What Is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s Disease (PD) is a chronic condition that occurs when there is a buildup of scar tissue in the tunica albuginea of the penis which causes curved and painful erections in men. The curve in the penis can be severe and interfere with sexual function. Many men with Peyronie’s Disease experience intense pain during an erection which can prevent men from having sex or it might make it hard to get or keep an erection.
What Causes Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease is likely caused by penile trauma. This could mean a minor injury to the penis most often caused by vigorous sex (such as bending the penis during penetration), or it can also be caused by sports or other accidents. Injury to the tunica albuginea may result in scar tissue which then forms the plaque of PD. Peyronie’s disease is the result of a problem in the way the body heals wounds.
However, not all men who suffer mild trauma to the penis get Peyronie’s disease. It is believed that there may be a connection to genetics or environmental factors that cause Peyronie’s plaques to form. Men have a higher risk of getting Peyronie’s if they have a close family member diagnosed with PD or have connective tissue disorders. Studies have shown that men who have had past pelvic trauma, high blood sugar or use tobacco may have wound healing issues that may be an underlying cause of Peyronie’s disease.
How is Peyronie’s Disease diagnosed and treated?
In order to determine if you have Peyronie’s, a doctor must perform a physical examination. When the doctor is performing the exam, the hard plaques can often be felt whether the penis is stiff or not.
- P-Shot: The Priapus Shot® is a non-surgical treatment that uses Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to treat Erectile Dysfunction and Peyronie’s Disease. This procedure is delivered via an injection which provides growth factors that not only breaks down the scar tissue in the penis, but also assists to develop healthier tissue to reduce symptoms.
- GAINSWave® system offers a painless, quick, and effective answer to Peyronie’s Disease and erectile dysfunction that can accompany it. GAINSWave® is a small device that produces high-frequency sound waves. As it’s moved across the surface of the penis, the acoustic waves bounce against the inner tissue structures and break up the plaques, or scar formation that causes penile curvature. The procedure is painless and takes about 30 minutes to complete the treatment.
Before you decide to have surgery for your Peyronie’s Disease or try to live with the dysfunction, schedule a visit with Dr. Grossman to discuss your treatment options.