PEYRONIE'S
DISEASE
From
time to time, men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and specifically
those who have chosen surgery, mention that they have been diagnosed with Peyronie's
Disease or Peyronie's Syndrome. This condition is one where the erect penis acquires
a 'bend' or deflection. The vast majority of Peyronie cases are said to be very
mild. It is believed most men don't report it to their doctors or even their partners
and their partners will be quite unaware of it in normal sexual intercourse, although
the situation is different if oral sex is involved. It is difficult to know how
many cases there are - or if these are linked to surgery or other treatment for
disease like prostate cancer. With the advent of the internet, more men are discussing
this in the 'privacy' or 'anonymity' of the internet and the number of cases is
becoming more apparent. It appears however that specialists around the world are
now determining that there are many more cases than they thought due to under-reporting
( a common men's problem).
A
(non-scientific) MiniPoll on
this site showed that 21% of the respondents had this condition. The number of
respondents was not large and the percentage may have no real bearing on the acutal
number of men affected, although a study in 2010 of 1,011 subjects at Sloan Kettering
found that the incidence in this population was 15.9%. The study concluded that,
“Men presenting with sexual dysfunction after RP (Radical Prostatectomy) have
higher PD (Peyronie's Disease) incidence then the general population” and that
“Younger men and men of white race are at increased risk for PD” after an RP.
It is discussed on The
"New"Prostate Cancer Infolink.
There are varying experiences
reported. The variations may be due to the degree of deflection and the direction
- there are lateral, vertical and multiple deflections. Some are very subtle -
a 'mild condition' is considered a deflection (usually to left or right but sometimes
vertically) of 5-25 degrees, intermediate 25 -35 degrees, etc. Some men have reported
that these can heighten their partner's sexual experience. Grotesque deformities
can be 90 degrees or more and in such extreme cases penetration is impossible.
Others report pain, even in the simple process of erection, and acute pain during
masturbation or intercourse.
It seems unlikely that the condition is directly
caused by a disease, or that it has any direct link with prostate cancer. In fact,
the likely reason this condition was originally called syndrome and not disease
is that in the original case studies by Peyronie he determined that the condition
was largely caused by sexual misadventure. A common cause occurs where the female
assumes the superior position and moves up and down on the penis. The penis is
accidentally released on an upward stroke and she comes down on the penis in the
next downstroke, bending it double. A very small number of deformities are caused
by trauma (accidents) to the pelvic area.
Although the traumatic event
is often extremely painful at the time, the condition may not manifest itself
until later - sometimes months, more often years. It is caused by the blood failing
to circulate through the injury. It's not really much different from many other
injuries, especially sporting injuries that occur, are dealt with at the time,
but show up later.
Simply put, erections are caused by two 'sacks' one
on either side of the penis filling with blood. When the penis is bent or suffers
other trauma the tissue in/around the sacs is damaged. It may take some time for
it to deteriorate. This theory is apparently supported by studies involving large
numbers of men who reported such traumas. It also appears to be supported by the
fact that surgery to restore the blood flow in the affected area invariably finds
the tissue damage synonymous with these traumas. Recently, researchers, private
individual and some doctors have suggested that the condition could be caused
by other factors - such as surgical procedures. This is relatively new thinking
as limited blood flow in the penis itself was originally attributed as the sole
cause. Now researchers are also considering blood flow in the delivery to the
penis and nerve damage that activates the blood flow. However one of the persistent
problems in determining causal factors is that the condition rarely if ever occurs
immediately after the trauma or surgery. So linking the two events is difficult.
The
condition may be operable, depending on degree. Various methods including opening/restoring,
insertions etc are used. A general appraisal of reports seems to indicate that
if the condition doesn't rapidly deteriorate within 12 months, then it won't at
all. Care should be taken in selecting any offer to 'cure' this condition. There
are many cases to found in Internet searches of men who have had completely unsatisfactory
experiences with so-called 'treatments' or 'cures'. The general consensus seems
to be that, so far anyway, successful 'rectifications' are rare.
This
site contains a good deal of information about Peyronie's Disease. It should
be borne in mind that the site is one set up by a surgeon who carries out salvage
treatment and the information should be considered in the light of that fact.
There is another, more independent site, set up by a man with sudden onset Peyronie's.
It is Cure Peyronie's and
although some may find it somewhat difficult to negotiate, there is a good deal
of excellent information for those who perservere.
