Peyronie’s disease is a condition that happens when fibrous scar tissue builds up deep under the skin of your penis, causing pain and changes in the size and shape of your penis when it’s erect.
Inside your penis, there are two tubes called the corpus cavernosa, which contain blood vessels that make your penis erect when sexually aroused. However, if there is a buildup of scar tissue in these tubes, it can cause your penis to bend or curve when erect.
Oftentimes, Peyronie’s disease leads to difficulty with having an erection that’s satisfactory for sex and can therefore be shrugged off or misdiagnosed as erectile dysfunction (ED).
If you’ve noticed changes in the size or shape of your penis and have pain in your penis regularly, your sexual health has likely suffered, which can not only be discouraging but also impact feelings of intimacy with your partner.
Paul Chung, MD, FACS, and our team at our practices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, want you to know that Peyronie’s disease is very treatable, and we offer a wide variety of treatments to help restore sexual function. Let’s look at some of those treatments in this blog.
One of the first lines of treatment for Peyronie’s disease is injections.
Currently, the only injection approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is Xiaflex. Xiaflex is a biologic injection, meaning it contains parts of living organisms. The main component of Xiaflex is collagenase clostridium histolyticum.
To treat Peyronie’s disease, these injections are given in cycles. During each cycle, two injections are given a few days apart. The ingredients in Xiaflex break up the hardened scar tissue plaques, reduce curvature, and improve erectile function.
This treatment option is typically best when scar tissue buildup is minimal and other symptoms are mild.
Penile plication is a minor surgical procedure that’s best suited for those who have experienced noticeable penile curvature but still have strong erectile function.
During this procedure, tissue is removed from the side of your penis that has been unaffected by scar tissue buildup and then stitched back together. This shortens the unaffected side of your penis to match the curved side, effectively straightening your penis out.
Plaque excision is another surgical procedure that can address penile curvature when you still have full erectile function. However, this option is better for those who have severe curving along with shortened penile length.
The aim of this surgery is to remove the buildup of scar tissue and then repair the damaged portions of your penis with skin grafts. Removing the hardened scar tissue plaques helps your penis straighten out.
Dr. Chung offers two different penile implants that can treat Peyronie’s disease when it causes significant changes to the size and shape of your penis and impacts erectile function.
An inflatable device uses tubes and cylinders to pump saline into your penis, giving it the firmness you need for sex.
The device can be activated and deactivated whenever you’d like. Semi-rigid rods are made of silicone and stay firm. You simply extend your penis to use for sex and press your penis back into your body afterwards.
To learn more about your options for treating Peyronie’s disease, schedule an appointment with Dr. Chung by calling your nearest office location today.
