drug, PD keeps coming up. It never talks about it, just mentioned it. I now notice that there is a hard almost shaft like that runes the entire length of the penis. Is there anything I can do about this?

Although firm proof is lacking, there seems to be a statistical correlation between the use of beta-blockers (like atenolol) and PD. I would suggest switching to an alternate drug if this is possible, and seeing a urologist. MG

I am 22 years old and wonders , because since i was little i have always had a curve to the left in erect condition. It starts to bend to the left from the middle of the penis and bends about 1.5 cm . It also is a little rotated against the left and a little fatter on the right side. Havent had sex so I don’t know if this will be any problem for me. And iam scared of showing it to a girl in future. And I also wonder how long is a ordinary erect penis in length for a man in my age?

About 14 - 15 cm. Slight curvature or irregularity is normal. MG

I’m interested in the course of acupuncture. I have what appears to be a 1 inch band around the lower end of my penis. There is an almost disconnect between the lowest area and middle are after the banding. I have some pain but no ED. Is it possible to exchange information on this site? Is it possible that masturbation might be the cause of Peyronie’s?

Only if it is unusually traumatic. MG

I am 52. About 7 months ago I had a bent erection with indented penis. The bend has gotten better, but I still have some indent and some pain during intercourse. What do you you suggest? Will this cure itself or should I go to a urologist?

The pain will go away by itself; the indent may not. MG

I am 21 years old, and I have had rather severe curvature of my penis for as long as I can remember. I have never experienced any pain from erections, nor can I see any scarring or lump. I did see the comment saying that if you are born with curvature, you dont; have PD, however my penis shape matches several sketches I have seen of people with PD - the "before" picture on the page detailing the Nesbit procedure being a case in point.

Having curvature does not equal PD - you don't have it. MG

Just a note to let you know that I suffered PD 2 years ago. Plaque deposited over a week or so and badly distorted my erections. Sought prompt treatment with high intensity ultrasound (used for tennis elbow) Had 6 treatments with significant improvement. Followed up 6 months later with 2 treatments. Now have only slight bend towards end of penis. Intercourse comfortable. Much relieved. This type of treatment has around 50% success - based on small number of patients. Can highly recommend this non invasive no drug treatment.

Ultrasound has been used for many years and helps considerably in some cases. MG

March 2008

I have had PD for about 5 months now, at First I had no Curvature but over the last month It has started to bend and coause pain on erection, is it too late to try some medication?

No. MG

My 45 yr old husband was diagnosed with Peyronies last year and was told to take Vit E capules, although was advised it probably wouldn't make a difference. He is due to see a specialist in a few weeks, but is becoming increasingly distressed with the prospect of having an operation and the risk of impotency. He is starting to obsess over his worth as a man should the operation be unsuccessful. Nothing I say allays his fears and he won't seek help elsewhere. I am concerned for his emotional wellbeing and was wondering if there is a support group in Brisbane who I could contact for advice.

I'll put this out to the readers in Australia. MG

I am 64 years old and my Doctor suspects that I may have Peyronies Disease. I have lost length and girth over the past 18 months and there is a slight downward bend in the erect penis. I do not have any pain when erect, I have no problem ejaculating and I can not seem to feel any plaque around the Penis itself. Do you think that I have PD

This sounds like PD. Based on the time interval, I doubt it will progress. MG

I just turned 29, and I'm still a virgin, so my experience in these matters is essentially zero. I intend to stay a virgin until I'm married, but now marriage seems to be much closer than I expected, probably within the next 2 years. I have had a bent penis as long as I can remember, or I should say as long as I can remember having erections anyway. By my measurements, I would say the bend is between 60 and 70 degrees. It has gradually progressed to this point over the years, but has been pretty stable for at least the past 3 years. My questions are as follows: 1.) Is this angle severe enough to limit sexual intercourse? I imagine it would be...at least enough to have to worry about the mechanics of the intercourse and to not be able to just enjoy it naturally 2.) If so, is it severe enough to need surgery to correct? I don't think I would need a perfect 0 degree penis, but something less than 30 degrees should be ok, right? 3.) If surgery isn't necessary, what treatments would you suggest?

1. If the bend is downward, I'd say yes. 2. If it make sex difficult, surgery is reasonable. 3. There are no non-surgical remedies for congenital curavature. MG

when i was 14 i start doing masterbation and since then at age of 28 i am doing it continuously. because of yhis my penis is curving on left side from base. it looks smaller, there is no hard erection, and veins on penis looks like worms

Does not sound like PD. MG

Your responses are medically worthless. You could be a live at home mother for all we know. ....Why don't you give it up? You lack anything to add...Unless you are a really good MD, who could use his brain and think outside the box, shut this POS web site down....you offer nothing here. Your MD skills do not show much. If you want to contact me (unlikely), please do.

This patient was extremely frustrated by his PD. I contacted him and here are his subsequent replies:

My words of anger only stem from this frustrating disease, I know not much can be done. I guess I am tired of hearing the repeated "you're stuck with it" diagnosis... "stuck with it", Springfield, Virginia

Thank you for your personal responses. Very kind, especially given my rude e-mail to you. I have had this 4 years now, pain is gone, upward and left lateral curvature remain. (I would guess >30 degrees in both measurements) Plaque on the top just behind the head, and bilaterally further down. Cialis helps, but the plaque on top makes it difficult to maintain even a modest erection. I have visited the Tidewater Clinic already, and while impressed by the Physician, left with basic info. It's amazing though how much length and girth have been eliminated. Thanks for your time, and I hope you accept my apology for the original harsh message.

The truth is, a lot of PD patients are really "pissed off". MG

I am only 19 years old. I started to notice that my penis was curved to the right (during erection) probably around 6 months ago. After hours of research, I am 99% convinced that I have Peyronie's. I have a significant curve and I can feel (and see) the plaque. It is on the right side and somewhat on the underside causing a curve to the right, and a bend downward. This is very depressing for me because everything I read is that the average age for Peyronie's is between 50 and 60 years old. Is it possible that I really have PD at such a young age?

PD can occur at your age, though it is unusual. The good news is, younger patients seem to respond better to medications. You should see a urologist. MG

Last year I started taking Pravastatin 40mg and Lisinopril 10mg for cholesterol and BP respectively (neither extremely high). A couple of months later I developed a Peyronies condition with downward bending and an hourglass-like indentation. Cause and effect? I am 61 years old and have never had this problem. I noted on the Mayo Clinic's Peyronies website a brief mention about a possible link to statins.

At this point research would indicate emphasis on the word"possible". There is no data proving statins cause PD. Based on your own experience, it might be reasonable to see if your doctor would be able to use an alternative. MG

My verapamil 5% gel did not come with driections for usage. Do I apply onto penis itself or insert into penis using syringe?

Apply it topically onto the skin of the penis. MG

I would be very interested in hearing from patients who actually had that type of surgery removing the plaque and replacing it with various grafts. Such as the success rate; problems encountered; length of time to recover, and anything else one should know about this type of surgery.

I will publish responses. MG

18 years old. I have a curvature in my penis since I can remember myself. I was born with this . The amount of curvature is about as much as this picture of wikipedia shows about Peyronie's disease. Since small I was ashamed of it very much and it has added to my character over the years and made me more "shy". I do not experience any pain or other problems, it's just the shape. It goes left about the same amount as the aforementioned image. What can I do to fix this ? I have had sex and my gf didnt say anything about it but still it is a problem for me. I went to a urilogist but here in Greece they probably dont know about this . When I went to the doctor he told me to have circumcision because my skin was a bit more than needed (phimosis) and they also did something to the "thread" of it (i dunno how its called, the one you also have under your tongue) So they fixed the length of the thread and did circumcision and I dont have any pain or anything but the curvature makes me feel ashamed of myself .

