Peyronie's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Peyronie's Disease?
Men with Peyronie's disease usually see a urologist, a doctor who treats sexual and urinary problems. Treatment aims to reduce pain, straighten the penis, and restore the ability to have intercourse. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is Peyronie's disease?
Peyronie's disease happens when scar tissue, called plaque, forms under the skin of the penis. The plaque builds up in the tunica albuginea. That is a stretchy layer that helps keep the penis stiff during an erection. As the plaque grows, it pulls on nearby tissue. The penis then curves or bends, usually during an erection. The curve can make sex painful, hard, or impossible.
Symptoms
Signs of Peyronie's disease include:
- Hard lumps on one or both sides of the penis.
- Pain during erections or sex.
- A curve in the penis, with or without an erection.
- Shape changes, such as narrowing or shortening.
- Erectile dysfunction, trouble getting or keeping an erection.
Signs may come on slowly or appear quickly. They can be mild or severe. Pain often fades over time even when the curve stays. Some men also feel upset, anxious, or depressed about sex or how the penis looks. The problem can strain a relationship.
Causes and who gets it
Doctors do not know the exact cause. They think injury to the penis plays a part. The injury can happen during sex, sports, or an accident. Many small injuries happen without notice. As the injury heals, scar tissue forms and the plaque grows. Some connective tissue disorders raise the risk. These include Dupuytren's disease, which thickens tissue in the palm and bends the fingers. Family history and older age raise risk. So do diabetes with erectile dysfunction and past prostate cancer surgery. About 1 in 100 U.S. men over age 18 have been diagnosed with Peyronie's disease.
How doctors diagnose it
A urologist usually diagnoses it from your history and a physical exam. The doctor can feel the plaque whether the penis is erect or not. Sometimes a shot of medicine causes an erection so the doctor can examine it. You may be asked to take pictures of your erect penis at home. Ultrasound can show the exact spot and size of the plaque.
Treatment
Not all men need treatment. In a very few cases, the disease goes away on its own. If you have small plaques, little or no curve, and no pain, your doctor may suggest watching and waiting. Shots into the plaque are one option. Collagenase (Xiaflex) is the only FDA-approved medicine for Peyronie's disease. It breaks down the plaque and can reduce curving. This treatment is approved for men with penises curving more than 30 degrees. Xiaflex can cause a serious injury to the penis, including penile fracture (a break of the penis during an erection). Surgery may be needed to treat the injury, and in some cases the damage may be permanent. Verapamil and interferon shots may ease pain and curving. Traction and vacuum devices stretch the penis and are still being studied to see if they reduce curving.
If the curve blocks sex, surgery can help straighten the penis. Doctors advise waiting until the plaque and penis curving stabilize. Plication removes or pinches a piece of the tunica albuginea to help straighten the penis, but the penis may become shorter. Grafting removes the plaque and replaces it with a patch of tissue. Penile implants can help men who also have erection problems.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the penis curves, if you feel lumps, or if erections hurt. Get care if sex becomes hard or painful. Go to the emergency room right away if you hear or feel a pop in an erect penis, or if you have pain, bruising, bleeding, or swelling of the penis, trouble passing urine, or blood in the urine. Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain lasting two minutes or more, or fainting. These can happen after an injection of the medicine Xiaflex.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. This kind of doctor can refer you to a urologist, who usually diagnoses and treats the condition.
Common questions
Is Peyronie's disease cancer?
No. The plaque is scar tissue. It is benign, which means it is not cancer and not a tumor. It is also not the same plaque that builds up in arteries.
Can Peyronie's disease go away on its own?
In a very few cases it goes away without treatment. More often the plaque and curve stay. Pain often fades with time even when the curve remains.
Is there a medicine for it?
Collagenase (Xiaflex) shots are the only FDA-approved treatment. The shots go into the plaque and help break it down. No pills effectively treat penile curvature at this time.
Will I need surgery?
Many men do not need surgery. Doctors may suggest it when pain persists or the curve makes sex impossible. It is best to wait until the plaque and penis curving stabilize. Surgery can straighten the penis but may affect length or erections.
How common is Peyronie's disease?
About 1 in 100 U.S. men over age 18 have been diagnosed with it. The chance rises with age. It is less common in men in their 20s and 30s.
Sources
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - Penile Curvature (Peyronie's Disease)
- MedlinePlus - Curvature of the penis
- MedlinePlus - Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum Injection
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
