What is the Difference Between Peyronie’s and Curve

The key difference between Peyronie’s and curve is that Peyronie’s is a condition where the penile shaft is curved severely to one side due to trauma, while curve is a condition where the penile shaft is curved downward or laterally due to unequal growth of the erectile chambers on two opposite sites.

Penile curvature is a condition in which the penis is curved when people have an erection. The changes to the shape of the penis can affect people emotionally and impact their relationships. However, it is natural to have some penile curvature. There are two main types of penile curvature: Peyronie’s disease and curve (congenital penile curvature or chordee).

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Peyronie’s Disease
3. What is Curve (or Congenital Penile Curvature or Chordee)
4. Similarities – Peyronie’s and Curve
5. Peyronie’s vs. Curve in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Peyronie’s vs. Curve

What is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease is a condition in which scar tissue causes the penis to bend later in life. The exact cause of Peyronie’s disease remains unclear. However, some medical researchers believe this condition might develop after an injury (trauma) to the erect penis. It is estimated that about 6 % to 10 % of people between the ages of 40 and 70 have Peyronie’s disease. The symptoms of Peyronie’s disease may include penile curvature to one side, a feel of scar tissue under the skin, a loss of length in the penis, loss of girth in the penile shaft, lumps in the penis, painful erection, softer erection, difficulty having sex for the person or the partner, pain while having sex, depression, anxiety, fear of intimacy, and low self-esteem. The risk factors for this condition include age (more in age between 40 to 70), genetics, connective tissue disorder, diabetes-related erectile dysfunction, and autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Peyronie’s disease can be diagnosed through medical history, questionnaires, physical examination, and Doppler ultrasound. Furthermore, treatment options for Peyronie’s disease may include traction therapy, medications such as injections (collagenase injections, interferon injections, and verapamil injections), and oral medications (tadalafil, pentoxifylline, L-arginine, colchicine, and potassium aminobenzoate), and surgery (penile implant).

What is Curve (or Congenital Penile Curvature)?

Congenital penile curvature, also known as chordee or curve, is a condition that is present in boys from birth. Parents often observe the curvature early during diaper changes and dressing. However, some boys do not discover the problem until after puberty. It is believed this condition is triggered by the unequal growth of the erectile chambers on two opposite sites. The symptoms of curve may include penile torsion, webbed penis, skin tethering, dorsal preputial hood, difficulty in getting and maintaining an erection, painful erection, pain while engaging in sexual intercourse, diminished self-esteem, and feelings of shame during sex.

Chordee can be diagnosed through family history, clinical or physical examination, auto-photography of the erect penis, and sexual history. Furthermore, treatment options for chordee include surgical procedures to correct the curvature.

What are the Similarities Between Peyronie’s and Curve (or Chordee)?

• Peyronie’s and curve are two different types of penile curvature.
• Both conditions may lead to complications such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through a physical evaluation.
• They can be treated through surgical procedures.

What is the Difference Between Peyronie’s and Curve?

In Peyronie’s condition, the penile shaft is curved severely to one side due to trauma, while in curve, the penile shaft is curved downward or laterally due to unequal growth of the erectile chambers on two opposite sites. Thus, this is the key difference between Peyronie’s and curve. Furthermore, Peyronie’s disease develops in the later life period, while chordee is a congenital condition.

The infographic below presents the differences between Peyronie’s disease and curve (congenital penile curvature) in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Peyronie’s vs. Curve

Penile curvature can make erections painful and sexual intercourse painful or impossible. Penile curvature can be present since birth or develops later in life. Penile curvature is of two types: Peyronie’s disease and curve. Peyronie’s disease develops later in life, while Curve is a congenital condition. Furthermore, in Peyronie’s, the penile shaft is bent to one side due to trauma, whereas in Curve, the penile shaft is curved downward or laterally due to unequal growth of the erectile chambers on two opposite sites. So, this is the key difference between Peyronie’s and curve.

Reference:

1. “Peyronie’s Disease.” Mayo Clinic.
2. “Congenital Penile Curvature: Management, Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Peyronies disease” By Charles Turner – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia