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Curvature of the penis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Peyronie's disease

Treatment:

At first, you may not need treatment. Some or all of the symptoms may improve over time or may not get worse.

Treatments may include:

  • Corticosteroid injections into the fibrous band of tissue
  • Potaba (a medicine taken by mouth)
  • Radiation therapy
  • Shock wave lithotripsy
  • Verapamil injection (a medicine used to treat high blood pressure)
  • Vitamin E

However, these treatments often do not help much, or at all.

If medicine and lithotripsy do not help, and you are unable to have intercourse because of the curve of the penis, surgery may be done to correct the problem. However, surgery may cause impotence. It should only be done if intercourse is impossible.

A penile prosthesis may be the best treatment choice.

Expectations (prognosis):

The condition can get worse and make it impossible for you to have intercourse. Impotence can also occur.

Complications:

The condition may make intercourse difficult, painful, or impossible. Surgical correction may also lead to impotence.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

  • You have symptoms of curvature of the penis
  • Erections are painful
  • You have a sharp pain in the penus during intercourse, followed by swelling and bruising of the penis
  • Reviewed last on: 9/3/2010
  • Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Jordan GH. Peyronie's disease. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 25.

Jordan GH, Schlossberg SM. Surgery of the Penis and Urethra. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 33.

Elder JS. Anomalies of the Penis and Urethra. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 544.

Hellstrom WJG. Medical management of Peyronie's disease. J Androl. 2009;30:397-405.

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