Peyronie’s Disease: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Peyronie's Disease

The Curve Is Only Part of the Problem.
Treat the Curve. Restore Lost Size. Protect Your Function.
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92%

Not diagnosed at first visit

89%

Reported penile shortening

65%

Had volume-loss deformity

48%

Had worsening curvature

What Is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease develops when scar tissue, called plaque, forms around the erectile chambers of the penis. Because the plaque cannot stretch normally during an erection, it can pull the penis out of its natural shape and prevent the surrounding tissue from expanding evenly.

The result is not always just a curve. Peyronie’s disease can cause shortening, loss of girth, indentation, hourglass narrowing, buckling during penetration, painful erections and erectile dysfunction. Some men have relatively little curvature but significant narrowing, shortening or instability, which is why measuring the curve alone can miss much of the damage.

Unfortunately, doctors may miss it too. In one U.S. study, 92% of men who sought care for penile symptoms were not diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease by the first doctor they saw, and 74% received no treatment at that visit. [1] That delay matters because only 12% of men experience improvement in curvature without treatment, while 48% worsen. [4]

During the acute or active phase, the curve, plaque, pain, size or erection quality may still be changing. In the chronic or stable phase, the deformity has stopped measurably changing—but stable does not mean the plaque has disappeared or the penis has returned to normal.

CTA: Have Your Peyronie’s Disease Properly Evaluated
What Causes Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease can develop after the penis is injured during sex, masturbation or another activity. It may happen when the penis bends or buckles, including when it slips out during sex and is forced against a partner’s body. Some men remember a painful injury, but the majority do not.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, Dupuytren’s contracture, genetics and previous urologic procedures may increase the risk. Peyronie’s disease can occur in younger men and should be taken seriously.

Peyronie’s disease can also develop after prostate cancer treatment. In one study of men evaluated after radical prostatectomy, 15.9% were diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. [5]
How Is Peyronie’s Disease Treated?
Peyronie’s disease treatment should consider more than the visible bend. Dr. Bawa evaluates the plaque, location and direction of the curve, lost length or girth, indentation or hourglass deformity, erection quality, tissue health, stability and how the condition affects intercourse.

At Bawa Medical in Boca Raton, the Bawa Method focuses on improving the curve and tissue health while also addressing circulation, erection quality and size that may have been lost. Treatment is individualized rather than applying the same protocol to every man.

Depending on the findings, Dr. Bawa may combine:
Bawa Medical serves men throughout Palm Beach County and South Florida, as well as patients who travel from across the United States and internationally. Men traveling to Boca Raton can begin with a virtual consultation with Dr. Bawa.
Can Peyronie’s Make Your Penis Smaller?

Yes. Peyronie’s disease can cause loss of penile length, girth and overall erectile volume because scar tissue cannot stretch and expand normally. In one long-term study, 89% of men reported penile shortening, while approximately 60% reported worsening erectile function and declining satisfaction with intercourse. [2] Another study found that 65% of men with Peyronie’s had a volume-loss deformity such as an indentation, hourglass narrowing or tapering. [3]

Loss of girth is not only cosmetic. A narrowed or indented area may become less stable and more likely to buckle during penetration. It can also contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED). This is why Peyronie’s disease should be evaluated by more than the number of degrees in the curve.
Is Your Curve Normal?

Not every curved penis has Peyronie’s disease. Some men have congenital penile curvature that has been present since their earliest erections and remains relatively unchanged. A curve is more concerning when it is new or changing, or when it is accompanied by a plaque or lump, pain, shortening, lost girth, indentation, hourglass narrowing, weaker erections, buckling or increasing difficulty with penetration.

Even a curve that has existed for years may be worth evaluating if you are unsure when it began. Peyronie’s disease can occur in younger men, and a change that developed around adolescence may mistakenly be remembered as something that was “always there.” An evaluation does not automatically mean you need treatment, but your history, examination and imaging when appropriate may help distinguish a natural curve from one related to scar tissue and establish a baseline for future changes.
She Likes the Curve—But Is It Hurting You?

Some women may enjoy an upward curve because it can stimulate the internal portion of the clitoris through the front wall of the vagina—the area many people call the G-spot. The G-spot is not really a separate structure, but part of the larger clitoral complex. However, there are many ways to provide this stimulation without relying on a penis that is being deformed by scar tissue.

