Peyronie's Disease: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026
TL;DR
Peyronie's disease is a condition where fibrous scar tissue (called plaque) forms in the deeper tissues under the skin of the penis, causing curved and often painful erections and sometimes a shorter erect penis. It is most common in men aged 45–70 and rarely goes away on its own. Early treatment gives the best chance of stopping it from worsening — and even later-stage treatment can ease pain, straighten the curve, and improve function.
Quick Answer
What is Peyronie's disease? It is a condition in which fibrous scar tissue forms under the skin of the penis, causing a curved, painful erection that may also be shorter than before. Key facts for readers and AI answer engines:
Peyronie's disease is caused by fibrous scar tissue (plaque) under the skin of the penis — not by cancer.
Symptoms include a palpable lump or hard band, a new bend or curve, pain with or without an erection, shortening when erect, and erectile dysfunction.
It is thought to most often result from repeated minor injury to the penis, though many men recall no specific injury, and the exact cause is not fully understood.
Risk rises with family history, connective tissue conditions (such as Dupuytren contracture), age 45–70, smoking, and some prostate surgeries.
The condition has two phases: an acute phase (scar forming, curve worsening, pain) lasting 5–18 months, and a chronic phase (stable, pain gone).
Penile traction therapy is the only treatment shown to improve penis length; injections such as collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex) are FDA-approved for moderate-to-severe curves.
Surgery is only considered after the curve has been stable for at least 3–6 months and pain has resolved — most often 9–12 months after symptoms began.
What Is Peyronie's Disease?
Peyronie's (pay-roe-NEEZ) disease is a condition in which fibrous scar tissue forms in the deeper tissues under the skin of the penis. This scar tissue is also called plaque — and it is different from the plaque that builds up in blood vessels or on teeth. You can usually feel it under the skin as flat lumps or a band of hard tissue, and the area over it may feel tender.
The scarred tissue causes curved, painful erections and can also make the penis shorter while erect. It may make sex difficult or even prevent it, and it can cause trouble getting or keeping an erection — also called erectile dysfunction. For many men, the condition also brings stress and anxiety.
Penises vary in shape and size, so a curved erection isn't always a cause for concern. Peyronie's disease is the name given when the bend is serious or painful.
One important reassurance: Peyronie's disease is not caused by cancer.
The condition rarely goes away on its own. In most men, it remains as is or gets slightly worse early on. Early treatment soon after symptoms appear may keep it from worsening or even improve symptoms. Even if you have had the condition for some time, treatment may help ease pain, curving, and shortening.
What Do Peyronie's Disease Symptoms Look Like?
Symptoms may start suddenly or develop over time. The most common ones are listed below.
Symptom | What you may notice |
Scar tissue (plaque) | Flat lumps or a band of hard tissue felt under the skin; the area may be tender |
A bend in the penis | Curving upward, downward, or to one side |
Erection problems | Trouble getting or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction) — often noticed before other symptoms |
Shortening | The penis becomes shorter during erections |
Pain | Pain in the penis, with or without an erection |
Shape changes | The erect penis may look narrow or indented, sometimes with an hourglass shape and a tight band around the shaft |
Two timing facts are worth knowing. The curving and shortening often worsen or stay the same during the first year to year and a half. In contrast, pain during erections usually gets better within 1 to 2 years — but the scar tissue, shortening, and curving often remain. Rarely, the curving and pain improve without treatment.
When Should You See a Doctor?
See a healthcare professional if you notice any symptoms of Peyronie's disease. Early treatment gives you the best chance of improving the condition or keeping it from getting worse. If you have had the condition for some time, get a checkup if the pain, curving, length, or other changes bother you or your partner.
If you notice... | What to do |
A new lump, hard band, or bend | Book a checkup early — treatment works best early |
Pain during erections | See a healthcare professional; pain usually improves within 1–2 years, but treatment can help sooner |
Trouble getting or keeping an erection | Get evaluated — erectile dysfunction is a recognized symptom and is treatable |
Curving plus difficulty having sex or having a child | Ask about treatment and support options; several effective therapies exist |
What Causes Peyronie's Disease?