The Nesbit procedure is an operation that will correct the congenital bend. MG

I’m 62 and have been diagnosed with Peyrones. I now realize that symptoms began over 1 year ago. I consider the condition to be severe. ( My penis is skinny, bowed and touches my left thigh during an erection. My urologist suggested an experimental procedure consisting of 12 shots of Interferon over a 12 weeks period. Either that or surgery. I saw two Canadian clinics on the internet who were touting treatment with Ultra-sound to break up the plaque. Any thoughts on the two treatments?

There is placebo-controlled clinical trial data confirming benefit from interferon, but such proof of the effect of shock waves and ultrasound is lacking. MG

I am 30 years old and recently I found that I have Pyronies disease. I went to a Urologist and he told me to take Vitamin E. I have had curvature in my penis for as long as I can remember. It bent to left and about 45 degrees. I am married and I can do intercourse. I did semen analysis and everything looks normal. But this curve make me bad while doing intercourse and I feel like I cant able to do the way I want to. Sometimes I get pain at the tip of the penis when masturbating or having oral sex. My question is is this in a severe stage or whether taking vitamin E can solve this problem.

If this problem dates back as far as you can remember, vitamin E is unlikely to help. MG

Having the peyronie's symptoms starting in 2006 after several urological procedures, including TURPs, with the catheterization accompanying each procedure, I tried potaba for a few months with no success. However I have received great improvement and reduction in the curvature after applying topical verapamil 2x a day and also taking neprinal with co-enzyme 10 during the past two months, after reading that suggestion on your forum.

Thanks for the follow up. MG

would there be any benefit to regularly massaging the area that is damaged while in the flaccid state to try to stimulate blood flow to the area? I know that massage to normal muscle tissue will stimulate blood flow to the area, but at the same time, since I'm not an expert, I don't want to cause even more damage to tissue that is already damaged.

I don't know that this would correct curvature but it wouldn't hurt. MG

I’m currently 23 years old and have always had a slight downward curvature (20 degrees?) to my penis. This has never been a problem, never bothered me, and seemed to be an advantage for my partner and myself. About 2 years ago I had a circumcision performed, and a portion of my stitches didn’t heal correctly, leaving me with a rough scar but still nothing I worried about. 9 months ago I started noticing my penis was curving to the right and downward more in the direction of the scarring. I know this is sometimes an unfortunate affect of circumcision, but it doesn’t appear to be from tightly stretched foreskin. I don’t believe I have PD from everything I’ve read, but I believe my penis is continuing to get worse and now has a very noticeable bend. This has begun to interfere with sexual intercourse but not to the point I can’t function. I have noticed more and more that during intercourse my curvature causes my penis to slip and occasionally bend. Currently I’ve had no lasting pain, but I was curious, if this continues at I at risk of developing PD from my actions?, and does congenital curvature normally continue to worsen?

Congenital curvature can expose the penis to abnormal mechanical forces, which in some cases can lead to scarring and further bending. MG

I think a masturbation technique caused a permanent curvature in my penis. It curves up, but slightly oddly, as the top of the shaft is shorter and straighter than the bottom of the shaft, which has most of the curve. It is not abrupt, but sloping. The only effects seem to by psychological and I think I have experienced a minor "attack" of phycological ED on two occasions. I am wondering if you think I have PD or just a developed curvature. If I did not have PD, I was wondering what your opinion of the penis braces devices that claim to stretch barely a mm at a time and break up the plaque, causing the penis to straighten.

This is not PD, and I do not think a stretcher would help you. MG

February 2008

I am a 24 year old student who was first diagnosed with PD at age 21. I have been seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and was told that a microscopic surgical procedure could correct the issue but I would lose about a centimeter of length. I was told I would have to wait a year to make sure that the issue stabilized and did not get better on its own. I am hesitant to try surgery as they told me one risk is that they are making an incision to remove scar tissue that in itself could lead to more scar tissue. In addition I exercise regularly and was told I would not be able to lift over 10 lbs. for 6 weeks in addition to no sexual activity. Besides waiting for clinical trials I feel at a frustrated loss. I have tried Vitamin E to no avail. It would be worth losing the muscle and definition from my weight lifting if I know it would be successful. I certainly do not mind losing a centimeter, but I am most concerned about gaining back the loss of girth that I previously had. I have only mild curvature but the tissue that has been affect now pinches along the sides causing a non-uniform look, loss of circumference, and areas of lost flexibility. If you are aware of this microscopic surgical procedure do you know if it would result in regaining the lost circumference?

The microscopic procedure is probably a variation of the nesbit - which may not be effective in restoring lost girth. MG

I've been having what sounds like peryonies, with a 30* bend to the left with pain near the left base of my penis. About 15 years ago, my girlfriend at the time squeezed my erect penis very hard at about the bend point. It was painful at the time, but she said that the had read this cause a longer orgasm. I'm thinking she squeezed way too hard, and the problems I'm having now are related to scar tissue from that incident. Is this possible 15 years later?

Yes it's possible. MG

I am 50 and was diagnosed with PD about 12 months ago. At the time I asked the urologist if it was associated with the erectile dysfunction that I was beginning to have as well. He said no, that would be a psychological problem. Now I read on your website that 40% of PD sufferers also have ED problems. Specifically, my problem is that the rigidity of my penis is only about 80% of what it used to be and it seems to be more difficult to achieve and retain an erection. Could PD be causing this?

PD can indeed cause erectile dysfunction, such as loss of rigidity. MG

In 1995, at the age of 49, I was diagnosed by a urologist with Peyronie's disease. My penis curves about 45 degrees left and slightly up, with scar tissue on the top near the base clearly felt to the touch. At the site of the scar tissue, there is a marked narrowing of the shaft when erect. The doctor gave me the option of that time of 1.) Seeing if it got worse, and 2) surgery with the possibility of never having an erection again, so I did nothing except take Vitamin E 400 mg or units daily. Never had diabetes, or penile injury or catherization. Now at the age of 64, I have trouble with any erections, so my primary care physicians prescribed first Viagra and later Levitra. However, the warnings with each prescription warn that persons with PD should not use it. 1. Is there any way to reverse this problem outside of surgery? 2. Is there a real issue with PD and Viagra or Levitra usage?

1. At this point in time, surgery would probably offer the most. 2. This is a legal issue for drug companies, since they didn't test these drugs in a group of men with PD. The fact is, research suggests Viagra and Levitra may actually help men with PD by inhibiting further scarring. MG

About 5 months ago, my normally straight, erect penis changed to where it bends, at approximately mid-shaft, nearly 45 degrees to the left. Their is a strong indentation on the left side where it bends. It has had a marked effect on rigidity and consequently sexual performance. This change was essentially overnight - not gradual in any way, but just started one day and was significantly bent. I can't relate this change to any trauma. I saw my urologist who said it's probably Peyronie's disease. However, from my reading, it sounds like a significant bend like this should be palpable. He said he did not feel any hardening or calcification - and in my self-exam I did not find any either. He feels that I should just wait a year and see what happens - i.e. if it corrects itself. While I'm not anxious to jump into surgery or anything like that, I don't feel comfortable with the diagnosis without evidence of plaque build up or something more concrete. I'm also uncomfortable with just waiting since the condition could worsen over time and some literature suggests that the first 6-12 months is the time in which to consider non-surgical treatments. Should I see a Peyronie's specialist?

