Peyronie's Disease

Peyronie's Disease is the formal term for the condition also known as Induratio penis plastica, Chronic Inflammation of Tunica Albuginea (CITA), or simply as penile curvature. It is a disorder of the fibrous, connective tissue in the penis, and it is estimated to affect from 1% to 4% of men. A certain degree of curvature to the penis is considered normal and is referred to as congenital curvature, but men with Peyronie's Disease suffer from a chronic inflammation of the fibrous tissues, which not only deforms the shape but can also be painful, and in some cases can cause hardened lesions or scar tissue known as plaques. Though it can affect any race, it is most prevalent in Caucasian men over 40 years of age, and in many men that have the disease (as much as 30%), there are problems with inflamed fibrous tissue in other parts of the body, most commonly the hands, and to a lesser extent the feet. It is believed that there is a genetic component to this condition. 12-13% of the people who suffer from this condition will spontaneously get better, while 40-50% will get progressively worse without treatment. (The remainder will see the condition remain stable over time).

Though penile curvature does not prevent men from having sex, in many cases erectile dysfunction can be present as the disease progresses, and many men exhibit depression and withdraw from their partners.

The causes are poorly understood, but it is generally believed to be caused by trauma or injury incurred during sexual activity (and generally unnoticed at the time). It is also thought that certain medications can cause or exacerbate the disease, and all beta-blocker drugs in the US list Peyronie's Disease as a possible side-effect. Calcium channel blockers or anti-hypertensive drugs are also suspected to contribute to the condition.

If you suffer from this condition, you will be glad to know that treatments do exist. Of the many oral treatments however, results have been mixed. It is thought that Vitamin E can help and there are a number of drugs, some taken orally and some injected in the penis. Skilled urologists employ a few different surgical methods for the worst cases, including a procedure called "The Leriche Technique", in which an 18 gauge needle is used to lacerate the plaque inside the fibrous tissue of the penis, and thus return straightness and sexual performance.

Fortunately, there are also non-surgical solutions to this problem: penis extenders or enlargers, and numerous doctors and studies have confirmed that they are effective, including a study in The Journal of Sexual Health in 2009, by Dr. Paolo Guntero at Battista Hospital at the University of Turin, in Italy. Other Doctors to confirm the effectiveness of these techniques include Urologist Wendy Hum of the British Royal Infirmary, Dr. Stephen Giunta of New York, and Dr. Ruslan Petrovich of Moscow.

There are a number of penis extenders available on the market but the X4 Labs Peyronie's Edition is considered to be the best extender for improving this condition. The device is worn on the penis and the device applies a steady force from outside. This helps the penis to stretch in a straight direction, and when it is used for the proper amount of time it actually increases the length of the penis as well. The stretching of the penis helps the curve to rectify and become straight after some months of use.