Pennis problems and treatment doctors near me

Diagnosis

A physical exam is often sufficient to identify the presence of scar tissue in the penis and diagnose Peyronie's disease. Rarely, other conditions cause similar symptoms and need to be ruled out.

Table of Contents Show

Medications
Traction therapy
Other treatments
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Clinical trials
Coping and support
Preparing for your appointment
What you can do
What to expect from your doctor

Tests to diagnose Peyronie's disease and understand exactly what's causing your symptoms might include the following:

Physical exam. Your doctor will feel (palpate) your penis when it's not erect, to identify the location and amount of scar tissue. He or she might also measure the length of your penis. If the condition continues to worsen, this initial measurement helps determine whether the penis has shortened.
Your doctor might also ask you to bring in photos of your erect penis taken at home. This can determine the degree of curvature, location of scar tissue or other details that might help identify the best treatment approach.
Other tests. Your doctor might order an ultrasound or other tests to examine your penis when it's erect. Before testing, you'll likely receive an injection directly into the penis that causes it to become erect.
Ultrasound is the most commonly used test for penis abnormalities. Ultrasound tests use sound waves to produce images of soft tissues. These tests can show the presence of scar tissue, blood flow to the penis and any other abnormalities.

Treatment

Treatment recommendations for Peyronie's disease depend on how long it's been since you began having symptoms.

Acute phase. You have penile pain or changes in curvature or length or a deformity of the penis. The acute phase happens early in the disease and may last only two to four weeks but sometimes lasts for up to a year or longer.
Chronic phase. Your symptoms are stable, and you have no penile pain or changes in curvature, length or deformity of the penis. The chronic phase happens later in the disease and generally occurs around three to 12 months after symptoms begin.

For the acute phase of the disease, treatments range from:

Recommended. When used early in the disease process, penile traction therapy prevents length loss and minimizes the extent of curvature that occurs.
Optional. Medical and injection therapies are optional in this phase, with some more effective than others.
Not recommended. Surgery isn't recommended until the disease stabilizes, to avoid the need for repeat surgery.

For the chronic phase of the disease, several potential treatments are available. They may be done alone or in combination:

Watchful waiting
Injection treatments
Traction therapy
Surgery

Oral medications aren't recommended in the chronic phase, as they haven't been shown to be effective at this stage of the disease. Shock wave therapy, stem cells and platelet-rich plasma also haven't been shown to be effective in human studies.

Medications

A number of oral medications have been tried to treat Peyronie's disease, but they have not been shown to be effective consistently and are not as effective as surgery.

In some men, drugs injected directly into the penis might reduce curvature and pain associated with Peyronie's disease. Depending on the therapy, you might be given a local anesthetic to prevent pain during the injections.

If you have one of these treatments, you'll likely receive multiple injections over several months. Injection medications may also be used in combination with oral drugs or traction therapies.

Medications include:

Collagenase. The only FDA-approved medication for Peyronie's disease is collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex). This medicine has been approved for use in adult men with moderate to severe curvatures and a palpable nodule.
This therapy has been shown to improve curvature and bothersome symptoms associated with Peyronie's disease. The treatment works by breaking down the buildup of collagen that causes penile curvature. Collagenase appears to be more effective when used in conjunction with "modeling," which is forcible bending of the penis in the opposite direction of the bend.
Verapamil. This is a drug normally used to treat high blood pressure. It appears to disrupt the production of collagen, a protein that might be a key factor in the formation of Peyronie's disease scar tissue. The drug is well tolerated and may reduce pain, too.
Interferon. This is a type of protein that appears to disrupt the production of fibrous tissue and help break it down. One placebo-controlled trial showed improvement using this therapy over placebo. Interferon also has been shown to reduce penile pain in men with Peyronie's disease.

Traction therapy

Penile traction therapy involves stretching the penis with a self-applied mechanical device for a period of time to improve penile length, curvature and deformity.

Depending on the specific device, traction therapy may need to be worn for as little as 30 minutes to as much as three to eight hours a day to achieve benefits. The effectiveness of treatment may also depend on the specific device used.

Traction therapy is recommended in the early phase of Peyronie's disease. It's the only treatment shown to improve penile length. Traction therapy may also be used in the chronic phase of the disease, combined with other treatments or after surgery for a better outcome.