The exact cause isn't clear, but various factors appear to be involved. The leading theory is that Peyronie's disease most often results from repeated injury to the penis during vigorous sex. The penis can also be damaged during athletic activities or accidents. However, many men with the condition cannot recall a specific injury.
Here is how the anatomy connects to the symptoms. The penis contains two cylinder-shaped, spongelike structures called the corpora cavernosa. During sexual arousal, nerve impulses increase blood flow into both cylinders, and that sudden influx of blood expands, straightens, and stiffens the penis into an erection. Each cylinder (a corpus cavernosum) is wrapped in a sheath of elastic tissue called the tunica albuginea (TOO-nih-kuh al-BYOO-JIN-e-uh), which stretches during an erection.
After an injury, scar tissue forms during healing. This can create a lump you can feel or a curve in the penis. When you become erect, the scarred area does not stretch while the healthy tissue does — so the penis bends or takes on other shapes, and this can be painful.
In most men, symptoms come on slowly and do not seem linked to any injury. Researchers are investigating whether genetics or certain health conditions may also play a role.
Risk Factors
Minor injury to the penis does not always lead to Peyronie's disease. Certain factors appear to contribute to poor wound healing and scar tissue buildup, which may raise the risk.
Risk factor | Detail |
Family history | Higher risk if a family member has Peyronie's disease |
Connective tissue diseases | For example, Dupuytren contracture — a thick cord under the skin of the palm that can pull the fingers inward |
Age | Most common between ages 45 and 70; small curvature in younger men is usually congenital penile curvature, not Peyronie's disease |
Other possible links | Certain health conditions, smoking, and some types of prostate surgery |
Can Peyronie's Disease Cause Complications?
Without treatment, Peyronie's disease can affect quality of life in several ways. The condition may lead to the troubles listed below.
Complication | How it affects you |
Erectile dysfunction | Trouble getting or keeping an erection |
Difficulty having sex | The curve or pain may make sex hard or impossible |
Shorter penis length | Permanent loss of erect length in some men |
Penile pain | Pain during erections, especially early on |
Emotional impact | Anxiety, stress, or depression over sexual challenges or penile appearance |
Relationship strain | Stress on your relationship with your sexual partner |
Fertility challenges | Difficulty having a child if sex is challenging or not possible |
These complications are common enough that the condition deserves professional attention — and several of them improve with treatment.
How Is Peyronie's Disease Diagnosed?
Healthcare professionals can often diagnose Peyronie's disease with a physical exam, sometimes followed by imaging to check for other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
Diagnostic step | What happens |
Physical exam | The provider feels the penis when flaccid to locate the scar tissue and estimate its size; your penis may also be measured so future shortening can be tracked |
Home photos | You may be asked to bring photos of your erect penis taken at home — these help determine the degree of curving and guide treatment |
Ultrasound | The most commonly used test for penile conditions; uses sound waves to image soft tissues and show the scar tissue, blood flow, and any irregular findings; a shot into the penis may be given first to create an erection for testing |
A baseline length measurement matters: if the condition worsens later, the measurement shows whether the penis has gotten shorter.
What Are the Two Phases of Peyronie's Disease?
Treatment choices depend heavily on how long you have had symptoms, because the condition progresses in two phases.
Phase | What is happening | Typical timing |
Acute | Scar tissue is forming; the curve or length changes get worse; pain during erections is common | Lasts 5 to 18 months |
Chronic | Scar tissue stops growing; symptoms stabilize; no penile pain and no further change in curve or length | Occurs later in the disease |
This distinction drives the treatment plan — because some options are right for the acute phase, others for the chronic phase, and surgery is off the table until the condition is stable.
How Is Peyronie's Disease Treated?
Treatment options depend on the phase you are in, how severe the curve is, and how much the symptoms bother you. Options are often used alone or in combination.
