Understanding the Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie’s disease happens when scar tissue, called plaque, forms inside the penis. This tissue cannot stretch properly during an erection, which can cause the penis to bend or change shape. Some men also experience pain, shortening or difficulty getting or keeping an erection.
A firm area of scar tissue develops inside the penis.
The scarred area cannot expand normally during an erection.
This can cause a curve, indentation, narrowing or shortening.
Peyronie’s disease is not cancer, an infection or a sexually transmitted infection. It is a condition involving scar tissue inside the penis.
How Does Peyronie's Disease Develop?
Peyronie’s disease develops when the normal healing process inside the penis leads to a build-up of fibrous scar tissue, known as plaque. This may follow an injury or repeated minor trauma, although many men cannot recall a specific event. The plaque restricts how the affected tissue stretches during an erection, which can cause the penis to curve or change shape.
The penis may experience an injury or repeated minor trauma, sometimes during sexual activity. Many men do not remember a specific incident.
The body responds by beginning its natural healing process within the affected penile tissue.
In Peyronie’s disease, the healing response produces a firm area of fibrous scar tissue called plaque.
The plaque cannot stretch normally during an erection, which may cause the penis to curve, narrow, shorten or change shape.
Signs and Symptoms of Peyronie's Disease
If you experience any of the following changes, you may be among those effected
by Peyronie’s disease (Induratio Penis Plastica) and should seek medical advice.
The penis may begin to bend upwards, downwards or to either side during an erection. The curve may develop slowly or become noticeable quite suddenly.
Scar tissue may be felt beneath the skin as a firm lump, flat area or band of tissue. Some plaques are easier to feel than others.
Pain or tenderness may be present during an erection or while the penis is soft. This is more common while the condition is developing.
The penis may appear shorter during an erection because the scarred tissue cannot stretch as much as the surrounding tissue.
Part of the penile shaft may become narrower or indented, sometimes creating an uneven or hourglass-shaped appearance.
Peyronie’s disease may make it harder to get or maintain an erection that is firm enough for comfortable sexual activity.
Curvature, pain, narrowing or erection difficulties may make penetration uncomfortable or difficult for the man or his partner.
Part of the erect penis may bend or buckle under pressure. This is sometimes referred to as the hinge effect.
How Peyronie's Disease Can Change The Penis
Curvature
Penile curvature is one of the most recognised changes caused by Peyronie’s disease. The penis may bend upwards, downwards or to either side during an erection, depending on where the plaque has formed. Scar tissue does not stretch in the same way as healthy penile tissue, causing the penis to pull towards the affected area as it becomes erect. The degree of curvature can vary considerably and may change while the condition is in its active stage. Some men can continue having sex comfortably, while a more pronounced curve may make penetration difficult or painful for the man or his partner.
Hourglass Deformity
An hourglass deformity develops when part of the penile shaft becomes narrower around both sides, creating a pinched appearance during an erection. This change is caused by scar tissue restricting the normal expansion of the penis within a particular area. The narrowing may affect a small section or extend further along the shaft. In some cases, the area above the narrowing may feel less stable and bend during sexual activity. An hourglass deformity can occur with or without significant curvature, which is why the overall shape and stability of the erect penis should be considered during a clinical assessment.
Indentation
Indentation describes a noticeable dip or hollow that develops along one side of the penile shaft. It occurs when plaque prevents the affected tissue from expanding evenly during an erection. The indentation may be shallow or more pronounced and can appear alongside curvature, narrowing or a loss of penile length. Some men notice that the erection remains firm overall but looks uneven, while others experience reduced stability around the indented area. The position and depth of the indentation can influence how the condition affects sexual activity, so these details form an important part of understanding each patient’s individual presentation.
Hinge Effect
The hinge effect occurs when one section of the erect penis has reduced stability and bends or buckles under pressure. This may happen around an area of indentation, narrowing or hourglass deformity where the penile shaft is less evenly supported. The penis may appear sufficiently firm, but the weakened section can make penetration or maintaining sexual activity more difficult. The hinge effect is different from general erectile dysfunction because it can affect one particular area rather than the firmness of the entire penis. A clinical assessment can help identify where this instability occurs and how significantly it is affecting function.
Penile Shortening
Peyronie’s disease can cause a noticeable reduction in penile length, particularly during an erection. This happens because the scarred tissue cannot stretch as freely as the surrounding healthy tissue. As plaque develops or becomes more established, it may restrict expansion and pull the penis into a shorter or curved position. The degree of shortening varies between men and may occur alongside narrowing, indentation or erectile dysfunction. Changes in length can also affect confidence and sexual relationships. Comparing current measurements with previous photographs or information may help the clinician understand how the condition has progressed over time.
What Does Peyronie's Plaque Feel Like?
Peyronie’s plaque is scar tissue that develops beneath the skin of the penis. It may feel different from one person to another, and its size, shape and position can vary.
A Flat, Firm Area
The plaque may feel like a flattened area of firm tissue beneath the skin.
A Hard Lump
Some men notice one or more distinct hard lumps along the penile shaft.
