Crooked penis: is it normal? When to worry and treatment

A crooked penis occurs when the male sexual organ has some type of curvature when it is erect, and is not completely straight. Most of the time this curvature is only slight and does not cause any type of problem or discomfort, and is therefore considered normal.

However, there are also cases in which the penis may have a very pronounced curvature, especially to one side, and, in these situations, the man may experience pain during erection or even difficulty in having a satisfactory erection. When this happens, it is common for men to have a condition known as Peyronie’s disease, in which there is the growth of hard plaques on the body of the penis, which causes the organ to curve more markedly.

Therefore, whenever it is considered that the curvature of the penis is very accentuated, or whenever it causes any type of discomfort, especially during sexual intercourse, it is very important to consult a urologist to identify whether Peyronie’s disease exists and initiate appropriate treatment.

When a crooked penis is not normal

Although having a penis with a slight curvature is a very common situation for most men, there are cases in which, in fact, the curvature may not be considered normal and should be evaluated by a urologist. These cases include:

• Curvature angle greater than 30º;
• Curvature that increases over time;
• Pain or discomfort during erection.

If any of these signs or symptoms appear, it is very important to consult a urologist, who will be able to confirm or not the diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease, which can only be made through observation or tests such as x-rays or ultrasound.

In addition to this disease, a crooked penis can also appear after trauma to the region, as can happen during more violent sexual intercourse. In these cases, the change in the curvature of the penis appears from one moment to the next and can be accompanied by severe pain.

What is Peyronie’s disease

Peyronie’s disease is a condition that affects some men and is characterized by the development of small plaques of fibrosis inside the body of the penis, which prevent the penis from having a straight erection, resulting in an exaggerated curvature.

The exact cause of this disease is not yet known, but it is possible that it arises due to small traumas that occur during sexual intercourse or during the practice of some higher impact sports. Understand better what Peyronie’s disease is and why it happens.

How the treatment is carried out

In most cases, a crooked penis does not need any treatment, as it does not affect day-to-day life, does not cause symptoms or prevent men from having satisfactory sexual relations. However, if the curvature is very pronounced, if it causes any type of discomfort or if it is the result of Peyronie’s disease, the urologist may advise treatment, which may include injections into the penis or surgery, for example.

Injections are normally done when a man has Peyronie’s disease and injectable corticosteroid medications are used to help destroy fibrosis plaques and reduce local inflammation, preventing the penis from continuing to show curvature.

In more severe cases, when the curvature is very intense or does not improve with injections, the doctor may advise performing a small surgery, which serves to remove any plaque that may be affecting the erection, correcting the curvature.

See more about which treatments can be used in Peyronie’s disease.