Peyronie’s Disease: Rare or Common?
Peyronie’s Disease: Rare or Common?
Peyronie’s disease (PD) is thought to be a rare connective tissue disorder of the penis that has no known cause or cure; even the celluar mechanism of how PD starts is not completely understood. Three primary diagnostic criteria of PD are necessary to establish a diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease, even though there is no universal agreement even on the following: 1) existence of a nodule or band of variable size made of fibrous scar tissue ) called a scar or plaque, chielfy found in a thin but tough tissue membrane known as the tunica albuginea, 2) variable pain that occurs during erection, and 3) penile curvature or bend that was not present before the onset of PD. Most men with PD retain the ability to develop and maintain an erection. Because of the physical and functional changes of PD, these men suffer difficulty with vaginal penetration as a result of abnormal curvature, impotence, or pain for either partner during insertion. (more…)
