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Peyronies DiseaseCauses and Treatment |
What is Peyronie's Disease?Peyronie’s disease is the formation of hardened tissue (plaque) in the penis that can cause pain, curvature, and distortion, mainly during erection. The plaque itself is benign, or noncancerous. The penis consists of two columns of erectile tissue (the corpora cavernosa); the corpus spongiosum, which contains the urethra that carries urine and semen from the body; and the tunica albuginea sheath that surrounds the erectile tissue. With Peyronie’s disease, the dense, fibrous scar tissue or plaque is formed in the tunica albuginea.The National Institutes of Health published a report which said that Peyronie’s disease occurs in approx 1% of men. It appears to be most common between the ages of 45 and 60, but may also occur in young and elderly men. The true prevalence may actually be higher because of reluctance of sufferers to seek medical attention, and failure of some to report cases that only have relatively mild symptoms. The actual cause of Peyronie’s disease is currently unknown. However cases that develop suddenly are usually caused by trauma to the penis such as invasive penile surgery, injury, and extremely heavy sexual activity. When Peyronie’s develops over time it may be caused by an inherited genetic abnormality. It occurs more frequently in men with other family members who also have the condition or a connective tissue disorder. Up to a third of patients with Peyronie’s disease can develop hardened tissue in other parts of the body such as the hand or the foot. Medical examination of plaque in cases of Peyronie’s disease shows that it is similar to cases of severe inflammation of blood vessels. Diabetes, which can lead to blood vessel disease, is also considered a major risk factor. In some rare cases the use of the antihypertension medication propranolol (Inderal®) has been found to contribute to the condition. In other cases Peyronie’s disease has been associated with vitamin E deficiency. Peyronie’s disease varies in severity, and may develop very slowly or very quickly. Symptoms include:
Expensive surgery is one option to remove the plaque but many men with Peyronies have benefited from a much cheaper solution by using the
ProExtender traction device. The Danish-made doctor-designed device is used in hundreds of clinics and hospitals worldwide specifically for
the treatment of Peyronie's.More information on treating Peyronie's disease with ProExtender |