Ask the Doc: Can you fix a curved penis?

It’s common for people to have a slight curve in their penis when it’s erect, just like it’s common to have one ear or one eye a bit higher than the other. Our bodies aren’t perfectly symmetrical because, when we develop, our left and right sides don’t grow at precisely the same rate. So, if you have a slight curve to the right or the left, it’s nothing to be concerned about.

Some people develop a curve or bend in their penis (which can ‘point’ in any direction) that gets more severe over time. This is usually caused by scar tissue that forms in response to some physical injury or trauma. This type of curve or bend is called Peyronie’s disease. It affects somewhere around one in 20 men. We’re not sure exactly what causes it.

During the early stage of Peyronie’s disease, when the curve or bend is developing, it can be painful, but eventually, the pain settles down. Once it settles down, though, the curve is permanent unless it is treated. If you get treatment for Peyronie’s disease early, you might be able to reduce the severity of the penile curvature.

A variety of medicines have been tried to treat Peyronie’s disease, but none seem to work very well on their own¹. Injection of some drugs into the scar tissue in the penis might be helpful but can be very expensive and are only moderately effective¹.

The curve or bend of Peyronie’s disease can be treated by surgery, but complete straightening isn’t guaranteed and there are complications of surgery, depending on the surgical technique that’s used. These include shortening of the penis and erectile dysfunction¹.

An effective way to treat Peyronie’s disease is to use a traction device to stretch the penis — it can reduce the severity of the bend or curve and increase the length of the penis^1,2. The only real drawback is the need to use a penile traction device for at least three hours a day for 3-4 months^1,2.