When you think of sexual health concerns, your mind probably goes towards sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis or HIV. However, according to Dr. Larry Lipshultz, MD, men’s wellbeing is under threat from another sexual health concern altogether; Peyronie’s disease.
‘Peyronies disease is a painful condition in which the penis curves or bends, ranging from 10 to 90 degrees,’ Dr. Lipshultz explains. ‘The curvature typically occurs when the penis is erect, but it may also be noticeable when the penis is flaccid. The curvature is the result of inflammation and a build-up of abnormal scar tissue (fibrotic tissue or plaque) inside the area of the penis known as the tunica albuginea, which is a thick membrane that envelopes the erectile tissues.’
Dr. Lipshultz notes, ‘The plaque may be felt as lumps usually on the top or bottom side of the penis. If the plaque appears on the topside of the shaft, which is most common, this causes the penis to bend upward. Plaque that develops on the underside causes the penis to bend downward. In some cases, plaque develops on both the top and bottom of the shaft, which causes an indentation and shortening of the penis. The lumps are not cancerous and are unrelated to the type of plaque that accumulates in the arteries and causes heart attack or stroke. Peyronie’s disease may also cause a reduction in the diameter and length of the penis.’
But when are you at risk of Peyronie’s disease? ‘Males of any age can develop Peyronie’s disease, although it is most often seen in men aged 40 to 70,’ Dr. Lipshultz details. ‘Men who are born with a curved penis do not have Peyronie’s disease, but rather congenital penile curvature. The number of men who have Peyronie’s disease has been reported to be 3% to 4% and as high as 9% (American Urological Association), but the exact figure is uncertain because many men are reluctant to report or discuss the condition with a doctor.’
Dr. Lipshultz points out, ‘A study published in BJU International offers a general idea of the prevalence of Peyronie’s disease. A questionnaire was sent to 8,000 men, and 4,432 responded. Overall, the researchers reported the prevalence of Peyronie’s disease was 3.2%, with the following breakdown according to age: 1.5% for men aged 30 to 39 years, 3% for men aged 40 to 49 years and 50 to 59 years, 4% for men aged 60 to 69 years, and 6.5% for men aged 70 and older. Nearly half (47%) of the men had painful erections, 32% had plaque, curvature, and pain, and 41% said they also had erectile dysfunction. In another study, the prevalence of Peyronies disease was higher. Of 534 men who were being screened for prostate cancer, 58 (8.9%) had Peyronie’s disease, based on the presence of palpable plaque in the penis. A significant number of men in this study also had high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction (self-reported), and diabetes.’
However, if you’re worried about catching Peyronie’s disease, think again. ‘Although Peyronie’s disease is called a disease, this designation is misleading since this condition cannot be transmitted to other people,’ says Dr. Lipshultz. ‘And it is not caused by bacteria or other infectious organisms. Experts have a number of theories about the risk factors for and causes of Peyronie’s disease, including an acute major penile trauma or repeated mild trauma to the penis that results in minor but accumulative damage, such as the formation of scar tissue or plaque, that progresses over time. Types of trauma may include sexual activity, riding a bike or horse, sports injuries, or undergoing prostate surgery. Other risk factors may include age, smoking cigarettes, diabetes, and a connective tissue disease called Dupuytren’s contracture, which occurs in about 30% of men who have Peyronie’s disease.’