Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSurgeries and ProceduresOver-the-Counter TherapiesPrescriptionsHome Remedies and LifestyleFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Peyronie’s Disease GuideWhat Is Peyronie’s Disease?
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Table of Contents
Surgeries and Procedures
Over-the-Counter Therapies
Prescriptions
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Peyronie’s Disease Guide
Peyronie’s diseaseis a condition where the penis becomes curved due to the buildup of fibrous scar tissue. Historically, surgery has been the most effective form of treatment for Peyronie’s disease. Surgical options include everything from shortening the longer side of the penis (plication), to insertion of erectile prostheses (penile implants),to the removal of lesions (excision/incision and grafting).
However, early in 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication known as Xiaflex as a non-surgical option. Xiaflex injections are currently theonlyFDA-approved non-surgical option for treating Peyronie’s disease, although several other medications have demonstrated moderate success in the literature.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
Finding a urologist experienced with the various options for treating Peyronie’s disease is the best way to learn about what treatments may make the most sense for you. It takes good information for you to be able to effectively weigh your choices and figure out what treatment best fits your life, your needs, and your goals.
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
In general, Peyronie’s disease isn’t treated until symptoms have stabilized. That’s because sometimes symptoms can improve on their own. However, the exception to that rule is when you are in pain.
If your penile curvature is painful, see your healthcare provider sooner rather than later.
If your Peyronie’s disease has made sexual penetration difficult, painful, or impossible, treatment may be able to help. There are benefits, and disadvantages, to both surgical options and office-based penile injections.
Exercises for Peyronie’s Disease
Intralesional Injections
The only FDA-approved non-surgical therapy for Peyronie’s disease is the Xiaflex injection. Xiaflex contains several enzymes derived from bacteria that have been shown to be able to break down one of the proteins in Peyronie’s disease plaque.
Other injections that have been used, off-label, for Peyronie’s disease include:
Neither of these options has more than limited evidence, however verapamil is well-tolerated in office and can result in improvement especially for men lacking insurance approval of Xiaflex.
The American Urological Association 2015 guidelines allow healthcare providers to administer injections of either interferon or verapamil into the lesions of people with Peyronie’s disease despite this limited evidence.However, healthcare providers are encouraged to counsel patients that these injections may not be effective.
Other injections that the AUA considers to be unproven are:
It is important to note that the AUA does not recommend treatment of Peyronie’s disease with radiotherapy.There is no strong evidence suggesting that radiotherapy is more effective than simply waiting. Therefore, given the risks of radiation, it should not be used.
Surgical Treatments
Surgical treatment for Peyronie’s disease is only appropriate for individuals with stable disease. This means that, before surgery, people must have had symptoms for at least 12 months and stable penile curvature for at least three to six months.
Surgery is not recommended for patients with active Peyronie’s disease, as some of these cases may improve on their own.
Plication:Plicationis the simplest surgery for Peyronie’s disease. Its use is generally restricted to men who can still attain an erection rigid enough for penetration. (Whether or not they need medical or vacuum assistance to get an erection.) Plication involves suturing the penis on the opposite side of the curve in order to shorten the long side. This reduces the curvature and may make the penis straight enough for sexual penetration. However, it can also shorten the length of the penis.
Excision/incision:The next surgical option for men who still have erectile function is plaque excision/incision, with or without tissue grafting. This involves surgical removal or interruption of the plaque that is causing the penis to curve. It may also involve placing a tissue graft. Serious adverse events of plaque excision/incision are considered to be relatively rare, rare but carries a higher risk of erectile dysfunction and less risk of penile shortening when compared to plication.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy:Extracorporeal shock wave therapy(ESWT) has also been shown to be effective in reducing Peyronie’s pain. ESWT has not been shown to improve curvature, plaque size, or other symptoms. Therefore ESWT is only recommended for dealing with the pain of Peyronie’s, not as a treatment for the underlying condition.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies
The only over-the-counter remedy for Peyronie’s disease is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Over-the-counter NSAIDS have been shown to be effective at reducing the pain associated with Peyronie’s disease, but not the disease itself.
This category of drugs can be used for pain relief in people with active disease. Both ibuprofen and naproxen are types of NSAIDs.
With the exception of the use of prescription NSAIDS for pain relief, there is very little evidence for oral treatment of Peyronie’s disease. Most studied treatments have only limited, or conflicting, evidence that they can improve penis curvature, length, or other symptoms.
There are no FDA-approved oral remedies for Peyronie’s disease. Some medications that are occasionally prescribed include:
There is very limited evidence that any home remedies can have an effect on treating Peyronie’s disease. One treatment for which there is mild evidence is penile traction devices. These devices are used to gently straighten the penis.
Several small studies have suggested penile traction may be able to increase length and reduce penile curvature, particularly for men with active phase disease.Additionally, penile traction therapy with Xiaflex injection of penile plaque may be effective.However, further studies are needed before traction is likely to be widely recommended.
How to Prevent Peyronie’s Disease
Sexual intimacy can be an important part of many people’s lives. For many men, sexual penetration feels like a critical component of intimacy. However, many individuals have satisfying, fulfilling sex lives without engaging in penetrative sex. For some people, having a medical condition such as Peyronie’s disease, that affects their ability to enjoy sexual penetration, can serve as motivation to explore other ways of being intimate and sharing pleasure.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is little evidence that vitamin E will help with pain, curvature, sexual performance, or other symptoms.However, since it’s inexpensive and has no side effects, healthcare providers may recommend taking it while you wait for the disease to stabilize.Yes. Done correctly,stretchingcan alter penile tissue and successfully lengthen and correct curvature related to Peyronie’s disease.
There is little evidence that vitamin E will help with pain, curvature, sexual performance, or other symptoms.However, since it’s inexpensive and has no side effects, healthcare providers may recommend taking it while you wait for the disease to stabilize.
Yes. Done correctly,stretchingcan alter penile tissue and successfully lengthen and correct curvature related to Peyronie’s disease.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Alom, M., Sharma, K., Toussi, A.,Efficacy of Combined CollagenaseClostridium histolyticumand RestoreX Penile Traction Therapy in Men with Peyronie’s Disease.The Journal of Sexual Medicine. April 04, 2019. doi:/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.03.007
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