Probably not a bad idea. MG

I guess I masturbated too hard or somthing, I literally felt a tearing feeling under the skin of my penis. It was a small tearing but it felt very weird. Did I tear a piece of my tunica? It has been almost a week and there is still some weirdness there, no pain, but it just feels weird. When I am even slightly erect it feels like there is a small dent there. My question is will it fully heal without plaque or will there be some plaque? Do all tunica tears lead to scars?

A tear of the tunica would have lead to considerable bruising and swelling. Absent that, I'd say you'll be OK. MG

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE DOSAGE FOR LONG TERM USE OF VITAMIN E AND FOR HOW LONG MUST ONE USE IT AFTER PEYRRHONIES HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED.

400 units daily for at least 18 months. MG

What experience do you have with Dr. Paulo Edygio's procedure? He is a doctor in Sao Paulo Brazil that is working on this geometric procedure that is a surgical way to take away the curvature and also restore the length. Does it work? Are there doctors in the USA using this procedure?

This involves grafting of a rather extensive nearly circumfrential relaxing incision. I have had a great deal of experience with relaxing incisions, having been the first to publish this method back in 1991. It remains to be seen whether pushing this technique to its limits will offer safety and real restoration of length. MG

I just turned 55 in January and the symptom for peyronie's disease appeared overnight. It is an almost 90 degree development in my erection. I have been placed on blood pressure meds for 5 years, have take testosterone treatments for low libido, have arthritic complications in certain joints and take a variety of meds for pain, sleep, muscle relaxation and cholestorol. This is just another problem that I don't need or want. Being married 30 years helps in the fact that the need for performance can be mitigated by just that fact, but it is unnerving that this apparition and obvious symptom has become another thing to contend with. I have two heart blockages that haven't required stints or angioplasty as yet I am hoping that time will take care of the problem, but at my age time is at a premium. Pain is not an issue but ED has been for a awhile==therefore the testosterone treatment, which has seemed to bring up the old urges. Intercourse is naturally infrequent but the embarrasement of the obvious disfigurement is emotionally distressing. Has Vitamin E been thought to be a succesfull treatment to others. I believe that it the first, less invasive step to remedy the symptoms, along with precious time. This has been an unwelcome surprise but so far not completely unworkable. What are some of time elements that others have seen to be an average recovery?

Usually 12 -18 months will give you a good idea of just how much difficulty to expect. MG

In professional medical sources such as "Urology" and "Journal of Urology" there is a growing awareness that Peyronie's can be viewed as an autoimmune disease. In my experience Peyronie's is caused by inhaling carcinogenic chemical fumes that chemically cross-link proteins in the erectile nasal turbinates.

I will look forward to examining the evidence for such a hypothesis. MG

I am a 44 year old male with PD for 1 year. My impression is that the postion (and associated curvature variation) of nodules is changing. Is is possible to have multisite lesions and if so does that reduce the likely benefits of Nesbitt's procedure as a primary management strategy (unless undertaken in multiple sites)?

Yes multiple sites can be involved. The disease process must be completely stablized before undertaking surgery. MG

I have been through vitamin E therapy and have been using a topical for approximately 2 months. If there has been any change, it has been for the worst. If I am subject to scarring (plague) wouldn’t surgery cause the same scar tissue to develop? I am really nervous about having any surgery done to my penis

When the proper procedure is done at the right time, the scar caused by surgery will not defeat the goal of surgery, which is to straighten the penis and allow you to resume sexual activity. MG

My husband is 43 years old and over the past couple of years we have noticed a lot of differences in his penis. Firstly for him it was just pain, a feeling as though he had been kicked down below. It wasnt really affecting our sex life so when I told him to see someone about it he just said if it got any worse then he would. For a while he didnt say anything about it but I knew that sex was uncomfortable for him and his penis was definately bending slightly, firstly in one direction and now more recently in another direction. Slowly our sex life has diminished from about 3 times a week to once or twice a month. Nothing had been said between us until tonight when it was obvious his heart wasnt in it and he mentioned that he was concerned about his penis. Not only was it still bent but there was pain up the sides and when he had an erection there was very little blood going to the head. I told him I knew all of this as I could no longer feel him inside of me. He admitted that he had no sexual thoughts or drive anymore and I am now expected to do things on my own (if you catch my drift) I am devastated as not only did we see this coming and nothing was done about it but also we have lost any kind of closeness. I asked him to go and see someone but have been told that I have no idea what it is like to face something like this as a man and it isnt as easy as a woman

A good comment on how untreated PD can undermine intimacy in a relationship. MG

I have been diagnosed with dupytrens disease in one of my hands (right), and have plantar fibromatosisis in both of my feet and believe I also have Peyronies disease in my penis. A podiatrist performed surgery on both of my feet in June of 2007 and the end result was considerably worst than when I was first diagnosed. What kind of doctor do I need to seek to be treated for Peyronie’s Disease?

Someone with special interest and experience in this problem. MG

I am 46, and about a month ago first began noticing a lump on the left side of my penis near the head, accompanying a leftward bend. The lump seems to have grown fairly rapidly during the last couple of weeks, and is currently about the size of a kidney bean. I have a small amount of pain with erection. My doctor has diagnosed Peyronie's and has prescribed Colchicine and Vitamin E. From what I am seeing on the web, it does not appear to me that there are any significant studies showing that Colchicine promises any significant hope for improvement over placebos. From what I'm reading, for most, the pain seems to go away with time, while the bend remains. Are there any reputable controlled studies showing any merit to Colchicine? I am not enthused about risking the possible side effects without some reliable indications of effectiveness.

Unfortunately there are no good placebo - controlled randomized clinical trials showing benefit for any oral agent in the treatment of PD. MG

I am particularly prone to keloid scars. Corticosteroid injection helps them immediately. Is there a link between my keloid scars and Peyronies, and might corticosteroid injections help my PD as well?

Despite some similarities, PD and keloids are different animals. Corticosteroids don't offer much to the patient with PD. MG

I'm 20 years old. I think I got PD after injuring my penis when I was much younger - perhaps around 12 years old. It was a cut on the left side from a fall onto the top of a brick wall. I didn't notice anything wrong all the way back then because I was young and it was most likely before I started getting erections. But since puberty (and subsequent erections), I've been bent to the left by about 30 degrees. I've never had any pains in my penis, but the curvature does bother me. Would you recommend surgical treatment?

30 degrees is not that far off the normal range, but if this really does bother you, a Nesbit procedure would help. MG

January 2008

I am 21 years old, and have been having trouble with sex because of painful erections, and also lack of sensation in my penis. I do have slight curvature but nothing that prevents intercourse. However because of the pain and loss of sensation it has become difficult to have optimum sex with my partner. I have seen a urologist and at first he gave me levitra and that worked to help maintain erection, however the pain and loss of sensation was still presistent. I still lost an erection once, but regained it even on the levitra. Going back he suggested that I start using Transdermal Verapamil Gel 15 %, but it is extremely expensive and is not proven to have positive effects. I have also been a heavy smoker for about 6 years and supposedly am allergic to tobacco. Would that have anything to do with my troubles.

