I have a crooked penis: should I be concerned?

A crooked or curved penis is when this sexual organ shows some kind of curvature when standing erect.

It is a common occurrence, where 95% of the time it is perfectly normal in slight angulations, in an angle smaller than 30°.

Usually the cause is genetic, where men can be born with a naturally bent penis and will only notice it in adolescence, when erections begin. In these cases, there is nothing to worry about. In fact, it doesn't hurt and doesn't impede sex life.

On the other hand, we know of men whose curved penis is a cause of stress and anxiety. It is often a source of conflict and difficulty for many men. Excess anxiety and a distorted self-image can cause erectile dysfunction, which can lead to Peyronie's disease, which in turn results in a sharp curvature of the penis, among other discomforts.

"I have a crooked penis, what should I do?"

Having a crooked penis is not necessarily a cause for concern. In the vast majority of cases it is a genetic and/or benign condition.

However, you should be aware if your penis has a marked curvature, you experience pain or discomfort during or after sexual intercourse, difficulty penetration, and an increase in curvature over time.

Peyronie's disease

A very important cause of a bent penis is Peyronie's disease, a condition that affects about 10% of the male population. However, this index varies according to the group studied, for example, men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction have a 20% greater chance of developing the disease.

Men affected by this phenomenon are mainly over 50 years old. However, a young man between 20 and 30 years old can be affected by torsion of the penis.

The pathology usually happens due to micro traumas caused at the time of sexual intercourse, in a specific activity or in an accident. But there are other causes, such as: erectile dysfunction, metabolic syndromes, prostate surgery, among others.

When it comes to injuries suffered during sexual intercourse, the curvature can occur when the penis is not in full erection, so some folds happen in the penis during sex, which ends up generating internal fissures. When the fissures heal, they lead to fibrosis, thus making the penis crooked.

What are the symptoms of Peyronie's disease?

The most common symptom of Peyronie's Disease is, without a doubt, a marked curvature of the penis. But there are also other symptoms to watch out for, including:

• Lumps that form on the top of the penis. These can be noticed when palpating the flaccid organ.
• Pain in the penis during erection. Pain usually occurs in the acute inflammatory phase of the disease.
• Erectile Dysfunction. This can be as much a symptom as the cause itself.
• Decrease or thinning of the penis. It is usually one of the effects of penile fibrosis, being related to a lower elasticity of the tissues of the penis.

How to treat crooked penis?

1. In the case of Peyronie's disease, treatment can be with medications, such as steroids, to treat existing inflammation in the penile tissue, in addition to reducing fibrosis and improving local circulation.
2. A very effective resource is the use of vacuum therapy, where the erect penis is introduced into a vacuum device, which keeps it straight for a certain time. Vacuum therapy can be seen as exercises, whether or not Peyronie's disease is present. In both cases, it is more suitable for small curvatures in order to inhibit the chance of progression. The exercises must be done carefully so that the man does not feel any discomfort.
3. Penile prosthesis can be indicated to correct fibrosis, decrease penile curvature and erectile dysfunction. It is surgically implanted, where it promotes greater axial stiffness after curvature correction. The technique also prevents new traumas and cracks from forming. The prosthesis helps in the correct functioning of the penis, thus allowing the man to have an active, full and healthy sex life.
4. In case of erectile dysfunction as the root cause of penile curvature, it should not be neglected, but treated. Erectile dysfunction often happens for emotional reasons.

Thus, each case must be investigated by the doctor and the treatment is individualized. And the earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the chances of successful treatment.