Peyronie's Disease is a painful condition affecting the penis, it is caused by scar tissue on the penis causing curvature during an erection making it painful. A Peyronie's Disease specialist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of this painful condition.

This disease can be the result of sexual or repeated trauma to the penis and has also been shown to have links to vascular disease. The pain and discomfort associated with Peyronie's disease can cause a man to stop engaging in sexual intercourse and result in stress and anxiety.

A Peyronie's Disease specialist will usually diagnose this condition in the acute phase which lasts 3-6 months. The chronic phase lasts up to a year at which point the condition stabilises and does not increase in seriousness.

When it comes to symptoms of Peyronie's disease they can progress relatively slowly or come on very suddenly. Symptoms include:

• Men may feel scar tissue formed under the skin of the penis, the so-called plaque.
• You may find a bend in the erect penis or tightness in the shaft.
• Some men may notice an hourglass shape in their erect penis.
• Men may also experience erection problems.
• There may be shortening of the penis, and pain with or without an erection.

Treatment for Peyronie's disease by a specialist have varying levels of success and the treatment options vary on a case by case basis. Surgery is not always the best option although sometimes can be effective. Other treatments include:

• A treatment involving Vitamin E, Potaba, colchicine, or Verapamil, although the evidence for these treatments is limited.
• Surgery can be recommended in certain cases in which men are unable to have intercourse. This typically happens when the penis is bent at a 30- to 45-degree angle. The Nesbit procedure is one surgery that doctors use to treat Peyronie’s Disease. The procedure involves shortening the penis on the opposite side of the bend.
• There is hope that a new drug known as Xiaflex is available for Peyronie’s Diseases suffers in the United Kingdom, although success rates are variable.

It is important to discuss all possible treatment options at length with your Peyronie's Disease Specialist to ascertain the most suitable treatment for you.