First of all, you don't have PD so there is not reason to spend a lot of $$ on verapamil. I am not sure what is going on with the sensory deficit, but I would definitely reccommend you stop smoking. MG

Hello, I have just looked over your site which is excellent. In July 2005 I had a Prostrate operation which seemed to be the start of ALL my problems. Within 5 months my penis bent downwards and I was advised to have a NESBIT which I had in February 2006. It turned out to be the most painful thing which has ever happened to me, it turned septic and had to be dressed 3 times daily for about 3 months, since then, it has now started to bend upwards and I still do not have feeling in it. I was told that I would loose about half inch and I would regain about 95/98% of feeling. It is now nearly 2 years on and I still do not have much feeling, also intercourse with my wife is extremely difficult. What advise can you please give me. Many thanks for a great site. (England)

That is alarming - and unusual for a Nesbit procedure. Perhaps the use of either viagra, levitra, or cialis would help with intercourse - they also may help to diminish scarr, which may be partly responsible for the sensory problem. MG

My ex-husband was diagnosed a few months ago as having Peyronie’s. I have been doing some research on the internet and came across Neprinol as being a possible new treatment for this disease. What have you heard about this drug, and its effectiveness for Peyronie’s?

Neprinol may inhibit inflammation, but there is no controlled data on its effects on PD. Vitamin E is probably equivalent. MG

Since I can remember, my penis has bent downward when erect. I just turned 40, can have sex with some pain at certain times but have never sought treatment or consultation before for it. I will include a picture of my penis erect, will you look at it and let me know if there is anything I can do besides surgery to straighten it? I don't think it is Peyronies, there is no scar tissue that I can find and I cannot remember injuring myself.

You don't have PD, but congenital curvature. Usually surgery is the only solution. Use of a traction device might help. MG

First I would like to thank you for taking the time and effort to provide free information on your website for people with Peyronies disease. I do, however, have a question. For the past few months, I have been feeling a soar kind of pain in my penis, just under the head. The pain is only there when I have an erection. The stiffer the erection, the worse the pain. After reading your website i have checked to see if I can feel hard lumps around the area and I cannot. Also, I am (thankfully) not experiencing and significant bends in the shape of my penis. I have always had a slight curve, but I have not noticed any increase in the angle. I am unsure if this is Peyronies disease or not. Also, I am a virgin so i know it is not an STD of some kind. I am 20 years old. Please let me know what you think... is this peyronies?..

Sounds like localized inflammation of the terminal end of the corpus cavernosum, which will probably go away on its own. MG

I am an 18 year old who is generally very healthy. I cannot remember when I started noticing a curvature of my penis when erect, but it has been at least 2 years or more. While I have not been sexually active, I am concerned that the curvature is severe to affect intercourse - it is bending sideways

I looked at your pictures. This is minimal congenital assymetry - fuggedaboutit.MG

I am 53 years old and my wife noticed around 6 months ago. I saw a doc around 3 months ago and discovered the problem as peyronies. The urologist said take vitamin E and we will revisit it in 6 months. I have taken vitamin e now for 3 months and have not noticed any difference. My concern if I wait the year, will more permanent damage be done? I am nervous about the idea of just playing the waiting game. My penis takes a 60 degree turn to the left. My erection used stand up and now it just hangs down. If it does get back to normal will the penis stand up again? The doctor says to have normal intercourse but that is hard to do physically and emotional. My penis seems to be getting smaller (and I did not have to start with) and it also aches even without having intercourse. The doctor checked for a hernia, but that was negative. I feel like during the day I should wear a jock. Just walking around in dress clothes the movement around does not feel comfortable. Am I just imagining these things or are they somewhat normal symptoms?

No these are not imaginary, but usual symptoms of PD. The pain will go away, but often some degree of length loss and bend will persist. Just how much remains will determine if you need surgery. MG

I am 45 years and had PD for 12 years. I have a god erektion, but my penis is ben very small. from ca. 15 cm (before PD) to 11 cm. I have read about the Jess Extender. Can i troust this produkt, can it heelp me to get at longer penis??? or is it fake?...Thank you for the answer...Sorry for my english. i from Denmark

A traction device (extender) may help, but after 12 years this seems unlikely. MG

I have recently started having what can only be described as a pressure pain on occasions at the commencement of an erection and have developed an upward curvature of the penis. No sideways curvature present.. Also approx midway along the penis shaft is a minor symmetrical lump where ther is a more angular bend. My GP has suggested PD and suggested an ultra-sound, but this did not reveal any plaque, calcification or scar tissue. Will an ultra-sound detect the onset or presence of PD or is there a better detection process. From what I have read, cure is more likely at the early stages of PD. What treatment is suggested at this stage.

Ultrasound cannot always detect plaque. At this point one of the medical regimens would be recommended - verapamil, colchicine, intereferon or vitamin E. MG

I am 67 years old. About nine months ago I noticed my "rare" erection started to bend north. My erect penis is now curved upward a banana. I do not have any lumps, plaque or dents as described by others on this site. It seems there is a cartilage about a 1/4 inch wide running the length of my penis on the top. Is it possible that a penis will atrophy with a lack of regular erections? Can this cartilage loose its flexibility, forcing the penis to curve away from it when erect? If any of this is a fact, is there anything to be done about it?

Sexual function will suffer from disuse. This sounds like PD to me. MG

I am considering nesbit surgery and I was wondering what the results might be if I got it done. What are the chances of the curvature coming back later? What about sensitivity? Will I be less sensitive after? Right now I am able to acheive full erection with no problem, but what about after? Will it be harder to acheive, or maintain full erection after surgery?

Usually a Nesbit is quite reliable. If you are young and healthy, the chance of erection or sensation problems is<5% - have it done by someone with experience in this area. MG

I am a 24 year guy from India and haven't had any serious medical condition ever and got a fit healthy body, but I have been suffering from PD for years... in fact i do not remember seeing a full straight penis of mine! Or, it just might be that I have taken it into notice for last 3-4 years, it might be okay before that, but i do not remember. Recently i contacted someone who advised me Vitamin E capsules. They showed some results within few month. Size was remarkably improved comparing to previous condition but still it is not in proper shape. And for many months its the same shape now. I have discontinued and restarted Vit E dosage, but still the same. WHAT DO YOU ADVICE? Although I have never had pain or erection probs, but i get frustrated seeing it as the size and thickness is good and if just the shape becomes okay, it would be icing on the cake.

If the bend is <20degrees, I would recommend simply continuing with the vitE. MG

Thank you for this helpful forum. I am 35 and I think I have only a mild case of PD. I have had a clear calcification that is like a small visible bump underneath the skin for over a year. A CAT scan (which I had due to urinary difficulties) confirmed the presence of calcifications. My penis leans increasingly to the left even when mildly erect but I have no curvature or pain. Now here's the weird part: When I run my fingers from the base along the very center tube of the penis (either between the corpora cavernosa or along the urethra--it's hard to tell) it feels like there are several little clots or bumps along the way leading to a relatively large (pea-sized) hard lump--not the one mentioned above--right in the middle (mid-way between the base and the head). I think the lump may have gotten worse after catheterization (due to urinary retention). Recently, I squeezed the lump and, shortly afterward, the urine came out in a completely split stream. This doesn't seem to fit with what I've been reading about the scar tissue associated with PD and the fact that PD does not affect urination. So, now I'm wondering if this is different or even unrelated problem. Perhaps I have some type of urinary stricture or, heaven forbid, urethral cancer.

