Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease

There are a number of different symptoms of Peyronie’s disease, including:

• Scar tissue/plaque: A thickened area or a hard lump (plaque) on the shaft of the penis, typifies Peyronie’s disease.  This can be felt when the penis is flaccid (not erect).

• Bend or curve: While it is normal for the penis to curve slightly when erect, if the bend or curve has changed or is painful then this is a symptom of Peyronie’s disease.  The penis could be curved to the left, right or upwards, in a way that it has not done before.

• Change in shape:  The penis may have a different shape, often described as an ‘hourglass’.

• Pain: Pain in the penis, due to the curve, can occur when it is erect and/or during intercourse.  Not everyone with the condition has pain.

• Difficulty obtaining an erection: It may not even be possible to get a full erection, or to maintain one, because blood flow may be inhibited.

• Different size: the penis may become shorter, or the girth may be reduced.

• Erectile dysfunction: Peyronie’s disease can inhibit erections and lead to erectile dysfunction.

Penis curvature and penile deformity is the most noticeable symptoms of Peyronie’s disease. The shape of the penis depends on the size and location of the penis plaque, i.e. the larger the plaque, the more noticeable your penis deformity will be.

If you have any of these symptoms it is essential to visit your GP, who may refer you to a urologist. Lumps on the penis can be indicative of other serious health or a sexually transmitted disease, so it is important that Peyronie’s disease is diagnosed by a doctor.

It can be helpful to look at photos of others with Peyronie’s disease. You can view these here  but you must confirm that you are over 18 years of age to do so.

A video that explains what the symptoms can be and what treatments are possible is here

Peyronie’s disease can also cause depression. It is important to talk about how you are feeling with your partner if you have one, and seek further help if you need it. A useful website to look at may be this one.