Is Surgery the Only Option for Penile Curvature?

Most men have a very slight curve of their penis which is considered normal and doesn't represent a problem for their sexual activities. However about 400 in every 100,000 men suffer from a condition known in the medical community as the Peyronie's Disease. This condition is characterized with a severely bent or curved erect penis, sometimes so extreme that it is either impossible or very painful to have a sexual intercourse. The penis may form a "J" or "U" shape when erect or may even have a series of bends.

The penile curvature caused by the Peyronie's Disease occurs when some parts of the penile elastic tissue is replaced with inelastic plaque or scar tissue. Thus when the penis gets an erection it does not expand symmetrically; the scar tissue is rather hard and stays put while the other parts of the penis engorge, causing the penile curvature. Sometimes the scar tissue extends all the way around the penile shaft forming a "bottleneck" or pinching-in at that location.

Physicians point different causes of the Peyronie's Disease. It is believed that this unfortunate condition may be caused by an injury, trauma (such as forceful bending when the penis is erect), inflammation, treating erectile dysfunction via injections, or even other medical conditions (such as hardening of the arteries). However, the most likely cause is believed to be trauma that is followed by very slow or abnormal healing.

Treatment of the Penile Curvature

It is very important to understand that every case of the Peyronie's Disease is different. Surgical treatment may seem a logical option, but it is not the only one. Most physicians will probably advise to wait at least a year or two before using surgery to correct the curvature. Surgery is considered a last resort and generally men try other treatments before turning to such drastic measures.

Typically, two surgical procedures are performed to treat the Peyronie's Disease. The first one is called the Nesbit procedure and it often ends with a 1 to 2-inch shortening of the penis. The second one replaces the scar tissue with grafted tissue which may result in complete or partial loss of erectile function.

Given the extreme nature of these surgical treatments it is no wonder men search for alternative methods and leave surgery as a last resort. In fact, in some cases men who don't use any treatment improve spontaneously within a year or two, and sometimes their scar tissue may even disappear. However such cases are rare; about 40% of the men with Peyronie's Disease see no change within such time frame and the condition of another 40% may even worsen.

So what are the alternatives to surgery for correcting the penile curvature?

Currently the most successful non-surgical treatment available is in the form of a traction device. Sometimes it is recommended to combine the traction therapy with a course of Vitamin E therapy.

The benefits of the traction device therapy are obvious - it costs less compared to surgery and it doesn't have side effects. Effective corrective devices like the ProExtender device work by applying consistent, gentle traction to the penis in order to counteract the hardening of the scar tissue.

Beside Vitamin E and traction devices, potassium para-aminobenzoate (Potaba) is also used as natural supplement to target the Peyronie's curvature, however the effectiveness of this and other medications have not been studied in larger clinical trials yet. Men are advised to consult a physician before using any of these approaches.