This does not sound like cancer, but I think you should be examined by a urologist. MG

I am 28 and have had a 90 degree downward curvature for as long as I can remember. I know that a Nesbit procedure can fix the problem but with such a severe bend I can loose significant length which I cant live with. Would Tissue Graft be an option for severe congenital curvature to prevent length lose? Would stretching the shorter underside work and will it lengthen enough to straighten it out? And if stretching is an option what are the safest technics that work?

In general, graft operations do not work well for congenital curvature - they are likely to produce erection problems. You cound try a stretcher, such as the andro penis device. MG

I am a 60yr old New Zealander who was diagnosed with Peyronies nearly 12months ago. I also have Dupuytrens Contracture in both hands. As I have a 90degree bend in my penis and am suffering a lot of discomfort with it retracting into my body, I feel that in the long term, surgery will be my best option. I wondered if you would know of any urologists in either NZ or Australia who have some expertise in this field? Also, how much longer would you advise me to wait before taking this step? I have tried vitamin E and Neprinol but don't hold out much hope that these are going to improve things for me.

Based on the degree of bending and the presence of Dupuytren's contractures, I would agree surgery makes good sense. Check for a referral by contacting Dr.Bronwyn Stuckey in Nedlands, Australia. MG

I have what appears to be a growing indentation at the left base of my penis. It looks like scoop has been taken out. It measures about 3/4 of an inch loon an 1./3 of an inch deep. I am 67 years old and have had genital herpes for many years. The area just below the indentation appears quite red. The indentation is only apparent during erection. I also not a slight burning sensation in the immediate area. This is not consistent and does not necessarily accompany an erection.

This could be PD. In Florida I would suggest Dr. Gregory Broderick in Jacksonville. MG

I am scheduled to have surgery to correct PD on 4th Feb 2008. I was not happy with the Nesbit Procedure and was given a second pinion from another colleague of my urologist who agreed that it would do nothing for my hourglass problem. He agreed that the Lu procedure would be of help but did not think that use of harvested tissue (vein I think) was the best approach and proposes to use a manmade material. I think the procedure is to put cuts into the scar tissue, not to remove it all but sufficient to allow the penis to stretch evenly under erection conditions and correct the bend and hourglass. I think he will then wrap the stretchable material around the penis to contain the excised area. I have read that dacron is used for this type of procedure. Are there any proven materials and is it as successful as venal transplant?

I am sorry this response is too late for you - perhaps you can update us with results. In my experience, a patient's own tissue (vein or fascia or dermis) is the superior graft material. MG

I am 62 and one morning a year and a half ago I woke up with "the curve". My GP suggested the wait and see plus Vit E remedy which after 6 months resulted in no improvement. The next step was a Urologist's suggestion of Potoba which I took for 3 months and again no improvement. Now I have agreed to Verapamil injections which apparently cause some bruising. So, my question is if bruising is the result of internal bleeding are we not risking further damage as PD's origins are the result of traumatized blood vessels ? I would also be interested in hearing from anyone who has any personal information on this procedure

Bruising is an expected part of the injections, and will not contribute to progression of PD. MG

I am 65. In November 07', I was having intercourse with my wife 'missionary position' when my penis struck her pelvis bone. There was immediate pain from the collision but didn't think anything about it until a couple of weeks later I noticed two very small hard cysts on the upper shaft of the penis while flaccid. I consulted with a urologist the following January and he immediately diagnosed the medical problem as PD and advised to take vitamin E which I have taken for a year. No improvement from taking vitamin E. The penis while flaccid shows not indication of PD but when erect, a definite curvature of the penis begins halfway down the shaft and extends upward at about a 35 to 40 degree angle. The penis is shorter by an 1&1/2 inches but at this time intercourse is still possible. During the course of the year since the injury occurred, I experienced pain while having intercourse. I no longer have pain, but the PD curvature may continue to worsen with time to a point intercourse may not be possible. Is there any advice to help my PD considering a year has lapsed since the injury?

As a year has passed, it is unlikely that this will progress further. Unfortunately, the best results with all of the medical remedies discussed in this forum are only about 65%. Clinical trials may give us some new treatment options. MG

I am soon to be having a nesbit procedure and plication procedure to fix my downward congenital curvature, my urologist said that i would lose some length of my penis but not very much. He wasn't able to tell exactly how much length would be lost. Is there a way that i can figure out how much length i will lose? how does one measure the degree of their curvature? what is the best way?

Print a digital photo full sized, then cut out enough of the convex side of the bend to straighten the picture of the penis. This will give you a good idea. Average length loss for a 45 degree bend is about 2 cm. MG

I had doulble by pass surgery in 2003 Aug. In 2005 Idevelope what I now know is peyronnies disease Is there a connection between the two in other words did the surgery or the meds have anything to do with my PD. I had a urologist examine me and recomended a possible pump because I did not see a Dr till over a year after I knew something was wrong

No known connection to bypass surgery. MG

December 2007

Acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine is the cure. Western doctors will advocate a wait-and-see approach. I had several weeks of pain and inflammation, during which I took large doses of vitamin E and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, but otherwise ignored until I noticed the formation of an extreme hourglass deformity at the distal end of the shaft, and severe erectile dysfunction. Being a medical researcher I knew immediately the seriousness of my illness, and saw a local urologist to get a referral to a leader in the field at Mayo clinic. He refused to make any diagnosis or treatment because he regarded the case as infantile in its development, and because no single western treatment has a success rate higher than twice the natural recovery rate. I instead sought a local acupuncturist, well known for his skill at chinese medicine and educated and trained in China. He assured me that proper acupuncture and herbal treatment regularly for three months would soften the tissue with increased blood flow, and that the scar tissue would eventually dissolve. This, he said, was especially possible because I had confronted the disease early, so that no serious fibrosis or calcification had begun. It has been two months now, and my erectile function is back to normal, and my deformity is nearly gone. Please do not assume that there is no cure for something simply because someone tells you so. What they really mean is, they have no cure. Eastern medicine practices operate on principles that are not scientifically understood yet, but for some reason work, and have been working - for thousands of years.

Interesting. MG

About two months ago, I had lots of sex with a girl, about 4 times a night for about a week. After that, the area just below my penis head where the shaft meets the head started hurting. This was on the right left side. I went to a urologist, who saw nothing wrong with it from the outside, and just recommended rest. At the time, when I had an erection for too long, that area would start hurting. I had sitz baths for a while and the pain disappeared in about 3-4 weeks. However, right after this pain resolved, I began developing pain in the entire penis shaft. It was pretty random, on some days the pain would be at base of the shaft, on some it would be at the right side or left side. I wasn't really sure what was wrong with it, and I went to three different urologists, who saw nothing wrong with it again. There was nothing on the shaft of the penis that they felt. However, a few weeks later, I discovered my penis slightly curved towards the right both in flaccid and erect state. When flaccid, the curve wasn't that noticable. When my penis was partially erect, the curve would be a lot more noticable, but when the penis was fully erect, the curve would diminish to about 10-15 degrees. There would be pain that accompanied erection, but the pain actually came after the erection, instead of during. In other words, there was no pain when I had an erection, but there was a lot of pain following the erection, which would last in some form for a few days. The pain actually did not hurt the shaft too much. It was more concentrated as a burning sensation on the tip of my penis, for whatever reason. Is this PD? If it is or isn;t, what is this burning sensation at the tip of my penis?

