It is a disease of unknown origin which generally presents from the 5th decade of life and is characterised because one part of the cover (tunica albunigea) of the erection cylinders (cavernous bodies) becomes rigid tissue (fibrosis). When the penis fills with blood, the section of the cavernous body containing the fibrosis cannot distend adequately, leading to an anomalous curvature of the penis. In the initial phase of the disease there may be pain upon erection due to the inflammatory process, which generally disappears within a period of 1 -2 months. Another manifestation of the disease may be the lack of rigidity of the penis, although generally this is psychological (as a reaction to the pain).
Diagnosis is reached easily by taking photos of the erect penis.
To-date there are no medical treatments which are truly effective although a number of them can be tried such as oral or topical medication, shockwaves and other physical methods.
The most important thing in Peyronie’s disease is to wait until the disease stabilises, which means being patient for a period of 6-12 months. When it has been established that the disease neither progresses nor retreats (occurs rarely), this is the time to discuss surgical treatment (corporoplasty) which consists in equalising the long part of the curve with the short part, which can lead to a certain shortening of the penis. In very severe cases in which the penis is very short, grafts using different materials may be contemplated
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When Peyronie’s disease causes erectile dysfunction of the organic variety, the implanting of a penile prosthesis may be contemplated.