Sex is usually synonymous with pleasure. In some cases, it can even make pain seem like a thrilling experience. But sometimes, things can get quite nasty. And while we usually hear women complaining about painful sex, it turns out that even men can find sex equally agonizing.
There could be several reasons as to why men may hurt during sex. For instance, it could either be far too little vaginal lubrication or perhaps even a wrong angle of entry into the vagina. However, if pain during intercourse continues despite all your efforts to get hold of the best lube or read up on penetration techniques – it could be a sign that you may have Peyronie’s disease.
What Is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s disease is a condition of the penis that is usually marked by:
- A lump embedded within the shaft of the penis
- Distinct pain within the shaft of the penis
- An abnormal angulation of the erection where the hard penis appears “bent”
Not all of the above may always be present. But in the most typical cases, a man would first find a sensitive, sore lump in the penis, which may be followed by the penis bending at very odd angles when it’s erect. The flaccid penis is not usually deformed.
Note: A small degree of upward angulation particularly towards the head of the erect penis is quite normal and should not be considered as a feature of Peyronie’s disease.
What Peyronie’s Disease Means For Your Sex Life And Relationships
Because Peyronie’s Disease may affect a man’s sexual functioning, the adverse effects of this disease also affect a man’s self-esteem and a couple’s relationship.
Most men with Peyronie’s disease also report suffering from erectile dysfunction. While that’s not always the case, it can still affect the rigidity of the penis to the extent that penetration is painful. Sometimes, it may even be difficult to maintain penetration.
Because of the private nature of this disease, men with Peyronie’s Disease often tend to isolate themselves, refusing to communicate either with a doctor or with their partner. The seemingly impending doom of an uncertain future can lead to depression and anxiety, thus affecting a man’s sexuality.
Isolating oneself emotionally and physically can also lead to the man’s partner feeling responsible, angry, guilty, and even sad. This makes it even more difficult to cope with Peyronie’s Disease – not just for the man, but also for his partner.
Factors That May Cause Peyronie’s Disease
- Injury: This disease strikes more often after the penis has undergone injury. This could either be a penile fracture or a case of bending the penis too forcefully.
- Medication: Peyronie’s Disease is also very common in men who inject their penis with medication to treat erectile dysfunction.
- Genetics: There are some rare cases of Peyronie’s Disease running in the family (inherited or genetic predisposition).
- Circulatory disorders: There are plenty of men with Peyronie’s Disease who are shown to be affected by hypertension or high blood pressure and the hardening of arteries. Doctors, therefore, suspect that these conditions may be the cause of this disease.
- Diabetes: Once again, most men with Peyronie’s Disease also report having diabetes. Hence, it is possible that diabetes is also a potential cause for Peyronie’s Disease.
Diagnosis
A doctor will diagnose Peyronie’s Disease based on physical examination and a conversation on how the problem developed over time. The exact size and position of the lump can be assessed through ultrasound scans, but this is very rarely necessary.
Treatment
The good news is that a mild bending of the penis usually gets better on its own over time. For this reason, doctors recommend waiting for at least a year before resorting to surgery.
It is only in extreme cases where the penis bends too severely that surgery is recommended. There are usually two surgical procedures that are conducted to treat Peyronie’s Disease.
- Plication: In this procedure, the doctor operates on the side that has the scar tissue so that the longer side of the erect penis gets shorter in length. While this is 90% successful in straightening the penis and allowing the man to preserve his erection, it may result in a shorter erection.
- Plaque/scar tissue removal: In this case, the doctor will eliminate the scar tissue so that the shorter side of the bent penis expands and becomes straight. After the tissue has been removed, the doctor blocks the gap in the erectile chambers with a graft. This procedure is mostly recommended for men with severe penile bending and has a 75% success rate.
Note: When it comes to scar tissue removal, it is important to be aware of certain risks involved. These could either be a weak erection, a strangely unfamiliar, but temporary sensation in the penis, or erectile dysfunction which may be treated with the help of pills or a penile implant. This procedure also requires a longer recovery period once the operation is completed.
Because Peyronie’s Disease affects each man differently, it is recommended to consult a doctor about which procedure suits you the best.
How To Cope With Peyronie’s Disease
As mentioned earlier, it is only natural for men with Peyronie’s Disease to go through feelings of low self-esteem, shame, and embarrassment. And as tough as it may be to talk about one’s feelings during this difficult phase, communication is one of the best ways to cope with this problem.
Talking to your partner about your problem and what the disease is about will help get rid of any negative feelings of resentment, insecurity, or guilt that may be brewing between the two of you.
When it comes to sex, you and your partner may have to experiment a bit with various positions to see what feels good for the both of you. There are also ways that your partner can pleasure you, even if the methods may be a little nontraditional. Alternately, you could probably even focus on being more of a “giver” than a “receiver”. This way, you can preserve your intimacy with your partner, and feel more positive about recovering in the future.