Surgery

Your doctor might suggest surgery if the deformity of your penis is severe, sufficiently bothersome or prevents you from having sex. Surgery usually isn't recommended until you've had the condition for nine to 12 months and the curvature of your penis stops increasing and stabilizes for at least three to six months.

Common surgical methods include:

Suturing (plicating) the unaffected side. A variety of procedures can be used to suture (plicate) the longer side of the penis — the side without scar tissue. This results in a straightening of the penis, although this is often limited to less severe curvatures.

Several plication techniques may be used, generally resulting in similar success rates depending on surgeon experience and preference.
Incision or excision and grafting. With this type of surgery, the surgeon makes one or more cuts in the scar tissue, allowing the sheath to stretch out and the penis to straighten. The surgeon might remove some of the scar tissue.
A piece of tissue (graft) is often sewn into place to cover the holes in the tunica albuginea. The graft might be tissue from your own body, human or animal tissue, or a synthetic material.
This procedure is generally used in men with more-severe curvature or deformity, such as indentations. This procedure is associated with greater risks of worsening erectile function when compared with the plication procedures.
Penile implants. Surgically placed penile implants are inserted into the spongy tissue that fills with blood during an erection. The implants might be semirigid — manually bent down most of the time and bent upward for sexual intercourse.
Another type of implant is inflated with a pump implanted in the scrotum. Penile implants might be considered if you have both Peyronie's disease and erectile dysfunction.
When the implants are put in place, the surgeon might perform additional procedures to improve the curvature if needed.

The type of surgery used will depend on your condition. Your doctor will consider the location of scar tissue, the severity of your symptoms and other factors. If you're uncircumcised, your doctor might recommend a circumcision during surgery.

Depending on the type of surgery you have, you might be able to go home from the hospital the same day or you might need to stay overnight. Your surgeon will advise you on how long you should wait before going back to work — generally, a few days. After surgery for Peyronie's disease, you'll need to wait four to eight weeks before sexual activity.

Other treatments

A technique known as iontophoresis uses an electric current to administer a combination of verapamil and a steroid noninvasively through the skin. Available research has shown conflicting results on penile curvature and erectile function.

Several nondrug treatments for Peyronie's disease are being investigated, but evidence is limited on how well they work and possible side effects. These include using intense sound waves to break up scar tissue (shock wave therapy), stem cells, platelet-rich plasma and radiation therapy.

Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your health concerns. Visit Mayo Clinic Men's Health to get started.

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Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Coping and support

Peyronie's disease can be a source of significant anxiety and create stress between you and your sexual partner.

Here are some tips for coping with Peyronie's disease:

Explain to your partner what Peyronie's disease is and how it affects your ability to have sex.
Let your partner know how you feel about the appearance of your penis and your ability to have sex.
Talk to your partner about how the two of you can maintain sexual and physical intimacy.
Talk to a mental health provider who specializes in family relations and sexual matters.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have Peyronie's disease symptoms, you're likely to begin by seeing your family doctor or general practitioner. You might be referred to a specialist in male sexual disorders (urologist). If it's possible, encourage your partner to attend the appointment with you.

Preparing for your appointment will help you make the best use of your time.

What you can do

Make a list ahead of time that you can share with your doctor. Your list should include:

Symptoms you're experiencing, including any that might seem unrelated to Peyronie's disease
Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes
Medications that you're taking, including any vitamins or supplements
History of injury to the penis
Family history of Peyronie's disease, if any
Questions to ask your doctor

List questions for your doctor from most important to least important in case time runs out. You might want to ask some of the following questions:

What tests will I need?
What treatment do you recommend?
Can you tell if symptoms are likely to worsen or improve?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them might reserve time to go over any points you want to discuss further. Your doctor might ask:

When did you first notice a curve in your penis or scar tissue under the skin of your penis?
Has the curvature of your penis worsened over time?
Do you have pain during erections, and if so, has it gotten worse or improved over time?
Do you recall having an injury to your penis?
Do your symptoms limit your ability to have sex?

Your doctor might also ask you to complete a survey, such as the International Index of Erectile Function, to help identify how the condition affects your ability to have sex.

Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your health concerns. Visit Mayo Clinic Men's Health to get started.

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Nov. 19, 2021