Peyronie's Disease

Treatment

Men who have Peyronie's disease may not experience symptoms all of the time because the condition often has phases of improvement. Oral and injected medications are common first steps in treatment before surgery is considered. When men seek treatment, they should wait 12 to 18 months before any surgical procedures are performed. Surgery is not successful if it is done during an active phase of the disease.

Medication

Some oral medications may help with Peyronie's disease, including Vitamin E and drugs that decrease swelling. When these do not solve the problem, another option is to inject a drug into the plaque to try to dissolve it.

Surgery

Surgery is a good option when medication and injections are not effective. Reconstructive surgery for Peyronie's disease is a complex operation, requiring specialized techniques and experience. Mayo Clinic urologists have achieved a high rate of success using surgery to restore the normal shape and function of the penis in men with Peyronie's disease.

Surgical procedures for Peyronie's disease are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day or the day following surgery. They require general anesthesia and the surgery lasts up to two and a half hours. When the patient's own tissues are harvested for grafting, a plastic surgeon may participate in the procedure.

Mayo Clinic urologists use different procedures depending on each patient's symptoms. Common procedures include:

• Nesbit plication: this procedure involves removing or pinching tissue on the side of the penis opposite the plaque, creating a pulling effect that corrects bending.
• Graft repairs: this involves removing the plaque and using pieces of skin from other parts of the body to cover the area.
• Plaque incision with saphenous vein graft: this procedure involves making several linear cuts in the plaque, allowing the penis to straighten and then covering the cut with a grafted vein.
• Penile prostheses: this procedure involves implanting small rods in the penis that can be manipulated to create an erection.

Mayo Clinic urologists observe a strict waiting period of one year or more before recommending surgery, and then carefully choose the surgical treatment based on each man's symptoms and needs. All men with Peyronie's disease who are in otherwise good health are candidates for surgery to correct this disorder.