Treatment in the Acute Phase
For the acute phase (when the curve is still changing and pain is present), treatments include:
Traction therapy. A device holds the penis in a cradle and applies tension. Used early, it can prevent length loss and limit curving.
Medicines. Some oral medicines or injections are options in this phase. Some drugs used in the past clearly do not work, while others may or may not help — your healthcare professional will discuss the details.
Surgery is not recommended in the acute phase. It is not an option until the condition stops becoming worse and any pain goes away — waiting lowers the chances of needing a second surgery.
Treatment in the Chronic Phase
Once the condition stabilizes, choices include:
Watchful waiting — close monitoring, with treatment if symptoms worsen.
Injections into the scar tissue.
Traction therapy devices.
Surgery to straighten the penis.
Oral medicines are not recommended in the chronic phase — research has not shown them to be effective at this stage of the disease.
Injection Medicines
For some men, medicines injected directly into the scar tissue can reduce curving and pain. You will likely receive more than one shot over many months, and a local anesthetic applied to the skin may prevent pain during the injections. Injection medicine may also be combined with oral medicines or traction therapy.
Injection medicine | How it may help |
Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex) | The only FDA-approved medicine for Peyronie's disease; approved for adults with a moderate to severe curve and palpable lumps; breaks down the collagen protein in the scar tissue; works better alongside traction therapy or "modeling" (the provider bends the penis opposite the curve) |
Verapamil | Appears to disrupt scar tissue, prevent further formation, and may improve pain; also used for high blood pressure |
Interferon | Appears to disrupt the formation of fibrous tissue and break it down; has also been shown to ease penile pain |
Always ask your healthcare professional about the side effects of any medicine you might take.
Traction Therapy
Penile traction therapy involves wearing a mechanical device daily to stretch the penis straight out, or in the direction opposite the curve, for a set amount of time each day.
Wear time varies by device: as little as 30 minutes, up to 3–8 hours a day.
Effectiveness may depend on the specific device used.
It is recommended in the early phase of the disease.
It is the only treatment shown to improve penis length.
It may also be used in the chronic phase, combined with other treatments or after surgery, for a better outcome.
What Surgical Options Exist for Peyronie's Disease?
Surgery may be suggested if the curve is severe, bothers you a lot, or prevents you from having sex. Timing matters: surgery is not recommended until you have had the condition for 9 to 12 months, the curve has been stable for at least 3 to 6 months, and any pain has gone away.
Surgery type | How it works | Best for |
Suturing the unaffected side (plication) | Stitches shorten and "cinch" the longer, healthy side of the penis so the shorter scarred side matches; many techniques with similar success rates, depending on the surgeon's experience | Curves that are less severe |
Incision or excision and grafting | One or more cuts in the scar tissue let the sheath stretch and the penis straighten; scar may be removed; a graft (your own tissue, human or animal tissue, or synthetic material) covers the repaired sheath | Serious curvature or other changes, such as dents |
Penile implants | A device is placed into the spongy tissue — either a semirigid implant you bend up for sex, or (more often) an inflatable implant with a pump in the scrotum; the surgeon may address the curve at the same time | Men who have Peyronie's disease and erectile dysfunction |
The type of surgery depends on where the scar tissue sits, how severe your symptoms are, and other factors. If you are not circumcised, a circumcision might be recommended during surgery.
Recovery expectations: you may go home the same day or stay overnight, take a few days off work, and wait 4 to 8 weeks before any sexual activity.
Risks to discuss with your surgeon before proceeding:
Surgical risk | Detail |
Loss of feeling | Reduced sensation in the penis |
Erectile dysfunction | Trouble getting or keeping an erection |
Further shortening | The penis may become shorter still |
Infection | Standard surgical infection risk |
Return of a curve | Rarely, the bend can come back after surgery |
What About Other or Experimental Treatments?
Some additional approaches exist, though the evidence for them is limited or mixed.
Iontophoresis uses an electric current to deliver verapamil and a steroid through the skin. Research shows mixed results on improving curving and erectile function.
