FirstMed Consulting Blog

Peyronie’s disease can cause impotence
When an erection occurs, arteries fill the spongy tissue in your penis with blood. The blood fills this tissue and makes your penis hard.

Failure to get an erection that is sufficient for sexual intercourse is called erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence.

Sometimes the process doesn’t work the way it should. Damaged arteries, blood vessels, and nerves can prevent or obstruct blood flow to your penis. In a few cases, a psychological problem may interfere with erection.

One physical problem than can cause incomplete erection and erectile dysfunction is Peyronie’s disease, also called penile curvature.

A man with Peyronie’s disease has hardened or “calcified” tissues in his penis. These tissues are called plaques. The hardening is in the tunica abluginea . This is the sheath surrounding the spongy tissue in the penis. The hardening often causes pain and curvature, usually during erection.

3% of men may have Peyronie’s disease
The condition usually occurs between age 45 and 60. The average age is 50, but it can occur in men as young as 18.

Nearly 3% of all men may have Peyronie’s disease. Doctors think that many men with Peyronie’s disease do not look for help because the symptoms are mild or they are too embarrassed.

Causes of Peyronie’s Disease
Doctors don’t know all of the causes of Peyronie’s disease. Sudden cases often are caused by trauma to the penis, such as injury or extremely vigorous sexual activity.

There may be a genetic link. There also is evidence that blood vessels may be involved.