What is "Peyronie's Disease"?

QUESTION: My condition is an embarrassing one, since it deals with my sexual
organ. I have been to several doctors, received some treatment and
explanations, but still find it difficult to understand what is happening to
me. The condition is called "Peyronie's Disease" and I would be most grateful
for any help or explanations you could write in your column. I can't be the
only one suffering from this, and perhaps you can help lots of men who are
ashamed of their situation.
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ANSWER: You are not alone. It is rare that a week goes by without some
letter requesting information on this most distressful disease of adult men,
and so it is time for a few explanations from me. Peyronie's Disease is an
affliction of the male organ, that causes the erect penis to curve,
occasionally causing painful erections, and preventing normal function during
intercourse. Anatomically, the penis is composed of three long spongy tubes
(corpora cavernosa), each enclosed in an elastic sheath or covering. For
reasons still unknown, these sheaths may thicken as the tissue becomes
fibrotic (scar like), and then shorten. The affected section of the sheath
loses its elasticity, and can't stretch properly during erection, and so the
penis bends in the direction of the scarred area. Treatment is difficult and
not always successful. Local injections of corticosteroids (cortisone-like
medication) may help, but doesn't work when the medication is taken orally.
The scarred area can be removed surgically, and replaced by a graft, but that
may result in even more scarring during the healing process. Some symptomatic
relief can be obtained through the use of local ultrasound treatments, and
there are cases where, after many months, the disease just goes away by
itself. I truly hope you fall into this last classification.