Is a curved penis normal?

April 29, 2019

Healthcaretoday, Peyronie's disease, curved penis, bent penis, peyronies, erectile dysfunction, sexual health, men health, urology, penile curvature, penile disorders,

Peyronie’s disease begins as a small swelling or inflammation, which hardens into a lump on the upper or lower side of the penis.

By Dr Poongkodi Nagappan,
Consultant Urologist,
Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Peyronie’s disease is a disorder in which the penis bends or curves because of fibrotic scar, or plaque, that has formed within the penis. Depending on where the plaque is located, the penis will bend up, down, or to the side. In some cases, the plaque develops on both the top and bottom of the shaft, which can cause the penis to become “dented” and shorter.

Who gets Peyronie's disease?
Peyronie’s disease occurs in about 10 percent of middle-aged men; however, younger and older men can also be affected. In some cases, men who are related tend to develop the disease, which means the disease may be inherited.

The difference between Peyronie’s and any penile curvature is; it is acquired as you get older.

It is not congenital. The cause is undetermined, but it may be a micro-trauma – which are small injuries that results in a plaque which makes the penis bent.

In the early stages, you might experience pain when getting an erection. In mild cases, where the lump does not cause the penis to bend very much or at all, it will only have a minor effect on how you experience sexual intercourse.

However, moderate or severe Peyronie’s can make sexual intercourse impossible because of the shape of the penis, or problems getting an erection. In some cases, the penis only becomes hard up to the area of the scar and stays flaccid (not erect) past that point.

Treatments for Peyronie's disease
An ultrasound is usually used to show the exact location, size and depth of the hardened area of scar tissue, and to check the blood flow in the penis. It will also show any calcium deposits caused by Peyronie’s.

Calcification usually means that Peyronie’s has run its full course, and that the lump isn’t likely to go away or improve. This is useful to know when planning treatment.

Some cases of Peyronie’s don’t require treatment — it either doesn’t become serious enough, or it gets better over time on its own. However, it’s important to see a doctor if you think you might have Peyronie’s. If the curve or pain in the penis continues for more than 12 months, it might require surgery.

Non-surgical treatments for Peyronie’s include oral medicines, injections and Extra Corporeal Shock Waves (ESWL) therapy.