Popular treatment options for Peyronie’s disease

Peyronie’s disease is the result of multiple penile injuries that cause painful and curved erections. It is a rare type of erectile dysfunction and the cause of the same is largely unknown. Many studies suggest that this form of erectile dysfunction may be caused due to a trauma to the penis. Such trauma can lead to fibrous scar tissue inside the penis and bleeding. However, the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse observes that the condition often arises even without any penile injury.

There is no cure for the disease, but it is treatable. One needs to consult the doctor immediately if the symptoms are severe. The doctor may recommend medications or surgery, depending on the severity of the condition. Here are some of the preferred treatments for Peyronie’s disease.

Non-surgical treatments
There are a few non-surgical options that can be considered for treating Peyronie’s disease. A technique known as iontophoresis is used to pass weak electrical current that infuses the medication through the skin. Other non-surgical treatments include shock wave therapy that helps in breaking up the scar tissue and penile traction therapy that helps stretching the penis. Patients suffering from Peyronie’s disease can also benefit from gentle penile exercises post treatments, which should be practiced every day for a couple of minutes.

Medications
The Food and Drug Administration has approved clostridium hystolyticum (Xiaflex) for treating Peyronie’s disease. The medication includes a series of penile injections that help in breaking the buildup of collagen inside the penis. It is recommended to consult your doctor before taking any medications. Moreover, it is always preferable to take prescribed medications.

Lifestyle changes
It has been observed that a few lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of erectile dysfunctions such as Peyronie’s disease. Some of these changes include reducing the consumption of alcohol, quitting smoking, and regular exercise.

Surgery
The doctor may opt for surgery only in the case of severe deformity of the penis. Some of the surgical options include enlargement of the scar tissue, shortening the unaffected side of the penis and, penile implants.