What is Peyronie’s Disease?
The internet has helped shorten distances between doctors and patients, making it easier than ever to find medical help when it's needed most. Online doctors can offer advice, renew prescriptions, and in some case, even assist with surgical operations remotely.
One of the areas where an online doctor consultation is useful is for sexual disorders. While sexual disorders are common, many men are too embarrassed to seek help. Chatting with a doctor online alleviates some of this shame.
Here we'd like to focus specifically on Peyronie's disease and how online doctor chat can be useful to help you find treatment.
Understanding Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie's disease is a disorder of the penis in which a buildup of flat scar tissue, called plaques, forms along the inner walls of the penis. For approximately 70% of men, the tissue forms along the top side of the penis, stiffening a portion of fibrous tissue called the tunica albuginea. As this area becomes less flexible, it forces the shape of the penis to change, bending it upward during an erection.
Peyronie's affects 6 out of 100 adults between the ages of 40 and 70-years. Not all curved penises are caused by Peyronie's disease. However, if you experience this symptom, it's best to speak to a physician as soon as possible.
Like most sexual disorders and issues related to penile health, many men shy away from seeking help. It causes embarrassment, low self-esteem, and in the case of Peyronie's disease, discomfort and sometimes pain.
Causes and Symptoms of Peyronie's Disease
There are a few different reasons why you might experience Peyronie's disease. The most common is injury or trauma to the penis. For some men this could be something as simple as bending the penis during sexual intercourse. For others it could be an old sports injury. No matter the root of the injury, the outcome is usually scar tissue (fibrosis) forming into plaque.
For some men, Peyronie's could be due to genetics. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, "Medical experts believe that Peyronie's disease may run in some families. For example, if your father or brother has Peyronie's disease, you may have an increased chance of getting the disease too."
Peyronie's disease causes symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty forming an erection (ED)
- Painful erections
- Curved penis
- Lumps beneath penile tissue
- Short stunted penis
- Depression related to above symptoms
Peyronie's patients can also develop symptoms in other body parts, although this is rare. The Urology Care Foundation writes, "Some men with Peyronie's disease (about 13 out of 100) get fibrosis in other parts of the body. The most common sites are the hands and feet. Dupuytren's contracture, in which fibrosis occurs in the tissue of the palm, is one health problem linked to Peyronie's disease."
Your symptoms will help your doctor properly diagnose and treat Peyronie's. Sometimes it helps to keep a journal describing the symptoms and the timeline during which they occurred before seeking medical attention.
Diagnosing Peyronie's Disease
If your doctor suspects Peyronie's he or she may recommend a physical exam and ultrasound. The hard plaque which forms inside the penis is often physically noticeable without a scan. Harvard Medical School reports, "How long Peyronie's disease lasts is difficult to predict. In more than a third of men, there is gradual improvement over 12 to 18 months without any specific treatment. In others, the scarring is permanent or worsens over time."
There are 2 stages of Peyronie's, each with its own symptoms. The first stage occurs in the first 6-18 months of acquiring the disease. This is when the plaques begin to form and the penis begins to change shape. You may begin feeling pain or discomfort during the acute phase.
As the acute phase ends, the chronic phase begins and plaque stops growing. The bending of the penis should conclude, along with the pain felt with the change.
Treating Peyronie's Disease
Oral medication is the first defence in cases of Peyronie's disease, followed by penile injections and in severe cases, surgery. The treatment your doctor prescribes depends entirely on how far along your symptoms have developed. Below you'll find a more thorough list of each treatment and how it works.
- Potaba (Potassium para-aminobenzoate) - This medication helps by increasing oxygen in the skin and relaxes tissue, making plaque more flexible. This reduces the tightness in the penis which causes the curve and discomfort during an erection.
- Vitamin E - Oral vitamin E reduces the size of the plaque formed inside the tissue of the penis. This, like Potassium, makes the tissue more flexible, helping to straighten the curvature of the penis.
- Carnitine - Another antioxidant, Carnitine is an amino acid which reduces plaque size and alleviates tension in the penis. It is most useful in the early stages of the disease.
- Collagenase - An FDA approved penile injection which has proven successful at improving symptoms related to Peyronie's disease. It breaks down the collagen buildup in the plaque, which forces the penis to curve.
- Verapamil - Another injectable medication, Verapamil was first developed to treat high blood pressure. It has also shown promise in improving penile discomfort and curving due to Peyronie's.
- Interferon - A natural protein made by your body to manage inflammation and swelling, interferon can be injected into the penis to reduce scarring and decrease tension in the curved tissue.
- Surgery - In extreme cases of Peyronie's disease where the penis is deformed and prevents a man from experiencing sexual intercourse, your doctor may suggest surgery. In these cases, doctors wait until the first acute stage of Peyronie's has finished and the plaque is no longer growing. Surgery could be used to shorten the side of the penis opposite the plaque, extending the side with the plaque, or using a prosthetic device to straighten the curve.
- Skin Grafting - Another treatment also considered a surgical cure, grafts healthy skin onto the penis where tissue has been damaged. This is tricky, because some grating procedures don't take, and healing is painful.
Whatever treatment your doctor recommends for Peyronie's, it's important to know you are not alone and the disorder is nothing to be embarrassed about. Many men experiencing Peyronie's go on to lead full and healthy sex lives.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Peyronie's disease or other erectile dysfunction issues, and want to use online doctor services to seek treatment, we can help. Contact QuickRXRefill to learn more.
WARNING: Limitations of Online Doctor/Medical Consultations and Online Prescriptions, QuickRxRefills Cannot and Will NOT Prescribe, Dispense, or Resell any and all medications Narcotics/Controlled Substances (this policy is fully enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)) for Anti-depressants, Pain, Anxiety, Weightloss, Sleep, ADHD/ADD, Anabolic Steroids, Testosterone Replacement Therapy and any and all Medications that contain GabaPentin or Pseudroephedrine including non-controlled substances or any medications that are considered controversial, Off Labeled (Growth Hormone aka HGH) or recalled in nature such (i.e. Retin-A, Accutane). Furthermore, QuickRxRefills is not a substitute for an office based physician in your location nor is it a substitute for Emergency Medical Care or 911. If you do experience a "true" medical emergency your are encouraged to pick up the phone and dial 911 as soon as possible.
