FAQ about Peyronie’s disease (Frequently Asked Questions)
Learning about Peyronie’s disease may mean you have lots of questions. We have listed some common questions here but please do contact us if you need further help.
IS PEYRONIE’S DANGEROUS?
No it is not life-threatening and cannot lead to a serious illness. It may, however, lead to erectile dysfunction which means that it is not possible to get or maintain an erection. There are treatments available that can prevent it getting to this stage.
CAN IT BE PASSED ON?
It cannot be passed on through physical or intimate contact. It is possible that it can be passed on genetically from father to son, but there is no evidence for this.
WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
Depending on the type of lumps on the penis, it could be genital warts or genital herpes which are both superficial and visible, and sexually transmitted. Sores can also be a sign of syphilis, a serious STD.
In Peyronie’s disease, the nodule is under the skin and does not present as a sore or blister.
Other causes of lumps on the penis include: Molluscum contagiosum, Lichen planus, and Lymphocele.
COULD IT BE CANCER?
Cancer of the penis is quite rare, but lumps on the penis should be examined by a doctor, so that cancer can be ruled out.
I AM ONLY 25. COULD I HAVE PEYRONIE’S DISEASE?
Yes if you are displaying the symptoms you could. Although Peyronie’s disease is more common in older men it does happen to younger men too. Make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.
WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SEX?
Some men with Peyronie’s disease may suffer from erectile dysfunction, which is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Not all men with Peyronie’s disease suffer from erectile dysfunction, but many do, either temporarily or permanently.
There are number of possible reasons for erectile dysfunction to occur and number of ways to address most of them.
Depending on the angle of the bend in the penis, some men find this impacts their ability to have intercourse. They may need to try new positions whilst undergoing treatment to attempt to reduce the bend
Most men with Peyronie’s disease do find some ways to keep intimacy alive in their relationships.
I REALLY DON’T WANT TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. WILL IT GO AWAY ON IT’S OWN?
We would strongly recommend going to the doctor for a proper diagnosis. It is very normal to feel embarrassed but doctors are used to dealing with problems such as this. The sooner you go to the GP the sooner you can be referred for treatment. Most professionals recommend starting some form of Peyronie’s treatment during the acute phase and ideally within 6 months of noticing the first symptoms.
It is estimated that Peyronie’s disease improves or resolves without any treatment in only 5 – 15% of cases.
CAN PEYRONIE’S DISEASE BE CURED?
There is currently no cure available but Peyronie’s disease can be treated.
WHAT’S THE BEST TREATMENT?
There are a number of treatment options. Some work well for some men but not for others. Starting a non-surgical treatment as soon as possible is a good idea, as well as combining a number of treatments. The sooner you start your treatment, the more options you have and the better results you are likely to get. The aim of most treatments is to stop the disease progressing further, maintain sexual function, and to straighten the bend as much as possible.
Professor David Ralph made a brilliant video for our charity, explaining the different types of surgery possible for Peyronie’s Disease and when each one is the best option for that particular patient.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE SUPPORT?
PeyroniesForum UK
My Peyronies
Relate
Peyronie’s Forum
Men’s Health Forum
NHS Choices