For some reason, there are male sexual dysfunctions, such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, that are very well known to the population at large. However, others—as relatively common as Peyronie's disease—go unnoticed. Here's everything you need to know about this disease.
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How common is Peyronie's disease?
Although not many people know what its symptoms are and what causes this dysfunction, it affects between 3 and 12% of men over 40 years of age. Therefore, knowing what this disease is about in order to be able to detect it can be very important for men's health. By definition, and as explained by Mayo Clinic, Peyronie's disease is:
A non-cancerous condition resulting from fibrous scar tissue that forms on the penis and causes curved and painful erections.
What is Peyronie's disease and what are its symptoms?
This disease, which is also known as EPY or plastic induration of the penis consists of a connective tissue disorder affecting the tunica albuginea. This causes a hard plaque under the penis, which can be perceived as lumps or hard tissue to the touch.
Some of the symptoms that can help you detect this disease are:
- Pain in the penis, especially during erection.
- Problems maintaining or having an erection.
- Shortening of the penis.
- Deformities in the penis, such as narrowing or indentations.
- A strange curvature of the penis, which can cause pain during sexual intercourse for both the receiver and the giver.
These symptoms can get progressively worse as the disease progresses, so early detection can prevent a lot of pain and an unsatisfactory sex life.
Unfortunately, there are currently no definitive cures for EPY but treatments do exists. The only approved approved treatment by the FDA are Intralesional collagenase injections (Xiaflex). These can help in breaking down the plaques effectively reducing the curvature and improving erectile function.
