Basic Information about Peyronie's Disease

The vast majority of men grow up to experience the pleasures of normal sex, never thinking about or being concerned with the shape of their penises. Some men however are not so fortunate and find themselves unpleasantly surprised by the formation of scar tissue and a resulting bend in their penis. This condition is known to health care professionals as Peyronie's disease and is believed to exist in about 1 percent of all men.

Peyronie's disease was named after the surgeon to Louis XIV of France, Francois De la Peyronie. De La Peyronie is believed to be the first person to prescribe a treatment for this condition in 1743. The mechanism behind this disease is fairly well understood even though its root causes are not.

For reasons unknown, although many believe intercourse trauma may be associated, scar tissue begins to form in the "tunica albuginea" region of the penis. The tunica albuginea is the tough layer of connective tissue that contains the sponge-like Corpora Cavernosa. The resulting scar tissue prevents the normal expansion of the penis during erections and will, in time, bend the penis to one side or the other.

Sometimes when the condition first develops there is pain associated with it. Usually this pain will go away on its own without any need for treatment. The only lasting effects of this disease are normally the resulting penile curvature which is mostly visible in the erect state and a possible shortening of the penis in the flaccid state.

Most men suffering from Peyronie's disease are perfectly capable of having sex and do not experience pain during intercourse. The disease can affect men of all races and ages, but is most commonly seen in white males aged 40 and up. It is not contagious and is in no way related to cancer, sexually transmitted disease or any other serious condition.

While a diagnoses of Peyronie's disease is quite simple to make, unfortunately treatment for it is not. If you are suffering from this condition you should consult a urologist who specializes in this disease. Some possible treatments include pharmaceutical drugs containing L-arginine and sildenafil and in severe cases surgery may be recommended.

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