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Reassurance for those of a different bent

Rightly or wrongly, the penis is central to the male ego, so when it curves the wrong way, it’s a blow to the psyche. It can lead to all sorts of stress and insecurity, and in severe cases it may interfere with your erection and intercourse.

 
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The erect penis usually has a slight upward curve when erect. This cheerful outlook isn’t Peyronie’s (Pronounced pay-roe-nees) disease, which bends the penis sideways or downwards, or radically upward, when erect. In extreme cases the erect penis can be J-shaped or even corkscrew-shaped. It’s not a new disease – it was first described in 1743 by French surgeon Francois de la Peyronie and was written about as early as 1687.

It occurs when collagen plaques form on the shaft of the penis. This may be triggered by an injury to the penis that causes scar tissue to develop. It may begin as an inflammation and become a lump or hard area that can be seen in the flaccid penis. When the penis is erect the lump causes it to bend. Here’s how: inside the length of the penis are three segments. Two are erectile rods made of spongy tissue, called the corpora cavernosa. They fill with blood, making the shaft erect and stiff.

Won't stretch

The third segment is a conduit containing the urethra, through which urine flows from the bladder and sperm from the testicles. The tunica is a layer which separates the cavernosa from the outer layers of skin of the penis. Peyronie's Disease will cause the formation of plaque or scar tissue between the tunica and the outer layers of skin.

Normally with erection the elastic tissue of the penis expands and elongates symmetrically resulting in a straight erection. Because the plaque, or scar tissue is hard, not elastic, it won’t stretch with erection.

The disease starts as a small bump or constriction on the shaft of the penis below the skin, which expands to form a flat deposit.

The scarring or plaque reduces the elasticity in the area and causes the penis to curve. A plaque on the top of the shaft is the most common and causes the penis to bend upward. A plaque on the underside causes the penis to bend downward.

A third of men with Peyronie's have pain with their erections and a few men become impotent. In some cases, the head of the penis doesn’t fill with blood.

Because inflammation is initially associated with the scar tissue, there can be some discomfort with erection and distension. Many patients complain not only about the curvature of the erection but the loss of length and girth.

Sex as usual for most

Most patients with Peyronie's disease can continue to function sexually with the curvature in the penis. Rarely, some patients with greater distortion are unable to have satisfactory sexual intercourse.

A recent scientific paper published in the Journal of Urology suggests that as many as 3.5 percent of adult males in Europe may suffer with the disease. Although the disease occurs mostly in middle-aged men, younger and older men can acquire it. About 30% of men with Peyronie's Disease also develop fibrosis (hardened cells) in other elastic tissues of the body, such as on the hand (Dupuytren's Contracture) or the foot (Ledderhose Disease).

The disease is usually treated with Verapamil, a cream which uses calcium channel blockers to break down the plaque.

Surgery is usually undertaken only when the deformity is severe enough to prevent intercourse or causes great pain. Complications can develop from surgery, including a shortening of the penis. Sometimes the disease reoccurs after surgery. Ultraviolet light, local ultrasound and laser technology have also surfaced as treatments.

Some men with Peyronie's disease have had a penis injury that causes scar tissue. The scar feels like a ridge or a row of tiny bumps. The scar can keep getting worse during the first few years, making the penis curve more and more. You might notice this more during an erection. After a few years, the scar usually stops getting worse, but it doesn't go away. It’s not cancerous.

Prosthesis

Surgery might help men who have severe pain during sex. Surgery may also be okay for men who can't keep an erection long enough to have sex. During the surgery, a prosthesis - something to make the penis firm - is put in the penis. The prosthesis helps make the penis straighter. It also helps erections last longer.

Studies indicate that some men with Peyronie's disease lose the ability to trap the blood in the penis. It can, however, be difficult to distinguish the man who has a leakage problem from one who is quite anxious about his penis and loses his erection secondary to anxiety and stress.

Mostly the plaque is on the top surface of the penis causing an upward bend. However, plaques can occur at any point on the penis. In some patients the penis beyond the plaque will not become as rigid.

The Nesbitt Tuck is a 10 to 20 minute outpatient procedure that puts a stitch at the underside of the maximum point of the curve. It requires about a week off work and discomfort with erections for four to six weeks.

Another surgical treatment consists of incision to the plaque or scar tissue and patching with a vein. Since this is usually on the top surface of the penis, the nerves and blood vessels previously described must be elevated.

Generally speaking, if the bend is not severe, and it doesn't prevent sex, it’s advised that you learn to live with it. Considering that few partners will see your penis on display, a curved penis that doesn't affect your sex life is something you and your partner can learn to appreciate as just another unique aspect of you. - (William Smook)
 
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