Male sexual disorders including Peyronie’s disease result in the penis bending and hurting. Men who have severe penile curvature have difficulty in engaging in sexual activity. Peyronie’s disease (PD) is not particularly frequent in men worldwide, but it has become more well known in recent times. Modern medicine has made great strides in the development of treatments for this problem, but it is still a difficult condition to manage.
Background of PD
Francois Gigot de la Peyronie, a French physician, discovered Peyronie’s disease and initially announced it in 1743. Based on a number of cases he had seen in his own practice, Francois Gigot de la Peyronie first described the syndrome. He observed that penile tissue thickening was common in men with PD, which resulted in a curvature during erection. Sexual interaction was frequently made uncomfortable or impossible as a results of this curvature. Peyronie also observed that elderly men were more likely to have the illness and surmised that it might be linked to gout or rheumatism.
Several additional doctors started to record cases of what they dubbed “induratio penis plastica,” or plastic induration of the penis, after Peyronie’s initial description of the condition. The illness was still poorly known in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and numerous theories were put out to explain its origin. Inflammation or trauma to the penis, according to some doctors, or a bacterial or viral infection, according to others, may be the cause of Peyronie’s Disease. Later, medical professionals separated this disease’s two stages: The Acute phase and chronic phase.
The acute phase of Peyronie’s disease is marked by discomfort and inflammation in the penis. The formation of fibrous scar tissue during this stage might lead to the penis bending or curving during an erection. Any direction may experience a curve, no matter how slight or extreme.
In the acute stage, Peyronie’s disease symptoms can include:
• A penile ache or tenderness
· An enlargement or irritation
• A hard spot or bump in the penis
• Problems urinating
• Difficulty engaging in sexual activity
• The condition-related anxiety or depression
Peyronie’s disease’s acute phase normally lasts 6 to 12 months, though it occasionally lasts longer.
The fibrous scar tissue stabilizes, stops developing, and gets firmer during the second stage of Peyronie’s disease. In this stage, the penis’s curvature may become more obvious, which could make Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction worse. However, the discomfort and swelling usually go away.
During the chronic stage, Peyronie’s disease symptoms can include:
• The natural curvature of the penis during erection
• Problems urinating
• Difficulty engaging in sexual activity
• Anxiety or tension relating to conditions
A good source of suffering for Peyronie’s disease sufferers is the UK based Peyronie’s Forum.
PD’s ancient treatments
Peyronie’s illness did not have many successful therapies in the past, primarily due to ignorance of the condition and a lack of scientific developments. However, this does not imply that there were no cures for this illness in the past. For instance, the individual who discovered Peyronie’s disease (PD) proposed that those who have the condition seek out spa treatments using mineral water. Oral and topically applied mercury and iodides were suggested as PD treatments later in the 19th century. Because of the alleged connection between Peyronie’s disease and syphilis, mercury was believed to be effective. Iodides, on the other hand, were regarded to be efficient because of their alleged mending abilities. Even oral disodium phosphate was suggested at the time to treat PD.
A brand-new method of treating Peyronie’s disease was created in the 1970s, and it required injecting a medication called verapamil right into the fibrous plaques. Since many years ago, verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, has been used to treat high blood pressure and other diseases. Verapamil injections into fibrous plaques have been shown in studies to help break down collagen and lessen penile curvature.
Modern PD therapies
Today, a variety of medications are available to treat PD as a result of technology developments and greater understanding of this disease.
Oral medications: Many men all over the world are treated with Peyronie’s disease with medications like pentoxifylline, colchicine, and vitamin E. But it is crucial to remember that these drugs can have negative consequences on the body. Because of this, it is always required to seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner before using these medications.
Injections: Collagenase and verapamil intralesional injections can also be used to reduce plaque size and penile curvature.
Topical medications: Potassium para-aminobenzoate and nitro-glycerine are two examples of topical drugs that can be used to treat Peyronie’s disease.
Nesbit Procedure: In order to lessen the curvature, the lengthier size of the penis is cut down during the Nesbit Procedure.
Tunica plicaton: To lessen the curvature of the penis, the tunica albuginea is folded over and sutured on the shorter side.
Grafting: In the grafting technique, a tissue graft is used to treat the curvature and cover the defect in the tunica albuginea.
Penile Vacuum Pumps: Penile vacuum pumps, often known as VED for Peyronie’s disease, lessen various PD symptoms rather than focusing on the penis’ plaques. The penis straightens as a result of these devices’ stretching of penile tissues.
Photoactivation. This procedure promotes the body’s natural healing process by acting on the mitochondria of the cells. It is also a current medical possibility.
Shockwave Therapy: Shockwave therapy for Peyronie’s Disease uses specialized shockwaves to disintegrate plaques and enhance blood flow in the penis. It is a non-invasive therapeutic option. It is a very recent form of therapy that was initially created to dissolve kidney stones.
EMTT therapy: Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy, or EMTT, is another non-invasive treatment method that makes use of a powerful magnetic field. To effectively treat PD, both EMTT therapy and shockwave therapy can be applied simultaneously.
Lifestyle changes: Men’s general health can be improved by engaging in physical activity, eating a balanced diet, managing their weight, and quitting smoking. These activities can enhance both men’s general and penile health.
Effects of PD treatments
A number of negative side effects in the body can result from some therapies for Peyronie’s disease. For instance, vitamin E overdose symptoms or side effects may include bleeding and unfavourable drug interactions. Colchicine may cause side symptoms like nauseousness, vomiting, diarrhoea, discomfort in the stomach or muscles, tingling in the extremities, bleeding, bruises, sore throats, fever, and chills. Since treating PD without surgery can often be exceedingly difficult, many men must undergo surgical procedures. These surgical procedures also carry a risk of major adverse effects include infection, oedema, and even shortening of the penis. Penis exercises and non-surgical rehabilitation methods, however, do not have these kinds of negative effects and are typically safe to use.
Effectiveness of shockwave therapy
Peyronie’s disease can be treated surgically and with a variety of oral medicines. But it is crucial to remember that the majority of these therapy methods include a variety of unfavourable side effects. Some conventional non-invasive procedures are unable to offer a permanent fix. Additionally, most people typically do not enjoy having surgery. But the majority of the issues with these kinds of treatments can be avoided by using shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy was initially created to destroy kidney plaques, but doctors and researchers have since discovered that it is also effective in lessening penile plaques, which reduces penile curvature and increases blood flow. Additionally, this treatment has no significant negative effects at all. Shockwave Clinics ltd, a specialised shockwave clinic situated in the UK, claims that shockwave therapy can significantly reduce penile curvature with no significant side effects. Additionally, this facility asserts that when utilized in conjunction with shockwave therapy, EMTT therapy can increase its efficacy even further. Functional Magnetic Stimulation, NanoVi Exo, and other cutting-edge non-invasive treatments are also offered by Shockwave Clinics Ltd.
Conclusion
Since Peyronie’s disease was discovered, treatment methods have advanced significantly. Many men have been able to overcome this condition and resume a healthy sex life with the help of different contemporary invasive and non-invasive treatments. So, if you are suffering from this disease., try to seek medical help as soon as you can.
