Peyronies and problems with sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse can be a problem in Peyronie’s disease due to the penile distortion that occurs because of the presence of fibrous scar tissue, or Peyronie’s plaque, within the shaft of the penis.  The presence of this fibrous plaque can cause the penis is bend in any direction to a minor degree that is hardly noticeable, up to and even beyond a 90 degree curve.  In addition to a significant bend, Peyronies disease can also cause distortions that are described as “bottle neck” and “hour glass” for their resemblance, as well as simple dents or dings along the side of the shaft. Click here for Peyronie’s pictures.

The cause of Peyronie’s disease has not yet been determined even thought the condition has been known for almost 500 years.  Some researchers theorize the distortion forms as a result of trauma to the penis, or when minor contact causes an indirect micro-trauma shearing force that can result in minor bleeding into the wide area of tissue.   While healing is taking place certain growth factors that appear to be genetically determined cause an abnormal amount of scar tissue (or plaque) to form at the site of injury.

The penis is composed of three cylindrical cavities, with two of these at the top and one below.  The top two are wider and thicker, and are called the corpus cavernosa, while bottom cylinder is the corpus spongiosum and contains the urethra or the tube through which urine flows.  During erection the two top corpora cavernosa expand to trap and hold the blood that produces the pneumatic force that results in enlargement and rigidity.   Each of these paired cylinders is surrounded by a very elastic covering called the tunica albuginea, similar to the casing of a sausage.

In a case of Peyronie’s disease the elastic tissue of the tunica is replaced by scar tissue, so it lacks flexibility and the ability to stretch.  Because the plaque is not elastic, but rather hard, it will not stretch with erection.  When this happens the erection that occurs is not even or symmetrical, and often smaller than before.

What starts out as a small nodule or constriction on the penile shaft just below the skin surface, eventually expands to form a flat plaque or deposit that can sometimes extend along the entire length of the shaft.  This plaque invades and replaces the elastic tunica albuginea covering of the internal tissue of the penis, leaving a mass of inflexible material. In some patients the penis beyond the plaque will not become as rigid. When a man with this degree of extensive Peyronie’s has an erection, the scar or plaque material cannot expand, resulting in a curved or bent penis, or one that exhibits a bottle neck or hour glass deformity – or a combination of these distortion patterns.

Often the plaque is located on the top surface of the penis, causing an upward curvature.  However, plaques can occur anywhere on the penis; the scar or plaque will always be worse on the concave portion of the distortion pattern.

Many men with Peyronie’s disease complain not only about their curved or distorted erection, but also about the loss of length and girth. These are all results of the inelastic tissue within the substance of the penile body.

Peyronies curved penis and sexual intercourse

One-third of men with Peyronie’s have pain when erect, and a smaller number become impotent. In some cases, the head of the penis does not fill with blood, resulting in a penis that is erect on the bottom near the pubic area, and soft or flaccid toward the top part of the penis – this is called a bottle neck deformity.  This type of distortion would make intercourse difficult due to penetration problems.  About half of men with Peyronie’s disease continue to function sexually when their curving penis is gradual and minor.  But as the curvature becomes abrupt and large the amount of sexual difficulty also increases.   Half of men with Peyronies experience frequent to constant problems with intercourse due to their distortion pattern.

For in-depth solutions and discussion of the sexual problems related to Peyronie’s disease please review the contents of Peyronie’s Disease & Sex, a one-of-a-kind book written by a man who completely cured his PD using the Alternative Medicine treatment principles found on the Peyronie’s Disease Institute website.