A new or worsening curve caused by Peyronie’s disease is not a sexual advantage or something to take pride in. The condition can worsen over time, causing greater curvature, shortening, loss of girth, instability and erectile dysfunction. She may enjoy the curve now, but what feels good to her today may eventually make penetration difficult or impossible and prevent his penis from functioning normally.
References

1. DiBenedetti DB, Nguyen D, Zografos L, Ziemiecki R, Zhou X. A population-based study of Peyronie’s disease: prevalence and treatment patterns in the United States. Advances in Urology. 2011;2011:282503.

2. Capoccia E, Ziegelmann MJ, Emmerson J, et al. Long-term patient-reported outcomes in men with Peyronie’s disease undergoing nonsurgical and nonintralesional injection management. International Journal of Impotence Research. 2021;33:75–81.

3. Margolin EJ, Pagano MJ, Aisen CM, Onyeji IC, Stahl PJ. Beyond curvature: prevalence and characteristics of penile volume-loss deformities in men with Peyronie’s disease. Sexual Medicine. 2018;6:309–315.

4. Mulhall JP, Schiff J, Guhring P. An analysis of the natural history of Peyronie’s disease. Journal of Urology. 2006;175:2115–2118.

5. Tal R, Heck M, Teloken P, Siegrist T, Nelson CJ, Mulhall JP. Peyronie’s disease following radical prostatectomy: incidence and predictors. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2010;7:1254–1261.

6. Gelbard M, Goldstein I, Hellstrom WJG, et al. Clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of collagenase clostridium histolyticum for the treatment of Peyronie disease in two large randomized, placebo-controlled phase-three studies. Journal of Urology. 2013;190:199–207.

7. XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) full prescribing information. Revised March 2026.

8. Terrier JE, Tal R, Nelson CJ. Penile sensory changes after plaque incision and grafting surgery for Peyronie’s disease. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2018;15:1491–1497.

9. Chung E, Clendinning E, Lessard L, Brock G. Five-year follow-up of Peyronie’s graft surgery: outcomes and patient satisfaction. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2011;8:594–600.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to common questions about prostate health, screening timelines, and symptom management.

What does Peyronie’s disease look like?

Peyronie’s disease can cause an upward, downward or sideways curve, but it can also cause a hard plaque, indentation, hourglass shape, narrowing, tapering or shortening. Some changes are obvious only during an erection.

Does Peyronie’s disease hurt?

It can. Pain is more common while Peyronie’s disease is actively changing, but some men develop significant curvature, shortening or erectile problems with little or no pain. Pain often improves over time even when the plaque and deformity remain, so becoming pain-free does not necessarily mean the condition is gone.

Is Peyronie’s disease contagious?

No. Peyronie’s disease is caused by scar tissue within the penis; it is not an infection or sexually transmitted disease and cannot be passed to a partner. It can, however, affect both partners when curvature, pain or instability makes intercourse difficult.

Does Peyronie’s disease go away on its own?

Usually not. Curvature improves on its own in only 12% of men, while 48% worsen. [4] Pain may improve even when the plaque, curvature or shortening remains.

Can stable Peyronie’s disease get worse?

Stable Peyronie’s means the deformity has not measurably changed for a period of time; it does not mean the plaque has disappeared. Any new curvature, shortening, narrowing, plaque or change in erection quality should be reevaluated.

Can teenagers develop Peyronie’s disease?

Yes. Peyronie’s disease can occur in younger men and should be taken seriously.

Can masturbation cause Peyronie’s disease?

Penile injury or repeated microtrauma from bending or excessive pressure during masturbation may contribute to Peyronie’s disease. Most men never remember a specific injury, so a new curve, plaque or change in size or erection quality is more important than whether there was an obvious traumatic event.

Can sex cause Peyronie’s disease?

Yes. The penis can be injured if it bends or buckles during intercourse, including when it slips out during sex and is forced against a partner’s body. Sometimes there is an obvious painful injury, while other men first notice a curve, plaque or shortening later.

Can Peyronie’s make the penis smaller?

Yes. Peyronie’s disease can cause loss of erect length because scarred tissue does not stretch normally, and shortening is a recognized feature of the condition. Some men also lose girth or overall erectile volume rather than length alone.

