Here’s How You Can Treat Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease is a gender-specific disease which develops fibrous scar tissue, causing the penis to be curved, resulting in painful erections. Since penises can have different shapes and sizes, not each curved penis is caused due to Petronie’s disease. However, a person needs to consult a doctor if they notice a significant bend or experience painful erection.
To diagnose the disease, the doctors will examine the patient’s penis when it is both flaccid and erect to identify the location of the scar tissue. An ultrasound of the patient’s erect penis might also be required to observe the blood flow or internal damage in soft tissues, if any.
Medication
A number of medications, including pills and injections, might be taken to reduce the amount of scar tissue, curvature, and pain. Some of these medications are:
- Verapamil
The medication is usually used to treat high blood pressure. It also disrupts the production of collagen, a protein that could be a key factor for the formation of scar tissue. - Collagenase
The FDA approved medication, collagenase clostridium histolyticum, is used to treat the significant curve in an erect penis. This medicine breaks down the peptide bonds of collagen. It is used in conjunction with modeling, which forcibly bends the penis in the opposite direction of the bend.
It is a type of signaling protein which inhibits the production of the scar tissue by breaking it down.
Surgery
The doctors might suggest surgery for severe cases of Peyronie’s disease. However, it is not recommended until the patient has had the condition for at least one year. Common surgical procedures include:
- Suturing the unaffected side
The longer side of the penis, which does not have the scar tissue, is sutured, resulting in the strengthening of the penis. This type of procedure is also called Nesbit plication. This could, however, cause erectile dysfunction. - Grafting
Incision or excision and grafting are a type of surgery which involves one or more cuts to the scar tissue. This allows the sheath to stretch out, resulting in the straightening of the penis. A piece of skin (graft) is sewn into the incised area. The graft might be a synthetic material or tissue from the patient’s body itself. - Penile implants
These are surgically inserted into the spongy tissues which fill with blood during an erection. The implants are usually bent down manually when the penis is flaccid and bent upward when erected. Inserting penile implants depends on certain factors, such as the location of the scar tissue, severity of the symptoms, etc. In some cases, the doctors might also recommend circumcision before the surgery.
The stay at the hospital could be for a day or more, depending on the method of surgery used. The doctors might also advise the patient to get some rest before they can resume working. Most cases require the patient to wait for at least eight weeks post surgery before indulging in sexual activity.