The poorly localized genital pain, particularly the pain at the tip suggests you had prostatitis. I'm not sure why you had the bend; it does not sound like PD. MG

My penis was perfectly normal prior to 2 procedures for kidney stones, one in each kidney. The use of stints to bypass the tube from the kidney to the bladder were used. After the removal of the last stint, I experienced 3 days of penis bleeding. After the penis stopped bleeding and my kidney pain had subsided, I had my first erection. At this time, the penis had a pronounced upward curve and was very painful. My doctor diagnosed me with Peronies. It has been 7 months since my last stint removal and their has not been any changes. Have there been other reports of similar onset of Peronies after stints, catheters, etc?

Yes, instrumentation of the urethra can lead to PD. MG

I have had PD for about 10 years and am a 42 yrs of age currently…. Not much curvature, but pain during erections… For 4 years I was told to take 400 IU of vitamin E, but the results were fairly negative. Then I saw an Urologist that asked me to take Vitamin E but with Gamma tocopherols which helped significantly. After another year I saw a Homeopathic “doctor” who suggested graphitis which did help. I took the graphitis just about every 6 months for about two years. Then I saw yet another urologist who prescribed colchicine .6 mg twice a day. This did help but at that time I was suffering from shin-splints from running and playing basketball. The drug had an adverse effect on the shin pain and made it such that I could not walk without feeling pain for over a year. I took the colchicines for 3 months and finally stopped because of the increased pain in my legs. My guess is that the drug was breaking down beneficial healing tissue in my legs as a side effect. I also used a vacuum pump about a year ago as suggested by my urologist. I have week valves in my veins and have varicose veins in my legs so the pump had the effect of causing a varicocele. Just writing this to make others aware of the difficulties PD can cause. The Vitamin E with Gamma tocopherols and the graphitis had the best effect without causing some other side effect… I did also try Chinese medicine with little results except for an increased desire for sexual activity… The colchicines probably would have worked well if the dosage was lower and if I did not have some sort of injury my body was trying to heal. I wonder about surgery with a skin graft as the penis continues to feel pain and continues to get smaller… but with my track record I think a conservative approach is warranted.

Thanks for sharing your experience. MG

I have been seeing someone for sometime now and we are considering taking our relationship to a sexual level. I wanted to be honest with him so I let him know that I do have genital herpes. I have not had an outbreak in over 5 years and I can take Valtrex to try to prevent spreading it. He spoke to his doctor who told him not to have a sexual relationship with me of any kind due to the herpes. I believe he stated that because the PD was an autoimmune disorder that possibly contracting herpes would cause a much more severe problems for him than in a male without PD. Is this true? Is there any way to have a sexual relationship together without it possibly worsening his condition?

Peyronies is probably not autoimmunity, but could be aggravated by a severe herpes outbreak. If you are under good control and use valtrex and he uses a condom, I do not see a lot of risk. MG

I am 50 years old, and just came from the urologist, who diagnosed me with Peyronie's disease. I had gone to see him because a couple of days ago I was having intercourse and during ejaculation I experienced intense pain in my urethra at the tip of my penis and even a couple of drops of blood. The curvature of my penis, which has been presen for several months, was almost an afterthought, though on examination the doctor confirmed the presence of plaque. My doctor told me that PD shouldn't be responsible for the urethral discomfort or bleeding, but I'm wondering if the bend in my penis might have caused some irritation, and possibly a crack, in the urethra, or possibly pinched it shut, causing it to crack during ejaculation.

Yes that is quite possible. MG

My husband is 30 and has had PD for about a year ~ so I would have to assume that statistical information is incorrect and that it's just possibly because younger men may not seek attention as often as older men do. I say my husband has had this for about a year because we're not really sure when it began. I tend to believe that symptoms may have started when I noticed it would take longer for him to get an erection. This was followed by a narrowing at the base of the penis, then a change in the head of the penis, followed by an indentation around the penis shaft, nearer to the body than the head, and now a deep "V" type indent on 1 side, deep enough for my index finger to sit comfortably fit in. He says he can feel a bump inside, and after taking vitamin E believes the bump has been moving more towards the head and as another person posted, hopefully up & out. I haven't noticed any improvement and if anything find that the symptoms are worsening. My husband was seen by a Urologist who declined to confirm a diagnosis of PD (although I think it's quite evident). He's lost 1+" in length and of course the circumference has changed with the narrowing and indents. I would not recommend surgery unless it was a case of severe deformity and inability so that's out for us. But I would love more information about the acupuncture recently posted about - as well as the cost of the topical medication some have found improvement with.

I do not have information about acupuncture - perhaps our readers can help. MG

I am 29 and I think I may be developing Peyronie's. My penis, when flacid, has always twisted slightly to the right - at least for as long as I can remember. Recently I noticed that my penis, when flacid and erect, curves to the right (~10 degrees) and the left side of my penis is slightly larger (fatter?) than the left. I have not noticed any plague - although I don't really know what to look for, everything looks and feels pretty normal. I have not experienced any pain with erection and, as far as I can tell, the length of my erection is the same.

This sounds more like congenital curvature than PD. MG

I am 26 years old. Found a small lump on my penis(top right) few days ago. There with no pain during erection.No bend at all.But feel pain when squeez the lump.Worry will be getting worse.What should I do now?

It's probably a skin issue. Avoid squeezing. If it doesn't go away in 6 to 8 weeks, see a doctor. MG

I have yet to be diagnosed and am nervous to go to a urologist. My erect penis curves downward a little when I'm standing at about a 20 degree angle. I'm afraid I won't be able to satisfy my girlfriend. I think it might be normal but would like to have some sort of professional opinion.

To me this configuration sounds to be within the range of normal - I don't see it causing sexual problems. MG

I'm interested in correcting congenital curvature and was wondering what the general cost for a Nesbit procedure(Penis has been bent at a 45 degree angle for over 10 years now).

In California surgery would run around $2,000, anesthesia and facility fee (outpatient) around $3,000. MG

For many years PD did not cause me pain, except at the beginning, the vitamin E I was advised to take, and did not do much for me. I had no problems sexually, while the bending existed, but not perhaps as severe as I have read in some of the articles. Since last few weeks of 2007 I have noticed a lesser erective stage as I would be used too, and of course my wife is wondering why this now happens. Reading through the explanations PD cannot cause impotence, but it can effect the erective state.

Peyronies commonly affects erectile function, although oftentimes in minor ways. If you are experiencing problems with erection, the first thing to do would be to see your doctor for a trial of one of the meds like viagra, cialis, or levitra. MG

November 2007

I have had curvature in my penis for as long as I can remember. A small “cork screw” effect. I experience no pain when errect or during intercourse. I have only recently become aware of PD. From what I have read so far, I am a little confussed as to wheather I have PD or not. I am 36 years of age, a little young from what I can tell. Should I get myself checked out or will all be fine as it is?

You only have mild congenital curvature, which will never cause you problems - it's nothing to worry about. MG

I'm 34 relatively healthy and still able to have intercourse. I have had PD for about 1 year. Erections are sometimes painful and prevent intercourse. Rough sex is out altogether for fear of re-injury. I have about a 45 degree bend pulling to the upper left. There is a "deep" indention on the left side of my penis. There is a double-pea sized knot about mid-shaft. I have tried Potoba and vit-E treatments. I am currently taking a vit-E&C pill, vit-B super complex pill, along with a vascodialator pill regimen ( weight lifter buddy turned me on to this). It appears as though the knot may be moving up the shaft slowly. Hopefully up and out. I read about some sort of traction type therapy. Is there a way to do this on your own or is a Dr. required? I am larger than average in length and work in a very physical environment. Is there a way to be in "traction" and still be able to be physically active or do you have to be layed up for this? Is the COLLAGENASE treatment available over the counter or is a prescription required? And finally how do I sign up for any type of this research therapy? I believe my case is severe enough to be of help if a treatment was found that works. The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming freight train.

