Penises come in all shapes and sizes. Some penises are shorter and girthier, while others are straight and long. Many penises also have curves to them, usually curves that are entirely normal and healthy. However, 25 percent of all men will find these bends in the penis exaggerated, causing a 20-degree or higher curve. These men may find they have Peyronie’s disease. Let’s learn more about this disease and the ways it can be treated.
Bent Penis Problems: Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease is a condition wherein a man’s penis has a 20-degree or greater angle. While doctors and researchers do not know the exact cause of Peyronie’s, they do believe the damage to the penis, either by large-scale or several small-scale traumas, can cause this curve that comes as a result of scar tissue buildup. This bent penis problem doesn’t happen overnight; it builds over time. A man may notice that it hurts to pee or get an erection. The pain can be so bad that a man may develop erectile dysfunction or just stop having sex. Men should know that in the first year of a potential Peyronie’s diagnosis, the doctor will just have them observe and report, while not employing treatments. After the first year, however, there are several treatments that a man can consider in order to clear up the condition or better manage it.
Bent Penis Treatments
There are several ways to combat Peyronie’s disease, but it needs to be stated that there is no known cure for it at this time. Less-severe forms of Peyronie’s can even go away on their own. If it doesn’t go away, here are some things to take into consideration to treat this common bent penis problem:
1) Lifestyle Adjustments – Like any disease, lifestyle changes can often yield the best results. In fact, it’s been shown to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction related to Peyronie’s disease. Doing things like quitting smoking, drinking, and drug use are essential for overall health as well as bent penis problems. Add in some exercise daily to increase blood flow to the penis. Also, give the penis some non-sexual massage to increase oxygenation of the erectile tissue and to encourage regeneration.
2) Medication – Currently, there is only one FDA-approved medicine to treat Peyronie’s, called Xiaflex. This medication is only prescribed for men who have a curve in excess of 30 degrees. The medication is given in a series of injections over time, which works to break down scar tissue in the penis, which causes the bend.
In addition to the shots, this medication therapy also requires a 6-week physical therapy program that works with the medication for best results. Men will need to do the following daily:
Stretch the penis while not erect. This should be done 3 times daily for 30 seconds per stretch.
Flatten the penis when experiencing a spontaneous erection separate from sexual activity for 30 seconds once per day.
3) Non-surgical Bent Penis Treatments – There are several other ways to treat bent penis problems without going under the knife or with complicated medication administration and therapy. A procedure gaining a reputation lately is iontophoresis, in which weak electrical current delivers special medication through the skin. Options like shock wave therapy, penile traction therapy, and other vacuum device-like treatments are also available to stretch the penis and lengthen it to reduce the curvature.
4) Surgery – Surgery is only recommended for the most severe cases of Peyronie’s disease. This can include penile implants or shortening and lengthening the penis. All carry a degree of success with an equally significant risk of complications that should be evenly measured.
5) Other Remedies – Outside of lifestyle, medication, and procedures, there aren’t many additional options that have proven results. The was one encouraging study from 2001 that found that the amino acid L-carnitine was a safe and efficient possibility for acute and early chronic Peyronie’s disease. L-carnitine can be found in a penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) and can be massaged onto the penis daily. These particular oils provide critical amino acids and vitamins elemental to good penis health and assist with things such as nerve damage protection, cellular activity, and overall penis health and flexibility.
Before choosing any treatment option for this bent penis problem, a man should consult his doctors and weigh the benefits and the risks of each treatment carefully.
