For men, penis health is paramount. From a young age, you worry about its size and shape — but the truth is that penises are hardly perfect. Men are born with different penis sizes and shapes, and some may have a slight curve.
Usually, this doesn’t affect your sex life, but there are circumstances when penile curvature can have an adverse effect, especially if it’s caused by Peyronie’s disease.
Experienced urologists Kiarash Michel, MD, and Mohamed Bidair, MD, at Atlas Men’s Clinic, take a closer look at what’s going on behind your bent penis and what you can do about it.
Why is my penis bent?
A bent or curved penis usually shows up when you have an erection. During an erection, blood flows into sponge-like spaces inside your penis, making it expand and harden. When those spaces don’t expand evenly, your penis bends unnaturally.
Often, this problem stems from abnormalities in penis anatomy, but it can also result from autoimmune disorders and inherited fibrous tissue abnormality.
One of the most common causes of a bent penis is Peyronie’s disease. In fact, less than 1% of men have penile curvature without it.
A bent penis isn’t a threat to your health, and not every case requires treatment. However, if it’s interfering with your sex life and causing pain, it’s time to see a doctor.
Understanding Peyronie’s disease
Peyronie’s disease is a noncancerous condition that develops when scar tissue in your penis makes it curve unnaturally. It’s not exactly understood what causes Peyronie’s disease, but many point to repeated injury to the penis from damage during sex, athletic activity, or an accident.
As your penis heals, scar tissue forms — sometimes, you can feel a nodule in your penis, too. In addition to a bent penis, Peyronie’s disease can also cause:
- Painful erections
- Loss of girth
- Problems with fertility
- Stress on your relationship with your sexual partner
- Reduce penile length
- Anxiety and stress about your sexual function
- Erectile dysfunction
Virtually any man can get Peyronie’s disease, but most are at risk if they are middle-aged or older, have a family history of the condition, have a connective tissue disorder, or have battled prostate cancer.
Diagnosing Peyronie’s disease
When you come to us with a bent penis, we begin with a thorough physical exam. We can palpate your penis when it’s not erect to determine if there’s any scar tissue present. We might also measure the length of your penis. This initial measurement helps us determine if your penis has shortened if your condition gets worse.
Sometimes, taking pictures of your erect penis at home and bringing them into your appointment can help us determine the degree of curvature, the possible location of scar tissue, and other details. If necessary, we may inject medication into your penis to trigger an erection.
Imaging tests like ultrasounds are also helpful during our evaluation and diagnosis process.
Treating Peyronie’s disease
We base your treatment plan on the severity of your condition and its effect on your sex life. If you’re not in much pain, we usually take a “wait and see” approach.
If you’re in pain and unable to have sex, we recommend traction therapy to reduce the bend in your penis and/or prescription medication. We also offer penis injections that work to control scarring and swelling.
Don’t spend another day wondering about your sexual health. Call or click to schedule an appointment at either our Los Angeles or San Diego, California, office.
