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Peyronies TreatmentsPeyronie's Causes and Treatments |
Peyronie's DiseaseFirst named after the French surgeon 'Francois de la Peyronie', who described the disease in 1743, Peyronie's appears as a bend or hook in the penis, caused by hard fibrous layer of scar tissue (plaque) that forms beneath the skin. During an erection, the scar tissue pulls the tissue above it to the side or into an upward or downward hook.This is a condition more than a disease, and most often appears in adult men between the ages of 35 and 65, although younger men have contracted it. It is not highly common, and affects only about 1% of men. Although currently classified by doctors as a form of erectile dysfunction, it may or may not actually impair sexual activities. Although not often severe enough to cause lack of sexual function, it can be embarrassing, even if only your sexual partner and doctor know about it. Symptoms can appear nearly overnight, or may develop slowly over many months. This condition can occur differently in different men. In some cases the discomfort or pain associated with the initial bend may quickly disappear, leaving only the bend. In a few of the more mild cases the condition even clears up by itself. Even in more acute cases the condition sometimes cures itself after a year or two, even without the attention of a physician. For this reason, many physicians adopt a wait-and-see approach before prescribing further treatment. If there is no immediate pain or discomfort, this approach seems to work well for as many as 50% of cases. Causes of Peyronie's DiseaseCauses of Peyronie's aren't well known at this point, but are thought to include up to four possibilities including injury to the penis, a side effect of certain medications, a malfunction of the collagen network within the penis, or autoimmune disorders. Although a sudden injury to the penis might be the cause of a sudden appearance of the condition, a slow appearance remains largely a mystery.If the penis is somehow struck or bent in an unusual way during sex, small tears may form in the tissue or small blood vessels may be broken, causing scar tissue to form. Abnormal healing may cause scar tissue to form beneath the skin of the penis. With repeated injury, it's possible to build up a plaque or mound of tough fibrous tissue or calcium deposits. It is thought that a number of medications may occasionally result in Peyronie's as a side effect. These include beta blockers - heart medications and drugs used to control blood pressure. Your physician will know what is best for you in this regard. If a man is suffering from some form of collagen problem, Peyronie's may result, as the disturbed collagen builds unwanted plaques into the penis. Studies have suggested that Peyronie's may form as result of an autoimmune disorder. If the immune system is out of balance it may cause deposits (plaques) to form within the penis. Peyronie's TreatmentWhile the effects of Peyronie's are similar, each case can show differences in how it appears. This is largely why doctors often choose to wait with most cases. As mentioned above, the condition clears up by itself often enough that immediate action is not necessarily the best choice. Most doctors wait 6 to 12 months before prescribing treatment.Doctors usually suggest one or more of the following: Oral vitamin E has shown some promise, but has yet to be fully proven as an effective treatment. With this treatment larger doses are taken by the subject over a period of months. Another option is where doctors inject medications such as collagenase, verapamil or other calcium channel blockers directly into the plaque. This results in breakdown of the plaques and return of the collagen to normal functioning. These injections are not without their risks, so they are recommended only occasionally. Surgery is a possible option in the most severe cases, where the man is in immediate severe pain, or when sex is completely impossible for over two years. Two of the known techniques include plaque excision and the Nesbit placation. With plaque excision the plaque is surgically removed and replaced with skin from the pubic area. The Nesbit placation involves removal of tissue from the opposite side of the penis to balance out the bend. Both surgeries are invasive, and require time for recovery before the penis can be used for sexual contact again. 
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 |