Peyronie's disease: your questions

Peyronie's disease is a disorder of wound healing. Minor strain or injury to the penis, often unnoticed and usually during sex, is thought to trigger abnormal scarring in the sheath around the erection chambers. Genetic tendency, age, diabetes and a history of Dupuytren's contracture of the hand are associated with a higher risk.

No. Some men are born with a curve (congenital curvature), which is present from puberty, does not usually cause pain and has no plaque. Peyronie's disease is acquired later in life and typically comes with a palpable plaque. The treatment options differ, so a proper assessment matters.

Pain in the early phase often settles over months. The curve improves without treatment in only a minority of men; in many it stays the same and in some it worsens before it stabilises.

In the acute phase, which often lasts somewhere between 6 and 18 months, the plaque is still forming, erections may be painful and the curve can change. In the stable phase the curve has not changed for at least about three months and pain has usually eased. Surgery is normally planned only in the stable phase.

Diagnosis is based on your history and an examination, during which the plaque is felt and the stretched length of the penis is measured. Before surgery, an erection is often produced in clinic with an injection so the curve can be measured accurately, and Doppler ultrasound is used to look at the plaque and blood flow.

Traction devices, injections into the plaque and some other treatments can help some men, especially in the early phase. None reliably straightens an established curve, and results vary widely. Shockwave therapy may ease pain but does not reliably reduce the curve.

Read more on our non-surgical treatment page.

The evidence that tablets or supplements such as vitamin E straighten the penis is weak, and guidelines generally do not recommend them for this. Erection tablets can help if erections are also weaker.

Surgery is usually considered once the disease has been stable for about three months and the deformity makes intercourse difficult, or if there is an hourglass narrowing or hinge effect. If you also have erectile dysfunction, an implant may be the right choice.

Simpler curves in men with good erections are often treated with plication (the Nesbit procedure). Larger or complex curves may need plaque incision and grafting. Men who also have erectile dysfunction are usually offered a penile implant with straightening. The choice is made with you after examination.

Plication shortens the longer side of the penis to straighten it, so some length is lost; the larger the curve, the greater the loss. Grafting aims to limit further loss of length, but carries a higher risk of weaker erections. Length already lost to the disease is not usually fully recovered by any operation.

Yes, it can. The risk of new or worse erectile dysfunction is low after plication and higher after grafting. This is one reason erection quality is assessed carefully before surgery.

Most men return to desk work within a few days. Swelling and bruising settle over one to two weeks, and intercourse usually resumes after about six weeks, once your surgeon confirms healing.

For surgical treatment, most patients stay around five to six days: assessment on arrival, surgery, a short hospital stay and a check-up before flying home. Follow-up continues online.

The Peyronie's disease surgery package and the Peyronie's disease and prosthesis package each include surgery, hospital stay, hotel and transfers. The cost depends on the technique your curve needs, so you receive a personalised quote after your free consultation.

Peyronie's disease surgery is carried out by Prof. Dr. Ateş Kadıoğlu, a urologist specialising in andrology, with his surgical team.

Send us a short medical history and, if you are comfortable, photographs of the erect penis by WhatsApp, or book a video consultation. You can also use our contact page.

Mainly for faster access to a urologist who specialises in curvature surgery, lower costs than private treatment in many countries and a short, organised stay. Whichever clinic you consider, check who will operate and how often they perform Peyronie's surgery. Our guide to choosing a surgeon in Turkey can help.

There is no single angle that decides it. Surgery is considered when the disease is stable and the curve, narrowing or hinge effect makes intercourse difficult or impossible. The curve is measured during an erection in clinic so the right operation can be chosen.

Some residual or recurrent curvature is possible after any Peyronie's operation, for example if the disease becomes active again. Operating only in the stable phase reduces this risk. Your surgeon explains what to expect for your type of curve.

Yes. For men with both, a penile implant can be placed and the penis straightened during the same operation. See penile implant for Peyronie's disease and the combined package.

A short medical history, any previous reports or scans and, if you are comfortable, photographs of the erect penis from the side and from above. This helps the surgeon plan before you book flights. Everything is handled confidentially.