Categories: Health

Common Cures for Peyronie’s disease

Peyronie’s disease is a male sexual disease that causes the penis to bend significantly and men experience pain in the penis. Severe penile curvature causes problems for men to perform sexual activity. Peyronie’s disease (PD) is not a common male issue worldwide, but the number of PD patients has seen an increase in recent years. Treatments for this issue have developed a lot in modern times but even with that, it’s not an easy disorder to treat.

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History of PD

Peyronie’s disease was discovered by Francois Gigot de la Peyronie, a French surgeon who first described it in 1743. Francois Gigot de la Peyronie’s original description of the condition was based on a series of cases he had observed in his practice. He noted that men with PD typically had a thickening of the penile tissue, which caused a curvature during erection. This curvature often made sexual intercourse difficult or impossible to achieve. Peyronie also noted that the condition tended to occur in older men and speculated that it might be related to gout or rheumatism.

Following Peyronie’s initial description of the condition, several other physicians began to report cases of what they called “induratio penis plastica,” or plastic induration of the penis. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the condition was still poorly understood, and various theories were proposed to explain its cause. Some physicians believed that Peyronie’s Disease was a result of inflammation or trauma to the penis, while others suggested that it might be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Later, doctors identified the two stages of this disease. These are the acute phase and chronic phase.

The first stage of Peyronie’s disease is the acute phase, which is characterised by pain and inflammation in the penis. During this stage, the fibrous scar tissue begins to form, which can cause the penis to bend or curve during an erection. The curvature may be mild or severe, and it can occur in any direction.

The symptoms of Peyronie’s disease during the acute phase may include:

• Pain or tenderness in the penis

• Swelling or inflammation

• A lump or hard area in the penis

• Erectile dysfunction

• Difficulty with sexual intercourse

• Depression or anxiety associated with the condition

The acute phase of Peyronie’s disease typically lasts for 6-12 months, although it can last longer in some cases.

The second phase of Peyronie’s disease is characterised by the stabilization of the fibrous scar tissue, which stops growing and becomes harder. During this stage, the curvature of the penis may become more pronounced, as a result, Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction may become more severe. However, the pain and inflammation usually subside.

The symptoms of Peyronie’s disease during the chronic phase may include:

• The penis’s natural curvature when erected

• Erectile dysfunction

• Difficulty with sexual intercourse

• Conditions-related stress or sadness

Ancient Treatments of PD

In ancient times there were not effective treatments available for Peyronie’s disease, mainly because of the lack of knowledge on this disease and lack of technological advancements. For example, the person who first discovered PD suggested that patients with this disease should take spa-specific treatments with mineral water. Later in the 19^th century, oral and topical mercury and iodides were proposed to treat PD. Mercury was thought to be effective because of the supposed association between PD and syphilis. On the other hand, iodides were thought to be effective due to their supposed healing power. Even oral disodium phosphate was also proposed to treat PD back then.

In the 1970s, a new treatment for Peyronie’s Disease was developed that involved injecting a drug called verapamil directly into the fibrous plaques. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker that has been used for many years to treat high blood pressure and other conditions. Studies showed that when verapamil was injected into the fibrous plaques, it could help to break down the collagen and reduce the curvature of the penis.

Modern Treatments of PD

Thanks to technological advancements and increased knowledge of this disease, nowadays a wide range of treatments are available to treat PD and causes such a Prostate Cancer surgery.

Oral Medications: Medicines such as pentoxifylline, colchicine, and vitamin E are used to treat Peyronie’s disease in several men around the world. But it’s important to note that, such medications can have adverse effects on the body. That’s why it’s always mandatory to consult an experienced medical professional before taking these medicines.

Injections: Reducing plaque size and penile curvature can also be done with the help of intralesional injections of collagenase and verapamil.

Topical Agents: Nitroglycerin and potassium para-aminobenzoate, which are topical agents, can be used to treat PD as well.

Nesbit Procedure: It’s a surgical process which involves shortening the longer size of the penis to mitigate the curvature.

Tunical plication: This surgical procedure involves folding and suturing the tunica albuginea on the shorter side of the penis to minimize the curvature.

Grafting: In the Peyronie’s disease grafting process, a tissue graft is used to cover the defect in the tunica albuginea and treat the curvature.

Penile Vacuum Pumps: VED for Peyronie’s disease or penile vacuum pumps don’t target the plaques of the penis, but rather minimize several symptoms of PD. These devices stretch penile tissues, and the penis gets straightened in the process.

Photoactivation. This treatment works in the mitochondria of the cells and aids in the healing process of the body. It is also a modern treatment option.

Shockwave Therapy: Shockwave therapy for PD is a non-invasive treatment option that utilizes special shockwaves to break down the plaques and improve blood flow in the penis. It is a relatively new treatment option, which was initially developed to break down kidney stones.

EMTT Therapy: EMTT therapy or extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy is yet another non-invasive treatment procedure that utilizes a strong magnetic field. EMTT therapy and shockwave therapy, both can be used simultaneously to effectively treat PD.

NanoVi: NanoVi technology is also a modern non-invasive treatment procedure that aids in cell recovery and their DNA by strengthening the immune system without using any sort of harmful chemicals. It is also used in PD treatments as it is very useful to reduce oxidating stress. A UK-based specialised men’s health clinic MansMatters provides this treatment for PD along with shockwave therapy and EMTT therapy. The effectiveness of NanoVi increases significantly when used in conjunction with shockwave therapy and EMTT, according to MansMatters.

Lifestyle Modifications: Physical exercises, a healthy nutritious diet, weight management, and smoking cessation, all can improve the overall health of men. These tasks can improve the penile as well as the general health of men.

Side-effects of PD treatments

Some Peyronie’s disease treatments can cause several adverse effects on the body. For example, overdose symptoms or side effects of vitamin E include bleeding and adverse interactions with other drugs. Colchicine can pose side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, muscle pain, peripheral numbness, bleeding, bruising, sore throat, fever, chills, etc. Many men have to go through surgical processes to treat their PD as it can be quite complex to treat without surgery in some instances. These surgical treatments can also cause some serious side effects such as infection, swelling, and even reduced penis length. However, non-surgical therapy options and penis exercises don’t have these types of side effects and are generally pretty safe to undergo.

How to prevent PD

Although Peyronie’s disease can be a genetic issue for some men, some general steps can be taken to minimise the risk of its development. First of all, you should always try to lead a healthy life. Avoid smoking, excessive drinking, and drug usage. Follow a nutritious diet and exercise regularly. By doing these steps, you can improve your sexual as well as general health. But most importantly, try to be safe from penile injuries. Avoid playing certain sports that pose a risk of causing injuries to the penis. Even if you play these types of sports or indulge in activities that can cause penile damage, try to safeguard your penile and pelvic region all the time. As vigorous intercourse or masturbation can also cause penile damage, you should avoid these kinds of activities at all costs.

Conclusion

So, the treatment procedures for Peyronie’s disease have come a long way in the modern era since its discovery. With various modern invasive and non-invasive treatments, many men have been able to get rid of this disease and enjoy a healthy sex life yet again.

Ethan

Ethan is the founder, owner, and CEO of EntrepreneursBreak, a leading online resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners. With over a decade of experience in business and entrepreneurship, Ethan is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and reach their full potential.