A Narrow Band
Scar tissue can sometimes feel like a firm band running beneath the skin.
A Tender Area
During the active stage, the affected area may feel tender or painful, particularly during an erection.
Some plaques are small, positioned deeper within the tissue or difficult to identify yourself. A specialist clinical assessment can help determine whether plaque is present and evaluate the changes affecting the penis.
Natural Curvature Versus Peyronie's Disease
Not every penile curve is caused by Peyronie’s disease. The differences below can help explain whether a curve is more likely to be natural or whether it may require clinical assessment.
| Natural or Congenital Curvature | Peyronie’s Disease |
|---|---|
| Often present from an early age | Usually develops later in life |
| Usually remains stable over time | Curvature or other changes may progress over time |
| No penile plaque is present | Scar tissue, known as plaque, may be present |
| Often painless | Pain or tenderness can occur, particularly during the active stage |
| The shape of the penis has not recently changed | A new curve, indentation, narrowing or other deformity develops |
It is not always possible to identify the cause of penile curvature yourself. If the shape of your penis has recently changed, you can feel a firm area or you are experiencing pain, a specialist clinical assessment can help establish the cause.
What Causes Peyronie's Disease?
The exact cause of Peyronie’s disease cannot always be identified. It is thought to develop when penile tissue does not heal normally, allowing excess scar tissue to form. This may be influenced by injury, repeated minor trauma, genetics, age and certain medical conditions.
Many men cannot recall a specific injury or event before their symptoms began. Minor damage can happen without being noticed, and several different factors may influence how the tissue heals.
The penis may occasionally be bent or injured during sexual activity. However, this does not mean the patient caused the condition, and many men do not remember an identifiable injury.
Small, repeated injuries may occur over time without causing immediate pain or being noticed. These minor injuries may affect how the tissue subsequently heals.
Peyronie’s disease is associated with an unusual healing response in which excess scar tissue develops within the elastic tissue of the penis.
Some men may have an inherited tendency to develop abnormal scar tissue. Having a close relative with Peyronie’s disease may increase the likelihood of developing it.
Peyronie’s disease is associated with some connective tissue conditions, particularly Dupuytren’s contracture, which causes thickened tissue in the hand.
Some men develop Peyronie’s disease following prostate surgery. Changes in erections, circulation and penile tissue after treatment may contribute to its development.
As men get older, penile tissue may become more vulnerable to injury and may not repair itself as effectively, increasing the likelihood of scar formation.
Acute and Chronic Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie’s disease is commonly described as having an acute stage and a chronic stage. The stage is determined by how the symptoms are behaving, rather than time alone, and can influence which management or treatment options may be considered.
| Comparison What to Consider | Changing stage Acute Peyronie’s Disease | Stable stage Chronic Peyronie’s Disease |
|---|---|---|
| Changes to the penis | Acute stage The plaque, curvature or shape of the penis may still be developing or changing. | Chronic stage The plaque and curvature have generally become stable and are no longer changing significantly. |
| Pain and tenderness | Acute stage Pain or tenderness may occur with or without an erection, although not every patient experiences pain. | Chronic stage Pain will often have reduced or resolved, although curvature, shortening or erectile difficulties may remain. |
| Typical progression | Acute stage This stage commonly occurs during the first 12 to 18 months, but its duration can vary considerably between patients. | Chronic stage This stage begins once the condition has stabilised. Symptoms may remain unchanged for a prolonged period. |
| Why the stage matters | Acute stage Ongoing changes, pain and plaque development need to be considered when discussing monitoring, symptom management and treatment options. | Chronic stage Stable curvature and established symptoms help clinicians assess which treatment options may be appropriate. |
| Clinical assessment | Acute stage Early assessment can document the starting symptoms and help monitor whether the curvature or deformity is progressing. | Chronic stage Assessment remains important even when symptoms have been present for years, particularly if they affect erections, sexual activity or confidence. |
How Peyronie's Disease Can Affect Erections and Sex
Peyronie’s plaque is scar tissue that develops beneath the skin of the penis. It may feel different from one person to another, and its size, shape and position can vary.
Some men experience erectile dysfunction alongside Peyronie’s disease, making it harder to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sex.
Erections may feel painful or uncomfortable, particularly while the condition is active and still changing.
Curvature, narrowing, shortening or indentation can make penetration uncomfortable, difficult or sometimes not possible.
An indentation or hinge effect may create an area where the penis bends or buckles during sexual activity.
Changes in the angle, shape or stability of the penis may make certain positions uncomfortable for either partner.
Worry about pain, performance or appearance may cause some men to avoid intimacy and affect their confidence.
Read more about sexual activity, communication with a partner and managing intimacy when living with Peyronie’s disease.
Our Peyronie's Disease Treatment Options
Not every penile curve is caused by Peyronie’s disease. The differences below can help explain whether a curve is more likely to be natural or whether it may require clinical assessment.
A medical vacuum pump creates controlled negative pressure around the penis. It may support tissue expansion, penile length and erectile function when used correctly as part of a supervised programme.
View Vacuum Pumps
Certain medicines or regenerative preparations may be injected into or around the affected tissue. The evidence, potential benefits and risks vary according to the injection being considered.