Traction (by using one of the penile extenders available on line) might help. Clinical trials with collagenase may be starting in the middle of 2008 - I will be sure to announce further developments on the web site. MG

Having being diagnosed with PD and found no relief or significant improvement from the use of Potaba I started to look for alternative treatments and came across a doctor in Toronto who is offering Ultra Sonic treatment and claiming some success. Are you aware of this and do you have any comment you feel able to make regarding this approach.

Ultrasound has been used for about 30 years now - without any good evidence of effectiveness. MG

I am a diabetic and have ED. I have been using a battery operated pump for erections. http://www.augustams.com/ Touch II. Sometime in the fast several months, I notice that my erections were curving in the shape of a banana. I also noticed that a bulge was taking place in front of the tension system near the base of my penis. Not sure if the two are related. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

I will post responses. MG

I am 31 and was diagnosed 4 months ago and in that time my PD has grown from a pea size to almost an inch in length all around the penis, just beneath the head. So it's more like a bottle neck but I am concerned that it will continue to spread at this rate. My urologist suggested Vit-E when he diagnosed it, but as seems to be the norm, this hasn't worked. Should I see him again to see how its spread and possibly try other treatment? Is this rate of spread normal?

I think it might be wise to consider additional therapy, like verapamil injections or oral colchicine. At your age it is not unusual for the the disease processs to change more rapidly - and this includes improvement as well. MG

I have been diagnosed with PD and my urologist relates that he feels I have adequate length to make me a viable candidate for the Nesbit procedure. Is there a way to accurately estimate the potential loss in length as a result of this surgery? I know that you’ve stated that the average is 1-2 cm but it in the erect state it appears to be more like a 1-2 inch difference from the longer to the shorter side and the doctor told me that the new length would be that of the shorter side. The grafting procedure is more risky but I thought that adding a graft to the short side would increase length and not decrease it, but many of the sites claim that both procedures reduce length. Why is this so for the grafting technique? Lastly what is your opinion on traction devices and would you recommend its use on a patient with less than severe curvature to the left with conditions being present for @2 years?

You can print a full-size photo of your penis, use scissors to cut out a wedge on the convex side, then swing it down to close the resulting defect and see what it looks like. Also, you can measure your stretched flaccid penis, which will give you a good estimate of post op length. Graft operations don't cause as much shortening as nesbit, but they will not restore lost length. Traction is under study now - no one knows for sure. MG

i am 17 years old and though i have normal erections, i see my penis is a little crooked to the left(aprox 30 degrees)...Is it normal for a man?i am worried because i have not had sex yet and i think i won't be able to satisfy my girlfriend.I am afraid...i don't think it is that Peyronie's desease..but i don't know!I don't feel pain or anything else.And i can see this bending to the left since i 've had my very first erection. p.s do man in general have a penise which bents a bit?I mean,is there the perfectly straight penis?

You are normal. Perfectly straight exists only in the realm of Euclidean geometry. MG

I was diagnosed last month with Peyronie's. I have a lump the size of a pinto bean near the head of my penis, on the underside. Erections are somewhat painful, with a tight, almost burning sensation at the location of the lump. And the shape of my penis has been altered - there is a dent on the left. It seems to me, too, that it's slightly smaller all around -both in erect length and width. I'm 42 and this happened quite suddenly. Anyway, I'm just writing to share my story. It's a profoundly upsetting situation. While it's not cancer or heart disease, it definitely impacts my life. I'm not interested in sex, for one thing. And I feel uncomfortable with my penis, almost like I had a transplant and have some other guy's penis on my body. It doesn't feel or look familiar. I have noticed, too, that the sensation has become dull. Sex no longer feels good like it used to. So given this, and the pain during erection -which is minor, more of an irritation- my interest in sex has plummeted. I don't like to think about it because it's depressing to realize this has actually happened to me. And there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it. My doctor told me it could clear up but most likely would not. It could also get worse but hopefully will not. In other words, oh well. Sometimes I try and think positive about the good sex I was able to experience in the past. But instead of comforting me, this just makes me sad. I am somebody who accepts new challenges and works hard to be positive, but this has me stumped. No pun intended.

Thank you for sharing your experience - loss of intimacy and alteration of self image can happen in PD. MG

In February of 2005 I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. I underwent internal and external beam radiation which resulted in blood clots in my urine. My urologist removed the clotting by inserting either a catheter or something else to get to the source of the bleeding in by bladder. A catheter then was left in and then removed a day later. A few weeks later I had an erection and there was a 45 degree upward curve. I went in to see him and he didn’t detect any scarring and then induced an erection to confirm the degree of the problem. He said surgery was risky and put me on a steady diet of Cialis and told me that continued intercourse would help more than anything. I got a second opinion and he said try Vitamin E and more or less agreed with the first opinion. A year has passed and things got better. The curve started to straighten out and I thought I was out of the woods. It still was somewhat curved but the length had improved and intercourse was getting much better. I stopped the steady diet of cialis and vitamin E. Then the curve went the other direction bending downward about 70 degrees and the length is shorter. Do you think the trauma of the bleeding may have caused this or possibly the catheter or the radiation and what would you recommend at this time

Both the catheter and radiation implant can be associated with PD. Perhaps resuming the maintenance therapy with Cialis would give you additional improvement. MG

I'm a 41 year old male and in the last 2 years i have noticed a thinning in the middle of the shaft of my penis. It's mostly when I'm erect. It's not painful and easily corrected (by lightly stretching the area with thumb and index finger.) I notice it much more in colder temperatures and mostly when an erection is beginning . The skin in the middle becomes very tight and wrinkly and the complexion somewhat darker than the rest of the penis & this is when the hourglass shape is at its most severe. Like I mentioned after some simple manipulation the skin loosens up and its not a problem , nor does it impeded any sexual function...but it is a bit troubling in terms of it appearance at times.... Is this a form of Peyronies ?

If the hard erection itself is not misshapen, I don't think this is PD. MG

I know this is going to fly in the face of several folks who have had different results, but I was diagnosed with PD about a year ago. Symptoms had been coming on for about six to nine months before that. Its pretty severe and I am 49 years old. My urologist prescribed topical vreapamil. I have stuck with it. True, insurance didn't cover it, but I gladly paid the bill. Its been a year and there has been a progressive improvement. Not my "old" self, but after being unable to have intercourse for several months, I can now. I don't know for sure if vrapamil did it or not, but I am not complaining.

That is certainly worth reporting. MG

im 18, got peyronies, got it bad, 3 large plaques, 2 under the head on the sides and one mid-shaft on the top. Now ive read everything on the internet, gone to urologists, heard about it all and I only want one thing. I want a cure, a complete cure, I want these plaques out. Now I dont care where I have to go and who I have to talk to, or how much I have to pay, this is the only thing I want in life, a cure. Nothing else. So starting with you, any hints? any idea who the best urologists in the world are? what the best treatment is? anything.

The good news is, at your age there is a good chance this problem will eventually resolve. The bad news is that there are no simple answers. MG

I developed pd approximately 1 year ago. It started with a small lump, accompanied with pain during erection. but no bending of the penis. Then about three months ago, I developed an extreme bending at the lumps. More than 45 degrees, over night! My urologist told me not to waste my time with vitamin e, he said it doesn't work. Do you believe that vitamin E does any thing to help pd?

