If you have recently noticed a curve or bend in your penis it might be causing you concern. This condition is often Peyronie’s disease, characterised by the development of fibrous scar tissue, also called plaque, inside the penis. This plaque typically forms within the Tunica Albuginea, the elastic sheath that surrounds the erectile tissue.
When this scar tissue forms, it can cause your penis to bend or curve, particularly when erect. The condition may come with pain or discomfort. If you are experiencing these changes, then the understanding of the condition is the first step to treatment. Please bear in mind that we are talking about something that has occurred recently, or gradually, not a condition you have had from birth, which is known as Congenital Penile Curvature (CPC), often not diagnosed until the patient reaches puberty.
The Causes of a Bent Penis
Penis bends are a difficult condition to put an exact cause on. One explanation is repeated minor trauma, from sexual intercourse, or from an instance of trauma to the area. There are however, cases where an exact cause cannot be ascertained. From a physical point of view, the cause is most commonly fibrous scar tissue, called a plaque. When this forms under the skin of the penis, in an area called the tunica albuginea, the plaque is more rigid than normal tissue, and does not stretch in the same way. The penis will tend to not straighten because of the plaque, and a bend will form on the same side. The penis is supposed to fill with blood and stretch, but if one side cannot stretch, a curve will form. This condition is called Peyronie’s Disease. If you were feeling that this is an unusual condition, it is not. It’s one of those conditions that people don’t talk much about, understandably, and could affect as much as 10% of the male population in various degrees. In case you were wondering the name comes from the doctor who first wrote about it, way back in 1743!
*Images are for illustrative purposes. While Dr Nadia has success with treatments for Peyronies Disease, outcomes can vary from patient to patient.
Dr. Nadia Yousri’s Approach with PRP and Shockwave Therapy for Penile Curvature
Dr. Nadia Yousri specialises in non-surgical regenerative medicine for sexual health conditions, including Peyronie’s disease. For patients with penile curvature, she offers treatments such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, (in this application, the treatment is known as the P-Shot®), and Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy (LiSWT). – Shockwave for short. Both treatments are considered as part of a personalised treatment strategy for Peyronie’s disease.
Post consultation, one, or both of these options may be offered by Dr Nadia, at her Harley Street clinic. The consultation will be detailed and take all factors into consideration.
The P-Shot for Peyronie’s Disease
If PRP therapy is offered as part of your plan, the procedure will involve drawing a small sample of your blood, which is then processed in a centrifuge to create the concentrated platelet-rich plasma. To ensure your comfort, a local anaesthetic cream is applied to the penis before Dr Yousri carefully injects the affected area. The aim of introducing these growth-factor-rich platelets to the area is to encourage the remodelling of the scar tissue.
Shockwave Therapy for Peyronies Disease
This is another non-surgical option Dr. Nadia has vast experience in. This treatment uses focal low-intensity sound waves directed at the affected penile tissue. The intention of this therapy is to help reduce the plaque size and alleviate pain associated with Peyronie’s disease. The idea is that application of these sound waves stimulates tissue repair and breaks down some of the fibrous scar tissue.
Patients are generally advised that a a series of treatment sessions are usually needed to gradually reduce the angle of the benn/curve to attain competent erection & eliminating any associated pain or discomfort. The exact number of sessions and the specifics of your treatment plan will depend on factors such as the severity of the curve and how your condition responds to treatment. Dr. Yousri has seen, (and can demonstrate) positive developments in patients who have undergone these therapies for Peyronie’s disease.
Advantages of Non-Surgical Approaches for Penile Curvature
Opting for non-surgical treatments as per the mentioned therapies, – Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy or Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy (LiSWT) for your penile curvature offers you several advantages. The main ones being that these methods are:
- Designed to work with your body’s inherent healing processes
- Minimally invasive
- Do not involve surgery or medication.
Both the aforementioned have drawbacks, the most obvious being the downtime and potential complications often attached to surgery, such as anaesthesia risks, and sensation change. Scar formation is a risk, as is a reocurrance of the penis curvature. There is the possibility of penis shortening too. With regards to medication, no oral medication has (at time of writing), been proven to work for Peyronies.
The P-Shot and LiSWT aim to improve your condition by supporting natural tissue regeneration. They both provide a suitable alternative for managing the symptoms of Peyronie’s disease and addressing the penile curve. If you require further information either get in touch to book in for a consultation with Dr Nadia Yousri, or contact us for a consultation here.
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