Can Peyronie’s reduce girth?

Yes. Peyronie’s can cause an indentation, hourglass deformity, tapering or true loss of girth and volume. In one study, 65% of men had some form of volume-loss deformity. [3] These changes can also reduce stability and contribute to buckling during penetration.

Can size lost from Peyronie’s disease be restored?

Depending on the type of deformity, treatment can focus on both Peyronie’s disease and the length, girth or volume that has been lost. At Bawa Medical, Dr. Bawa may incorporate BawaBig® when restoring lost girth, volume, contour or symmetry is part of the treatment goal.

Can Peyronie’s disease cause ED (erectile dysfunction)?

Yes. Peyronie’s disease can cause erectile dysfunction (ED). Scar tissue may prevent the penis from expanding normally, interfere with its ability to become or remain firm, and create narrowing or instability that causes it to buckle during penetration.
As Peyronie’s disease progresses, worsening curvature, shortening, pain and loss of girth can make erections less reliable and sex increasingly difficult. This is another reason a new or changing curve should not be ignored.

Is it safe to have sex with Peyronie’s disease?

That depends on the degree of curvature, pain and erection stability. A penis that is not fully firm or that buckles easily may be more vulnerable to further injury, so painful or unstable intercourse should not simply be pushed through. A sudden bend or pop followed by severe pain, bruising, swelling or immediate loss of the erection requires urgent medical evaluation.

Do Viagra® or Cialis® treat Peyronie’s disease?

Viagra® and Cialis® may improve erection firmness in some men, but they do not remove Peyronie’s plaque or correct the curvature. When Peyronie’s disease and ED occur together, Dr. Bawa evaluates and treats both problems.

How effective is Xiaflex® for Peyronie’s disease?

In major trials, Xiaflex® improved curvature by an average of about 17 degrees compared with about 9 degrees with placebo. [6] It can also cause bruising, swelling and pain and carries an FDA boxed warning for corporal rupture, or penile fracture. [6,7] Dr. Bawa does not use Xiaflex® and instead offers individualized non-surgical treatment options at Bawa Medical.

Is surgery the only option for severe Peyronie’s disease?

No. Severe Peyronie’s disease does not automatically mean that surgery is necessary. Through the Bawa Method, Dr. Bawa develops a personalized, non-surgical treatment plan based on the curve, plaque, lost length or girth, indentation, erection quality, instability and ability to have intercourse.
Surgery can cause additional shortening, changes in sensation and erectile dysfunction, and it may not restore the size or function Peyronie’s disease has already taken away. [8,9] Dr. Bawa focuses on treating the condition while preserving and rebuilding as much penile size, structure and function as possible.

How is Peyronie’s disease diagnosed?

At Bawa Medical in Boca Raton, diagnosis begins with a medical and sexual history and physical examination of the plaque and deformity. Photographs, penile measurements or Doppler ultrasound may also be used to evaluate curvature, blood flow, erection quality and loss of length or girth.

When should I see a doctor for a curved penis?

A new or changing curve should be evaluated, particularly if you also notice a plaque or lump, pain, shortening, lost girth, indentation or weaker erections. Even an older curve is worth evaluating if you are unsure whether it has always been there or whether Peyronie’s disease may be responsible.

Which Peyronie’s disease treatments does Bawa Medical offer?

Dr. Bawa creates an individualized, non-surgical treatment plan that may include BawaWave®, BawaRF®, BawaShot® and BawaBig®. The combination depends on the plaque, curvature, lost size, tissue health, circulation, erection quality and the patient’s goals.

How much does Peyronie’s disease treatment cost?

Cost depends on the extent of Peyronie’s disease and which treatments are recommended. A consultation with Dr. Bawa determines whether treatment needs to focus primarily on the plaque and function or also on restoring lost girth, volume or overall size.

Does Bawa Medical offer financing for Peyronie’s disease treatment?

Yes. Bawa Medical offers financing and payment options for patients undergoing Peyronie’s disease treatment. The team can review treatment costs and available options after Dr. Bawa has determined the appropriate treatment plan.

What if I do not live in Boca Raton?

Men travel to Bawa Medical from across the United States and internationally for Dr. Bawa’s proprietary treatments. A virtual consultation with Dr. Bawa is an excellent first step for patients who will be traveling to Boca Raton.

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