There are theoretical reasons why vitamin E should help to stabilize PD, but there is no evidence it lessens bending any better than placebo. MG

After a couple months of painful erections and the development of a severe curve in my penis, I went to my physician and was told I have Peyronies. He suggested vitamin E and we discussed surgical options, but I had no improvement over the next several months. The most difficult part for me was waking up during the night with painful erections. During this time my wife started taking a nutritional supplement called Reliv (these are patented products by a company traded on the NASDAQ, so this isn't a scam product). She had Parkinson's Disease, Sjogrens Disease, pain for 20 years from 2 accidents, chronic insomnia, severe ulcerative colitis, and other conditions. Within a few months on the products she had relief from every condition, including the Parkinsons' symptoms gone and off medications. She became a distributor for Reliv and to support her I started the nutrition. I hoped to get more energy and sleep better, but NEVER considered this helping the Peyronies. To my astonishment, after 1 month on the Reliv, I was not waking up with painful erections any more. Over the past 5 months, the pain has not returned, the curve is lessening and my penis is beginning to lengthen during erections. This has been a God send for my wife and I. We love to tell people about the great results we have had with our health.

Very interesting. MG

I didn't even notice it myself until once during intercourse I realized that my penis was not the same "straight guy" he has always been. I said " I don't remember my penis being bent this way". We subsequently realized that some problems I had been facing in the last few months had been a predicator to this event. My doctor had no helpful insights and I left feeling less than confident. Today,having experienced yet another frustrating lovemaking session where the pain prevented the ultimate act (although simply being naked with my wife is pure joy) I decided to search the internet and found your sight. It was actually very comforting to find you described me as the "typical" man who experiences this disease and that the pain eventually subsides. I can live with the distorted penis....it's close to the direction I always wanted anyway....but being able to have an erection without the pain is perfection!

Most men with PD don't have such severe bending as to completely prevent intercourse, and the pain usually goes away on its own. MG

My fiance has PD with an almost 90 degree bend downward; for the length of time we have been intimate I've been developing reoccuring bladder infections - could his PD be a major factor in this? And are there any other internal risks for the female partner?

PD bending may cause urethral irritation during intercourse and resulting bladder infection, but there are no other risks to the partner. MG

In Jan. of 2007 I had a cystoscopy to remove a kidney stone in the right tube. I was in the hospital and put under general antisthiec while the procedure was preformed. After a few days home I had an erection of the penis to find it had a probably 60 deg. Bend to the left and up. The penis was not as hard as normal and would not stay errected for long. I found it very very difficult to have sex anymore. I went back to my Dr. who said I had damaged scar tissue which can be felt along the shaft. He said it was called peyronie's Disease and not to do anything for a year. He also told me to take vitamin E for it. No exclamation of why this happened. I am finding it harder and harder to live with. I am a male 59 years old. Do you think the cystoscope had anything to do with the damage to the tissue. I had no problems before.

Urethral instrumentation, such as a catheter or scope, can produce PD. MG

For those of you who have been at this awhile, is there a foundation that actively lobbies for governmental medical research for our condition? I have spent some time on the Internet and have not come up with one. Also, there does not appear to be any clinical trials. If the answer is no, I would like to start a foundation that would lobby for medical research. (I would be willing to fund the startup expenses, such as the legal paperwork). This is the only way we will ever make progress. Verapramil does not work (I know from personal experience) and I am not optimistic about AA4500. I work for a government agency that funds research and I know that nothing happens without money and Congressional pressure. We would have to start from square one. If we can get this started the next step would be to raise money and get a lobbyist. Maybe a fundraising website.

This would be beneficial - there is good basic research to be done, much of which would apply to other medical conditions involving abnormal scarring. MG

2 years ago I noticed mild pain in the shaft. This has been followed by progressive curvature. The pain persists, not worse during erection, slightly worse with full bladder in AM which lessens after urination. Can pain last this long in PD?

Yes, although it is uncommon - pain usually resolves after 12 -18 months. MG

21 yr old student, long distance relationships during the school year leads to a lot of self-stimulation. Now, I know you've mentioned that masturbation doesn't lead to PD, but I can't help but notice how the curvature matches the technique (although that could just be technique matching the curvature). Anyways, I have no hard lumps, but have noticed changes in all three dimensions... curved upwards, to the right and rotated on its axis to the right (I haven't seen anyone else note rotation so it kind of has me concerned). I've noticed the curvature for a while (especially last year or so) and it appears to be getting worse... I'm guessing a possible reduction in self-stimulation (or perhaps stretching the erection in the opposing direction) with the addition of vitamin E (topical or oral?) might be my best course of action at the moment?

Sounds like you are doing the right things. I don't think you have PD. MG

How do you distinguish between Mondor's disease and Peyronie's disease. Does Mondor's also cause a hardening of penile tissue, and what treatments are available?

Mondor's syndrome is hardening in dorsal veins due to local blood clots and/or phlebitis. It is self-limiting, usually treated with aspirin, and does not cause scarring or bending. MG

Earlier this year I had the Nesbit procedure to correct congenital curvature. My reconstruction urologist recommended that I also have penile lengthening to compensate for the shortening. Due to penile instability problems as a result, I am now thinking about having the penile suspensory ligament(PSL) repaired to stabilize my erections at the base and maintain an erect penis during intercourse. My question is would PSL repair cause neurovascular problems? Would I have problems with blood flow, leakage, maintaining an erection, nerve damage or loss of sensation, etc? Do you recommend PSL repair?

Repairing the PSLcould cause neurovascular problems. I have no experience with this procedure as I do not perform penile lengthening. MG

i have peyronie's and there is a lack of research. I started a web site so hopefully we can get something postive going. i would appreciate if you could mention it on your site http://letscurepeyronies.blogspot.com/

OK. MG

I was diagnosed with a mild case of peyronies about 4 years ago. I have no curvature, but sometimes after climaxing, in cold weather, or after bowel movements the center of my penis retracts while the tip stays full. It feels like a sack filled with water at the bottom. Any insight on this so far? I've actually been able to adapt very well to it. I have a great sex life with my girlfriend. After learning more, I began to gently squeeze the tip of my penis in order to push the remaining blood at the tip of my penis back out towards the body past the mid point where the scar tissue is. It sometimes helps return my penis to normal shape when the peyronies acts up. Could this gente squeezing of the filled tip be any harm or cause any damage?

I'm not sure what this is, though it does not sound harmful. MG

I have had Peyronies for almost 2 years,length and girth size is reduced and a 45>degree upward angle has developed.I am 60 yrs.old and also need to use Viagra now. Would it be possible to take 360 mg.tabs of Verapamil and 0.6 mg. of Colchicine and supplement with Vitamin E 1000 IU at the same time on a daily basis.I suffer only a small amount of pain during intercourse but more afterwards.Most of all it affects my relationship with my wife and my future outlook on sex in my future age.

Oral verapamil has not been shown to produce high enough tissue levels for therapeutic effect, so I would eliminate that. Everything else seems OK. MG

October 2007

I have had a firm pea-sized lump at the very base of my penis (close to the pubic bone) for over 15 years. It is very mobile and I can even hold it between 2 fingers. It appears to sit on some kind of hardened vessel. At the time it was dismissed as a cyst. 6 months ago I noticed a second lump right beside the first one, which was again dismissed as