Do You Have Bent Carrot Disease?
June 22, 2022
Although men may be tired of having their penis compared to a vegetable, the use of conceptual metaphors has become popular imagery for advertising campaigns aimed at bridging the gap for discussions about sexual body parts. Fact is, relying on gender stereotyping using a well-known vegetable like a carrot may be responsible for the increased awareness about a common health condition called Peyronie’s disease (PD). Where it is not uncommon for the penis to curve slightly when it is erect, a significant bend can make it much more difficult for a man to have a satisfying sexual experience. Whereas the condition mostly affects men over the age of 40, it can happen at any age, especially when trauma is the underlying cause.
Some men who suffer from Peyronie’s disease complain of painful erections or penile pain that is so severe it prohibits having or maintaining an erection to enjoy intercourse. Although the cause is not yet completely understood, men who have Peyronie’s disease often suffer from erectile dysfunction as well. It is physically understood how a problem can occur after an injury to an erect penis, like being bent during more aggressive sexual activities. Plus some researchers believe penile curvature could have genetic links and may run in families, but overall the condition itself has been greatly under-discussed for generations. Today, PD is often diagnosed and treated without an obvious cause. Conversely, in cases where it does not interfere with sexual function and does not result in pain, sufferers may not require treatment as it may improve on its own.
Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease
According to an article published by Sexual Medicine Reviews, Peyronie’s disease is an acquired condition of the connective tissue of the penis that affects a small percentage of the male population and is marked by fibrotic plaques in the tunica albuginea. This is the elastic membrane that helps keep the penis stiff during an erection. Common signs and symptoms of PD include:
- curvature of the penis with or without an erection
- hard lumps on the sides of the penis
- unexplained erectile dysfunction
- painful erections or penile pain during sexual intercourse
- changes in shape such as narrowing or shortening of the penis
The tunica albuginea that surrounds the corpora cavernosa is composed primarily of a tough type of collagen and is arranged with circular layers of a more flexible type of elastin. Peyronie’s disease is not contagious and typically is an acquired wound-healing connective tissue disorder characterized by benign formations found in the tough fibrous layers of penile tissue.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Peyronie’s Disease
A man’s chance of having Peyronie’s disease increases with age, as age-related changes make it easier to injure sensitive tissue and less likely that it will heal quickly. Moreover, factors like prostate cancer surgery, autoimmune disease, connective tissue disorders, and diabetes can lead to painful penile curvature. Where some doctors recommend surgery to remove plaque to help straighten the erect penis, medical experts cited in a Journal of Urology article on “Peyronie’s Disease: AUA Guidelines“ recommended that patients not have surgery until plaque formations and penis curving stabilize.
Fortunately, physicians who specialize in male sexual health have several non-surgical treatment options available that can improve the debilitating symptoms and restore a man’s quality of life. After all, surgeries that involve grafting, plication, and device implantation can result in complications and often fail to correct effects like shortening of the penis. Generally speaking, men with an early (or mild) onset of Peyronie’s disease who wish to avoid surgery may be good candidates for low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy. An article in Translational Andrology and Urology, concluded that shockwave therapy is a valid minimally-invasive treatment option that offers moderate efficacy in improving penile curvature and pain, and the process is associated with high levels of acceptance and patient satisfaction.
Time to Call a Penis… a Penis?
If you find that watching an ad with phallic vegetables is somewhat loathsome, then be proud to call a penis… a penis. And regardless of how irritating you may have found the recent commercials, they have been successful at shedding light on a treatable medical condition that can affect a man's sexual performance. In fact, approximately one in every one-hundred men in the United States over the age of 18 will be diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease. For some of those men, everyday sexual activity will become frustrating and painful. However, if you are fond of humorous metaphors that present male sexuality in relatively poor taste, then check out this article on “174 ways to call a penis something other than a penis”.
“It is perfectly understandable that many men have difficulty in talking to a doctor about sexual issues,” says Dr. Earl Eye, a men’s sexual healthcare specialist with over 40 years of medical experience. “But it’s a no-brainer that getting past an embarrassing moment is less painful than repeatedly having to deal with poor sexual performance.” At GAINSWave of Jacksonville, we always want you to feel comfortable during a checkup, so you can choose to speak as literally or figuratively as you like. Dr. Eye will explain how major advances in men’s sexual health provides patients today with advanced options, including non-surgical and minimally-invasive treatments for erectile dysfunction or Peyronie’s disease.
Dr. Earl Eye is a Jacksonville men’s healthcare professional with years of experience in this field of medicine. To set up an appointment today, call 904-500-5500 and let Dr. Eye identify what’s causing your problem as well as suggest the best solution to help restore your sex life safely and effectively.
