With Peyronie’s disease, scar tissue (also called plaque) builds up inside your penis. As this scar tissue tightens, your penis may begin to bend or curve. You may also lose some length or girth.
It’s unclear why some men get Peyronie’s disease. But it may be the result of minor injuries to your erect penis—for example, if your penis bends abruptly during sex.
Even though you may not see any visible signs of injury, some research suggests tiny wounds develop within the penis. Some men’s bodies may overreact to these wounds and create too much scar tissue during the healing process.
Peyronie’s Disease Symptoms
The most common sign of Peyronie’s disease is a new curve or bend in your penis. Other symptoms include:
- A bumpy or lumpy feeling underneath the skin of your penis
- Loss of girth (your shaft may develop an hourglass shape)
- Loss of penis length
- Painful erections
- Painful sex (for you and/or your partner)
- Softer erections
Over time, Peyronie’s disease can lead to erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting and keeping an erection). Depending on the severity of the bend in your penis, penetration (and sex) may also become impossible.