A little penile curvature is usually no big deal. But if your penis is very curved and it causes pain or interferes with sex, you should see a doctor. This is a condition called Peyronie’s disease.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may also order an imaging test to show where the plaques are.
Causes
A curved penis is normal, but it’s important to have it checked out if it makes sex painful or difficult. A more significant curve may be a sign of a condition called Peyronie’s Disease, which can cause a painful erection and sometimes leads to a loss of self-esteem.
In this condition, fibrous scar tissue forms on the surface of the penis (or tunica albuginea). Often it causes a hard plaque to form on the end of the penis near the glans. This makes the glans penis less flexible, so it bends during erections. It’s not clear what causes Peyronie’s Disease, but it usually happens in men over 40. It may happen more often if there is an injury to the penis while it’s erect or if someone has certain connective tissue or autoimmune disorders.
Fortunately, there are treatments for Peyronie’s Disease. These include using lubricants, which help to make sex more comfortable. There are also medicines, such as pentoxifylline (Trental), that can make the glans more rigid. In severe cases, surgery can be done to remove the plaque and shorten the erectus. You can also try erectile dysfunction medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) to help improve your sex life. These are available by prescription. If you have a serious case of Peyronie’s Disease, your doctor may suggest that you try to prevent it from happening again by practicing good hygiene and using lubricants when having sex.
Symptoms
It’s not uncommon for the penis to curve slightly upwards, right or left when erect. However, if the penis is noticeably curved in one direction to the point that it causes pain or makes having sex difficult or painful, then you should see a GP or genitourinary medicine (GUM) specialist.
This may be a sign of Peyronie’s disease, which is when scar tissue builds up on the penis, causing it to bend or become erection-resistant. The condition is more likely to develop in men over 40 but it can happen at any age.
While Peyronie’s disease can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing, it is also very treatable. A GP or GUM specialist will be able to give you advice about preventing the condition from getting worse and treating it with medication. Alternatively, they may suggest surgery to remove the plaque or scar tissue and help straighten the penis.
While a curved penis can be very distressing for many men, it is important to remember that it is not something you should feel embarrassed about. It is not a sign of a serious illness and it is highly unlikely to cause any sexual problems or affect your fertility. In most cases, a curved penis will resolve itself with time and with treatment. However, if it persists, you can ask your doctor about a traction therapy device that can be applied to the penis to help make it more rigid.
Treatments
Many people have a slight curve in their penis, which is considered normal. But if the penis is so curved that it causes pain or prevents having sex, you might have Peyronie’s disease. This is when tough scar tissue (called plaques) forms under the skin in the area of the erection. It can cause the penis to bend upward, downward or sideways.
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments for PD. Injections with a medicine called collagenase can help break down the hard plaques. This can be done in a doctor’s office. The doctor numbs the area first. Medicine can also be injected directly into the erectile tissue (called intralesional injections) to ease pain and stiffness. These include a drug called verapamil, which is usually used to treat high blood pressure.
Surgery can help in severe cases. A surgeon may cut or remove some of the calcified plaque and then fill the area with graft tissue. Surgery can improve symptoms, but it will not make the penis much longer. Surgery is often reserved for men who have severe deformity and are able to get an erection that is firm enough for sex.
Non-surgical treatment for a curved penis includes numbing medications and physical therapy. Some doctors recommend a device that stretches the penis while you’re having sex. This is called traction therapy. There is some evidence that this can help straighten the penis, but more research is needed.
Prevention
A small bend in the penis during an erection is quite common and is nothing to be concerned about. However, if your penis is visibly bent and it causes pain during intercourse, you should consult with a doctor. This could be a sign of Peyronie’s disease, which is a condition that occurs when scar tissue builds up in the penis and stiffens it. It can cause the penis to bend in a particular direction during an erection, and it may even shorten on one side of the shaft.
A mild curvature of the penis is not a problem, and it can actually be attractive. But if your penis is visibly bent to the side or upwards, and it interferes with intercourse or causes pain during sexual activity, you should contact your GP for advice.
There are a few different treatment options for a curved penis, but it’s important to seek help as soon as you notice a curve in your penis. This is especially true if it’s greater than 30 degrees, as this can lead to a number of problems including painful erections and sex difficulties. Some treatments for severe penile curvature include removing the plaque with a steroid injection, grafting a section of tissue into your penis to replace areas where plaque has formed, or plication – a process that involves pulling down on the shaft of your penis while it’s erect to straighten it.