What is Peyronie's Disease?
Peyronie's
disease consists of hard, fibrous tissue, called plaques, developing
within the penile shaft. The plaques are hard, thickened and stiff
areas, actually a kind of internal scarring. In this fibroid tissue
also calcium compounds can accumulate, making the plaques even harder.
The Peyronie's disease is also called cavernositis, and also sometimes
plastic induration. There is probably a chronic inflammation process
that leads to this scarring.
The thickened area has less blood flow than normal penile tissue,
and do not fill with blood and swell as the normal spongy areas
in the inside of the penis. Therefore the penis swells more at the
opposite side, and gets a curvature towards the side containing
the plaques when erected.
If the plaques are found at several places, more complex deformations
will develop. The abnormal bending, twisting or swelling within
the penis, often also lead to painful erections.
Any man from the age of 18 and upwards can develop Peyronie's disease.
The average age of men suffering from Peyronie`s disease is 50.
The exact cause of the induration is unknown. It's not a sign of
an underlying serious condition, and it is not a sexually transmitted
infection. It is possible that the disease can begin with an inflammation
in the penile tissue. An inflammation may be caused by an allergic
or auto-immune reaction. Although the Peyronie's disease is not
an infection, an initial infection can damage the penile tissue
and cause an inflammation that develops into Peyronie's disease.
Men having the inflammatory condition called Systemic Lupus Erytematosus
more often get Peyronie's disease.
Vitamin E deficiency seems to be a contributing factor in causing
the disease. Diabetes may cause damage of blood vessels, and if
this damage occurs in the erectile bodies of the penis, Peyronie's
disease can develop. Peyronie's disease is sometimes a side effect
of the drug Inderal (propanolol) used against high blood pressure.
Sometimes a physical injury to the penis that causes internal bleeding,
or a series of such injuries, is the initial cause. A habit of violent
sexual activity may cause such injuries. It is thought that some
men may have a genetic disposition to the condition.
Plastic induration of the penis is not a cancer, and cannot cause
cancer, however a lump or deformation in your genitals that develops,
must be examined.
TREATMENT OG PEYRONIE'S DISEASE
Not all men with Payronie's disease require treatment. The disease
sometimes go away by itself. If the condition is pronounced, it
is also difficult to find a remedy that can cure every sign of the
disease, but several methods can take away most penis changes associated
with Peyronie's disease. Here is a survey of treatment methods used
today.
Tamoxifen - In its early stages of the disease a medication called
Tamoxifen has been shown to prevent the formation of the fibrous
plaque by Peyronie's disease. This drug is also used in the treatment
of breast cancer, but the two conditions are not related.
Vitamin E and B - Vitamin E and B is sometimes effective in easing
the pain and as a treatment for the penile deformity by Peyronie's
disease.
Verapamil - Verapamil, often used in the treatment of high blood
pressure, has been shown to decrease the size of the plaque and
decrease the pain when injected directly into the plaque, and thus
also improve the penis shape distortion by peyronie's disease.
Traction devices - On the market, you can buy mechanical devices
to use on the penis some time daily that gently pull upon the penile
tissue to straighten out the penis, and thus mending the penis from
the curvature caused by Peyronie's disease.
Proextender System is Mens Choice
ProExtender says that for as long as one follows the usage instructions properly,
the increase in size should more or less be permanent. Additionally,
the consequent enlargement should ideally lead to stronger erections
largely because of the increased blood flow and cell activity resulting
from traction use.
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