Explore Injections
Focused Shockwave Therapy (f-ESWT) delivers targeted acoustic energy to the affected area. Evidence is more established for reducing pain than correcting curvature.
View Focused Shockwave
Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy uses electromagnetic fields and may be incorporated into a wider non-invasive programme alongside other therapies.
Learn About EMTT
NanoVi® is used to support natural cellular repair processes and may be included within selected multimodal programmes rather than used as a standalone treatment.
Learn About NanoVi®
PD360 brings together multiple treatment approaches within a personalised pathway based on the patient’s symptoms, assessment and clinical needs.
Explore PD360Take the Peyronie's Disease Test
Answer a few simple questions. This test is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Peyronie's Disease FAQs
What are the first signs of Peyronie’s disease?
Early signs can include pain during erections, a new bend or change in penile shape, and a firm area or lump beneath the skin. Some men notice indentation, narrowing, an hourglass appearance or a loss of length before significant curvature develops. Erections may also feel less firm or become difficult to maintain. Symptoms can appear gradually or develop relatively quickly. Any new or unexplained change should be assessed by a clinician, particularly if it is painful or affecting sexual activity.
What causes Peyronie’s disease?
The exact cause is not always clear, but Peyronie’s disease is thought to develop when an injury to the penis heals abnormally. This may follow a noticeable incident or repeated minor trauma during sexual activity that the individual does not remember. Instead of healing normally, excessive scar tissue forms within the tunica albuginea. Genetic susceptibility, age, diabetes and certain connective tissue conditions may increase the risk. Peyronie’s disease is not caused by poor hygiene, masturbation or a sexually transmitted infection.
Is a curved penis always a sign of Peyronie’s disease?
No. Some men naturally have a slight penile curve, known as congenital curvature, which has usually been present since puberty and remains relatively stable. Peyronie’s disease more commonly causes an acquired change, meaning the curve, indentation or shortening develops later in life. Pain, a palpable plaque and a progressive change in shape can also suggest Peyronie’s disease. If your curvature is new, worsening or interfering with sexual activity, a professional assessment can help determine the cause and whether treatment may be appropriate.
Is Peyronie’s disease cancerous or dangerous?
Peyronie’s disease is a benign condition, meaning it is not cancer and does not develop into penile cancer. It is not usually dangerous to general physical health, but it can significantly affect sexual function, confidence, relationships and emotional wellbeing. A lump in the penis should still be professionally examined because not every penile lump is caused by Peyronie’s disease. Seek medical advice if you notice a new lump, skin change, ulcer, bleeding, discharge or another unexplained symptom so that other conditions can be excluded.
Can Peyronie’s disease go away without treatment?
Pain associated with Peyronie’s disease may improve naturally, particularly once the condition reaches its stable phase. However, the plaque and resulting curvature are less likely to disappear completely without treatment. A small proportion of men may experience some spontaneous improvement, but others remain stable or worsen. It is therefore unwise to assume that the condition will resolve by itself. A specialist assessment can establish the stage and severity of the disease and explain whether monitoring, conservative management or another treatment approach should be considered.
Does Peyronie’s disease cause erectile dysfunction?
Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction frequently occur together. The plaque and resulting deformity may prevent the penis from becoming fully rigid or make it difficult to maintain an erection. Pain and anxiety about sexual performance can also affect arousal and erectile function. In some cases, erectile difficulties were present before the curvature developed because both conditions share risk factors, including age, diabetes and vascular disease. A thorough assessment should therefore consider erection quality as well as curvature, pain and the practical effect on sexual activity.
Can I still have sex if I have Peyronie’s disease?
Many men can continue having sex, particularly when the curvature is mild and erections remain firm. However, certain deformities can make penetration painful, difficult or unsafe for either partner. Forcing penetration against resistance may cause further injury. Positions that provide greater control over depth and movement may be more comfortable, but this varies between couples. If sexual activity causes pain or there is concern about injury, seek professional advice. Treatment should consider function, comfort and confidence, rather than focusing only on the measured degree of curvature.
Is Peyronie’s disease contagious or sexually transmitted?
No. Peyronie’s disease is not contagious and cannot be passed to a partner through sexual contact. It is not caused by a sexually transmitted infection, poor hygiene or infidelity. The condition develops because scar tissue forms within the penis, most likely following an abnormal healing response to injury or repeated minor trauma. Partners may still be affected emotionally or practically if intercourse becomes painful or difficult. Open communication and professional support can help couples understand the condition and make informed decisions about sexual activity and treatment.
Can Peyronie’s disease affect mental health and relationships?
Yes. Peyronie’s disease can cause embarrassment, anxiety, low self-esteem, reduced sexual confidence and symptoms of depression. Some men avoid intimacy because they fear pain, rejection or disappointing their partner. These responses are understandable and should be treated as an important part of the condition, rather than dismissed as secondary concerns. Honest communication with a partner can reduce misunderstanding and isolation. Clinical care should address both physical symptoms and emotional wellbeing, with psychosexual counselling or mental health support considered where appropriate.
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