Some Information
This caught my attention so I googled it. I referred to a medical site - The Mayo Clinic. I decided to copy/paste and not because I do not think anyone is capable of finding this information themselves, more-so because not everyone has the time to do so. In the moment information...Immediate gratification...what we allow society to constantly market to us. Here is some information to start chewing on. It's good to know your risks in play!
Peyronie's disease
Definition:
Peyronie's (pa-ro-NEEZ) disease causes a bent penis during
erection. A hard, fibrous layer of scar tissue (plaque) develops
under the skin on the upper or lower side of the penis. When
the penis is erect, the scar tissue pulls the affected area off at
an angle, causing a curved penis. The plaque, formed by
thickened layers of soft tissue in the penis is noncancerous
(benign). The condition can cause pain and make sexual
intercourse difficult.
Sometimes Peyronie's disease improves without treatment, so
your doctor may initially recommend a wait-and-see approach.
Treatments of Peyronie's disease involve nonsurgical and
surgical approaches.
Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease may appear
overnight or develop more slowly. These may include:
* Painful erection
* A bend or curve in your penis during erection
* A thick band of hard tissue on one or more sides of your
penis
* Indentation, or an "hourglass-shaped" penis during erection
* Impaired ability to obtain an erection (erectile dysfunction,
or ED)
* Shrinking or shortening of your penis
Scar tissue that develops on the top of the penis will cause the
penis to bend upward. Plaque on the underside of your penis
will cause it to bend downward. Sometimes scar tissue occurs
on both sides of the penis, causing an indentation or
"bottleneck."
In many cases, pain caused by Peyronie's disease may
decrease after a short period of time. However, the curvature
may persist even if the pain subsides. In some men with a
milder form of the disease, inflammation may improve without
causing a lot of pain or permanent bending.
Causes:
Doctors and researchers don't completely understand what
causes Peyronie's disease. A number of theories exist,
including:
* Injury to the penis. Trauma to the penis may cause small
tears in the tissue, and small blood vessels in the penis can
rupture and bleed internally. Penile injuries can be caused by
vigorous sexual intercourse or an accident. Abnormal healing
can result in the development of hard, thickened scar tissue
(plaque) under the skin of the penis. With repetitive trauma, the
plaque may develop tough fibrous tissue (fibrosis) or calcium
deposits (calcification) and result in the deformity.
* Autoimmune disorder. Some studies suggest that
Peyronie's disease may be an autoimmune disorder. A man's
immune system may respond abnormally and cause plaque to
form in the penis. However, Peyronie's disease isn't related to
other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or
lupus.
* Inherited collagen abnormality. Peyronie's disease may be
caused by an inherited abnormality in the genes that regulate
the growth fibrous connective tissue proteins (collagen).
* Medications. Some drugs may cause Peyronie's disease
as a possible side effect. Most of these drugs belong to a
class of blood pressure and heart medications called beta
blockers. These drugs are also used to treat glaucoma,
multiple sclerosis and seizures. Developing Peyronie's disease
as a side effect of these drugs is rare. Check with your doctor
before stopping or changing any prescribed drug.
Although injury to the penis may explain sudden (acute) cases
of Peyronie's disease, cases that develop slowly or disappear
quickly with no apparent trauma to the penis remain
unexplained.
Risk factors:
Peyronie's disease is a relatively uncommon disorder. The
following factors may increase your risk:
* Age. Aging may diminish penile elasticity, increasing the
chance of injury and the development of Peyronie's disease.
Although it sometimes affects younger and older men,
Peyronie's disease occurs most often in men ages 45 to 60.
* Heredity. Inherited traits may play a part in determining who
gets the disorder — you are more likely to develop Peyronie's
disease if you have a close relative with the disorder.
* Other conditions involving hardened tissues. About one in
three men with Peyronie's disease develops hardened tissues
in other areas of the body, such as the hands or the feet. A
condition known as Dupuytren's contracture — a cord-like
thickening across the palm that causes the fingers to pull
inward — is common in men with Peyronie's disease.
When to seek medical advice:
See your doctor if you're unable to have intercourse without
bothersome pain or difficulty due to a bend or curve in your
penis during erection. Treatment for Peyronie's disease often
consists of methods that will help you remain sexually active.
