A bent penis during erection can be congenital (Krummerick), but more commonly it is due to acquired scar tissue in the wall of the corpus cavernosum in adult men (Peyronie’s disease).

What is Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease is completely benign and affects approximately 5-10 percent of all men, most between the ages of 40 and 55. The condition can have several different causes, such as trauma to the penis or an autoimmune background. In some cases, there is also a comorbidity with diabetes and Dupuytren’s contracture (bent fingers). Some heredity for Peyronie’s disease has also been seen, but in many cases the symptoms come on slowly without any connection to any event, disease or injury.

This condition occurs due to inflammation in the corpus cavernosum, which turns into scar healing within about a year. This leads to the formation of hard spots (plaques) in the penis. At the beginning of the inflammation, the plaques may be tender, but the pain subsides when the inflammation subsides. The plaque prevents the wall of the corpora cavernosa from stretching during erection, causing the penis to bend towards the side where the scar tissue is located.

During erection, the bend is intensified, and it can become difficult, painful or in some cases impossible to have intercourse. Many people also experience psychological effects, which in turn can cause erection difficulties.

Common symptoms of Peyronie’s disease:

• Painful erection at the beginning of the course
• Nodules can be felt in the corpora cavernosa of the penis
• The penis becomes bent during erection
• Other changes in the shape of the penis, such as tapering or an hourglass shape, can cause instability during erection
• Shortening of the penis
• Erectile function may deteriorate and the outer end of the penis often does not become as hard as the part closest to the body

Krummerick

A patient with Krummerick is born with a bent penis, but usually lacks other symptoms. However, the examination and treatment are in principle the same as for Peyronie’s disease.

For the correct treatment of Peyronie’s disease, we need to know how your symptoms affect you, whether there are other illnesses or lifestyle factors to take into account.

Preparations

Before your appointment at Peritus Clinic, you will:

Fill out a questionnaire regarding your health and lifestyle, your current and previous symptoms, illnesses, treatments, any surgeries, medications and allergies.

Bring or send in pictures of your erect penis (one picture from above and one from the side).

Fill out the IIEF-5 erection questionnaire.

Feel free to bring your partner if you wish.

Appointment

During your appointment, you will talk to a nurse and urologist to tell them more about your symptoms and go through your answers to the questionnaires and the photo documentation.

The urologist will then perform a general external physical examination and a targeted examination of the penis and external genitalia.

Finally, you will discuss which treatment is best suited for your symptoms and how the treatment should be followed up. Sometimes one visit is enough, but often several visits are required for the condition to stabilize before a treatment decision is made.

At Peritus Clinic, we have highly specialized expertise with staff who work in teams and experienced surgeons. Together with you, we assess which possible treatment works best in your case and we always look at the patient’s needs from a holistic perspective.

Once Peyronie’s condition has stabilized, which can take up to a year after the first symptoms, surgical treatment may be considered if the curvature makes intercourse difficult. There are non-surgical treatment options for a curved penis that can be discussed, but many lack scientific documentation.

The goal of the surgery is to make the penis straighter to make intercourse easier. The type of surgery that may be considered depends on how severe the curvature is, where it is located and the length of the penis. We will discuss the pros and cons of the different surgical methods as well as expected complications and side effects.

Erectile function in the current age group is often impaired and can also be impaired in Peyronie’s condition. We can then prescribe medication for this (see Erectile Dysfunction) and in our team we also have experienced nurses with sexology training and extensive experience in conversational support.

Welcome to Peritus Clinic!