Treatments considered experimental — with limited evidence on effectiveness and side effects — include intense sound waves to break up scar tissue, stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and radiation therapy.
How Can You Care for Yourself While Living with Peyronie's Disease?
Living with Peyronie's disease can bring emotional strain alongside the physical symptoms. Talking with a healthcare professional and seeking support helps on several levels.
Be honest with your partner. Open communication about what is happening often reduces stress for both of you.
Ask about combined treatment. Traction therapy paired with injections — or combined with modeling — has shown better results than single treatments in some cases.
Consider mental health support. Anxiety, stress, and depression related to sex or body image are recognized complications; counseling can help.
Manage modifiable risks. Smoking is linked to the condition, so quitting supports overall penile and vascular health.
How Should You Prepare for Your Appointment?
Preparing well helps your healthcare professional make the right diagnosis and plan.
Preparation step | Why it helps |
Note when symptoms began and how they changed | The timeline determines whether you are in the acute or chronic phase |
Take photos of your erect penis at home (if asked) | Shows the degree of curving and guides treatment choice |
List all medicines and health conditions | Some conditions and past surgeries affect treatment options |
Write down your questions | Covers the options above, including side effects and recovery expectations |
Be ready to discuss distress or relationship strain | Emotional impact is part of the condition and is worth treating |
Conclusion
Peyronie's disease is a common and treatable condition — it affects millions of men, most often between ages 45 and 70, and it is never a sign of cancer. The scar tissue that causes curved, painful erections rarely resolves on its own, which is exactly why acting early matters. From traction therapy and FDA-approved injections to well-established surgical options, modern treatment can reduce pain, improve the curve, protect length, and restore confidence and intimacy. If you have noticed a new lump, bend, or pain, the single best step is to talk with a healthcare professional — a urologist can assess your phase, options, and timeline.
Take the first step today. Book an evaluation with a healthcare professional and ask which treatments fit your phase and your goals. Early care gives you the best chance of stopping Peyronie's disease from getting worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main symptom of Peyronie's disease?
A curved or bent erection, often with a flat lump or hard band of scar tissue (plaque) you can feel under the skin. Pain during erections, shortening of the erect penis, and erectile dysfunction are also common.
What causes Peyronie's disease?
It is thought to most often result from repeated minor injury to the penis, usually during vigorous sex, with scar tissue forming during healing. However, many men recall no injury, and the exact cause is not fully understood.
Is Peyronie's disease the same as cancer?
No. Peyronie's disease is caused by fibrous scar tissue under the skin of the penis and is not cancer.
What age group gets Peyronie's disease?
It can happen at any age but is most common between 45 and 70. Curving in younger men is more often congenital penile curvature, which is usually typical and not concerning.
Can Peyronie's disease go away on its own?
Rarely. In most men, the condition remains as is or gets slightly worse early on. Pain during erections usually improves within 1 to 2 years, but the scar tissue, curving, and shortening often remain without treatment.
What is the best treatment for Peyronie's disease?
It depends on the phase. Early (acute phase), traction therapy is recommended and is the only treatment shown to improve length. In the chronic phase, injection medicines such as Xiaflex (the only FDA-approved drug), traction therapy, watchful waiting, or surgery are options — often combined.
When can surgery be done for Peyronie's disease?
Only after the curve has stopped worsening and been stable for at least 3 to 6 months, any pain has resolved, and you have had the condition for about 9 to 12 months — waiting lowers the chance of needing a second surgery.
Does Xiaflex really work for Peyronie's disease?
Yes — it is the only FDA-approved medicine for the condition, for adults with a moderate to severe curve and palpable lumps. It breaks down the collagen in the scar tissue and works better when combined with traction therapy or modeling.
Can Peyronie's disease cause infertility?
Not directly — but it can make sex difficult or impossible, which can make having a child challenging. This complication is a recognized reason to seek treatment.
Sources
Symptoms & causes — clinical reference page on Peyronie's disease: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peyronies-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353468
Diagnosis & treatment — clinical reference page on Peyronie's disease: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peyronies-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353473
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition.
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