Early education about the disease and its course can help you
manage its symptoms effectively.
Tests and diagnosis:
Doctors can usually diagnose Peyronie's disease with a
physical examination. Hard plaque can be felt in your penis with
or without an erection. It may be necessary to inject medication
into your penis to induce an erection for proper evaluation. In
some cases, ultrasound of the penis is used to help diagnose
Peyronie's disease.
Complications:
Peyronie's disease can make intercourse painful, difficult or
even impossible. Emotional distress can put a strain on your
marriage or relationship and make attempts at sexual activity
with your partner stressful and frustrating.
Treatments and drugs:
Because the course of Peyronie's disease differs from man to
man and some men experience improvement without
treatment, doctors often initially recommend a wait-and-see
approach. Your doctor may suggest monitoring the progression
of the disease for nine to 12 months by assessing plaque
formation, penile curvature and erectile function before
attempting treatment. Some treatments — nonsurgical and
surgical — can increase a man's risk of ED.
Oral medications
If Peyronie's disease doesn't improve on its own, your doctor
may suggest trying an oral medication. This treatment appears
to be effective only for the first 12 to 18 months when plaque is
still forming. Oral treatments for Peyronie's include:
* Colchicine. This medication inhibits growth of collagen and
may improve symptoms of Peyronie's disease. However,
common side effects include digestive problems and diarrhea.
* Potassium aminobenzoate (Potaba). Taken orally, this
prescription medication may help treat Peyronie's disease.
However, like vitamin E, more research is needed to determine
the medication's effectiveness. The medication is expensive,
requiring taking up to 24 tablets daily, and side effects include
digestive problems.
* Vitamin E. Researchers have reported that vitamin E may
improve Peyronie's disease when taken orally, although more
controlled studies are needed to verify the effectiveness of
vitamin E therapy. Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin E,
as it may not be safe in high doses.
Intralesional injections
Your doctor can inject drugs such as collagenase, calcium
channel blockers (such as verapamil) or interferons directly into
the plaque in your penis. These drugs are intended to break
down scar tissue deposits and return the tissue-building
process to normal. You'll receive multiple injections over a
period of months. The success of intralesional injections
varies, and more studies are needed to find out which
treatments are most effective.
Surgery
If other methods of treatment don't help and your penis is still
curved or bent when erect, surgery may be an option. Doctors
usually suggest surgery when unacceptable appearance, pain
during intercourse and poor erection quality persist for at least
a year. Surgery is generally effective at restoring normal
erections, although each surgical method can cause
unwelcome side effects such as partial loss of erection or
shortening of an erect penis.
Common surgical methods include:
* Nesbit plication. Tissue on the unaffected side of the penis
is shortened, canceling the bending effect. This type of surgery
can shorten the penis. It is generally used in men who have
adequate penis length and a curve of less than 45 degrees.
* Plaque incision with saphenous vein graft. Several linear
cuts are made in the plaque, which allows straightening. The cut
plaque is then covered with a grafted vein. This procedure is
generally used in men who have a shorter penis, a curve of
more than 45 degrees or an hourglass-shaped deformity.
* Penile prosthesis. An implanted device is used to
straighten and increase the rigidity of the penis. This type of
surgery is for men who have trouble maintaining an erection
(erectile dysfunction).
Prevention:
There's no known prevention for Peyronie's disease. It's
possible that the problem may begin with trauma to the penis
from being hit or bent abnormally when erect or during sexual
intercourse. Avoiding injury to your penis when erect may
prevent the development of Peyronie's disease. However,
trauma to the penis doesn't explain all cases of the disorder.
Coping and support:
Peyronie's disease can become a source of mental and
emotional stress for you and your partner. Having the disease
shouldn't be seen as a reflection of your health, virility or
masculinity. If you have Peyronie's disease that has
progressed to include erectile dysfunction, remember that your
partner may see your inability to have intercourse as a sign of
diminished sexual desire. Your reassurance that this isn't the
case can help your relationship.
To effectively manage and treat Peyronie's disease, try to
communicate openly and honestly with your partner about your
condition. Counseling can help you cope with concerns you
have about Peyronie's disease and to learn how to deal with
your feelings.