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Table of Contents
What It Treats
How It Works
Efficacy
Cost of Devices
Penile traction therapy (PTT) is a type of physical therapy that can be used to treat a curved or shrunken penis that happens due toPeyronie’s disease, which causes a curved or shortened erection. This can make it painful or difficult to have sexual intercourse.
Penile traction therapy has been shown to help people with Peyronie’s disease return to a more typical penis shape.The therapy involves using a penis traction device, similar to a brace, that holds the penis straight or at an angle for a set amount of time.
It’s important to remember that having some curvature to the penis is entirely normal. If your penis has always been curved or is of a normal length, there is no need for a penile traction device. However, for people with Peyronie’s disease, penis traction can restore lost length and sudden curving.
This article discusses how penile traction therapy works.
John Fedele / Getty Images
What Is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s diseasecauses scar tissue—also known as plaques—to form beneath the skin of the penis. These areas of scar tissue are rigid and inflexible, so they’re not able to expand the same way that normal erectile tissue does. Because of this, the penis curves (sometimes toward the area of the plaques) when it becomes erect.If the plaques occur on both sides of the penis, a person might experience shorter erections than they had before they had Peyronie’s disease.
You may be at higher risk of developing Peyronie’s disease if you:
How Common Is Peyronie’s Disease?Approximately 1 in 100 men in the United States over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. However, based on studies, researchers estimate that the actual number of men who have Peyronie’s disease is more than 1 in 10.
How Common Is Peyronie’s Disease?
Approximately 1 in 100 men in the United States over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. However, based on studies, researchers estimate that the actual number of men who have Peyronie’s disease is more than 1 in 10.
Peyronie’s disease can make it difficult to enjoy sex. It can cause painful erections or the inability to have penetrative sex. That, in turn, can lead to mental and emotional complications like:
How Penis Traction Works
Penis traction therapy uses a penis traction device to hold the flaccid penis straight or at a specified angle. This is also sometimes known as penis stretching.
Penis Traction Devices
To try penile traction therapy, you’ll need a traction device. There are many brands of traction devices available, so it’s best to talk with your healthcare provider about which one they recommend for you.
In general, traction devices work in the same way. A pelvic ring is placed at the base of the penis, with the shaft inserted through the ring. The tip of the penis is clamped firmly into the other end of the traction device. Extension rods between those two pieces allow the wearer to gently stretch their penis.
Devices designed to treat people with Peyronie’s disease also include the option to rotate the penis.
Penis Traction Therapy Timeline
In order to see results from penis traction therapy, you need to use the device consistently. That means wearing the traction device for at least 30 minutes a day, or the length of time that your healthcare provider and the device manufacturer recommend.
Most studies that have been done on penile traction therapy involve a large time commitment of multiple hours a day for up to six months.
SomePeyronie’s disease exercisesmay help reduce curvature or increase penis length, but more research is needed. Types of exercises include massage and stretching. However, it is vital that the exercises are done correctly to avoid further damage to the penis.
Talk to your healthcare provider before attempting any massages or stretching exercises. By working with your healthcare provider, you may be able to use these exercises successfully and reduce the curvature of your penis.
Does Penile Traction Therapy Work?
There is a growing body of research showing that PTT may be effective at increasing penis length and decreasing penis curvature.
These are the results that researchers have found:
In two of the three studies, people needed to commit to wearing the traction device for long periods each day to see results. However, a recently developed penile traction device showed promising results requiring 30 to 90 minutes per day instead of up to six hours per day.
Exercises for Peyronie’s Disease
Cost of Penile Traction Devices
There is a wide price range for penile traction therapy devices starting around $25 and running up to $525. Not all devices have been proven effective, and some devices have been tested in clinical studies, so talk with your healthcare provider about which devices they recommend.
Insurance Coverage
Currently, most insurance companies and Medicare do not provide coverage for penile traction therapy devices. However, insurance plans vary widely, so you may want to contact your insurance provider to determine whether they provide any level of coverage.
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) orHealth Savings Account (HSA), you may be able to use funds from these accounts to cover the cost. You may need to submit a physician’s prescription to receive reimbursement.
Summary
Penile traction therapy can have a big impact on people with Peyronie’s disease. It can lead to some increased length, but more importantly, it can counteract the severe curving of the penis that is a primary symptom of the disease. Studies show people with Peyronie’s disease who have tried penile stretching have had decreased pain and increased sexual functioning.
However, penile traction therapy requires a large time commitment. To see results, studies indicate that a traction device must be worn for several hours every day.
If you are concerned about your penis length or the curve of your penis, talk to a healthcare provider about whether penile traction therapy is right for you.
5 SourcesVerywell 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.Chung, Eric.Penile traction therapy and Peyronie’s disease: a state of art review of the current literature.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. Feb. 2013. doi:10.1177/1756287212454932National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).Avant RA, Ziegelmann M, Nehra A, Alom M, Kohler T, Trost L.Penile traction therapy and vacuum erection devices in peyronie’s disease. Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2019;7(2):338-348. doi:Ziegelmann M, Savage J, Toussi A, Alom M, Yang D, Kohler T, Trost L.Outcomes of a Novel Penile Traction Device in Men with Peyronie’s Disease: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial. J Urol. 2019 Sep;202(3):599-610. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000245Pathright Medical.FAQs-will my insurance cover the cost of the RestoreX device?
5 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.Chung, Eric.Penile traction therapy and Peyronie’s disease: a state of art review of the current literature.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. Feb. 2013. doi:10.1177/1756287212454932National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).Avant RA, Ziegelmann M, Nehra A, Alom M, Kohler T, Trost L.Penile traction therapy and vacuum erection devices in peyronie’s disease. Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2019;7(2):338-348. doi:Ziegelmann M, Savage J, Toussi A, Alom M, Yang D, Kohler T, Trost L.Outcomes of a Novel Penile Traction Device in Men with Peyronie’s Disease: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial. J Urol. 2019 Sep;202(3):599-610. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000245Pathright Medical.FAQs-will my insurance cover the cost of the RestoreX device?
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.
Chung, Eric.Penile traction therapy and Peyronie’s disease: a state of art review of the current literature.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. Feb. 2013. doi:10.1177/1756287212454932National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).Avant RA, Ziegelmann M, Nehra A, Alom M, Kohler T, Trost L.Penile traction therapy and vacuum erection devices in peyronie’s disease. Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2019;7(2):338-348. doi:Ziegelmann M, Savage J, Toussi A, Alom M, Yang D, Kohler T, Trost L.Outcomes of a Novel Penile Traction Device in Men with Peyronie’s Disease: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial. J Urol. 2019 Sep;202(3):599-610. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000245Pathright Medical.FAQs-will my insurance cover the cost of the RestoreX device?
Chung, Eric.Penile traction therapy and Peyronie’s disease: a state of art review of the current literature.Therapeutic Advances in Urology. Feb. 2013. doi:10.1177/1756287212454932
National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).
Avant RA, Ziegelmann M, Nehra A, Alom M, Kohler T, Trost L.Penile traction therapy and vacuum erection devices in peyronie’s disease. Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2019;7(2):338-348. doi:
Ziegelmann M, Savage J, Toussi A, Alom M, Yang D, Kohler T, Trost L.Outcomes of a Novel Penile Traction Device in Men with Peyronie’s Disease: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial. J Urol. 2019 Sep;202(3):599-610. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000245
Pathright Medical.FAQs-will my insurance cover the cost of the RestoreX device?
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