Complications of Peyronie’s disease

What it could lead to?

First observed in a time as early as 1687, Peyronie’s disease was first described by a French surgeon François de la Peyronie in 1743 and, hence, was named after him.

Peyronie’s disease is one of the most bothersome penile / sex-related issues in men. Estimates of the prevalence of Peyronie’s disease range from less than 1 percent to 23 percent. A recent study in Germany found Peyronie’s disease in 3.2 percent of men between 30 and 80 years of age. Although the disease occurs mostly in middle age, younger and older men can also develop it. Similarly, statistics show that Peyronie’s disease is more common in white men with Northern European ancestry and is rarely found in African- American men and Asian men.

Complications of Peyronie’s disease

If left untreated, Peyronie’s disease can lead to a number of serious psychological and physiological complications in men such as:

Penile curvature / bending: A plaque on the topside of the shaft, which is most common, causes the penis to bend upward. Similarly, a plaque on the underside causes it to bend downward. In some cases, the plaque develops on both top and bottom, leading to indentation and shortening of the penis. At times, pain, bending, and emotional distress prohibit sexual intercourse. If not corrected or prevented early, this could lead to permanent deformity of the penis.

Hardened tissues on other parts of the body: About 30 percent of men with Peyronie’s disease develop hardened tissue on other parts of the body, such as the hand or foot. A common example is a condition known as Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand.

Urethral stricture: Urethral structure refers to the narrowing or obstruction of urethra (a long tube that carries your stored urine from urinary bladder to penis and, hence, expels it out of the body during urination). The most common cause of such stricture in Peyronie’s disease is the development of curvature or abnormal shape of the penis which causes a permanent twist / curve in the urethra itself.

Erectile dysfunction (impotence): Peyronie’s disease can easily lead to erectile dysfunction, the inability to achieve or sustain an erection firm or hard enough for intercourse. 

Psycho-social complications: Complications of Peyronie's disease also include inability to have sexual intercourse and embarrassment over the appearance of the penis. This can severely affect one’s sex life and sense of ego, leading to overall deterioration of relations between partners and unhappy social life.

All in all, Peyronie’s disease is a bothersome, serious penis-related disorder that could negatively affect your sexual, physical and social life in multiple ways. Therefore, it is best to seek early solution of the problem as soon as any of the signs or symptoms is discovered.