Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie's disease is a noncancerous condition that occurs from the build up of fibrous scar tissue on the penis. This tissue causes curved, painful erections. Having a curved erection isn't necessarily a cause for concern as every man's anatomy is different, but this disease makes for a significant bend that causes pain for some men. This can prevent you from having sex as well as make it difficult to maintain an erection.
Overview
This conditions brings on many challenges. Erectile dysfunction, stress, anxiety, and penile shortening can all be concerns from Peyronie's disease. If it goes ignored, it has the potential of getting worse. It rarely goes away on it's own, so it is important to reach out to your health care provider if and when you experience symptoms. Early treatment at first sings of development help it from progressing and can improve symptoms.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Peyronie's disease may appear suddenly or gradually develop over time. Those who have the condition experience the following symptoms:
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Scar Tissue build up in the blood vessels
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Erection problems
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A significant bend to the penis
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Penile shortening
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Penile deformity
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Pain and discomfort
Risk Factors
In some cases, Peyronie's disease can develop over time without relation to injury. It is being researched that this disease may have some inherited trait. With that said, poor wound healing and the buildup of scar tissue can be influenced by these factors:
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Connective tissue disorders
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Heredity: If a family member has this condition, you are at a higher risk of developing it.
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Age: The prevalence of the condition occurs most commonly in men as they age, and the majority of the disease is diagnosed in men 50-60 years old.
Causes
The cause of this condition isn't fully clear, but a number of different factors play a part in the development.
Repeated Injury:
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If the penis is damaged during sex, athletic activity, or from an accident, scar tissue is formed in an unorganized manner in the penis when it is recovering. It can be felt as a nodule or the development as a curvature.
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This becomes an issue when the blood flow brought on by an erection can't make the penis fully erect from the scar tissue being reluctant to stretch.
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Significant pain, bending, and disfiguration of the penis are results.