Treatment for congenital penile curvature (curvature you're born with) and Peyronie’s disease (curvature that develops later) is the same. There isn't a specific curve or angle that automatically needs treatment. You might want to get treatment if the curve causes pain, makes having sex harder, or if you want to change how your penis looks for personal reasons. Everyone’s needs are different, so treatment is often based on what matters most to you.

Treatment options are:

Watchful waiting
Medications
Surgery

It's important to check if the disease is still active because this affects the treatment and timing of surgery. Surgery is usually done when your penile curvature is stable, meaning the pain has stopped and the curvature hasn’t gotten worse for at least 3 months.

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting or wait-and-see approach means keeping an eye on a condition without starting treatment right away.

A wait-and-see approach may be an option if:

The curve of your penis is not strong and does not get worse over time.
There is no pain in your penis when you are having sex.
Pain is mild when your penis is hard.
Your penis can get hard when you are having sex (erectile function is good).
The hard tough tissue (plaque) is still changing in form.

You will have to see your doctor regularly or if you notice any changes. If your symptoms are serious or are getting worse over time, your doctor might recommend medication or surgery.

Medications

Medications are often used when the curve in your penis is still in the early stages, or if you aren’t healthy enough for surgery or don’t want it. The goal of medication is to stop tough tissue (plaque) from forming, ease the pain, and help lessen the curve of your penis. Medication can be taken by the mouth or with injections to the penis, or by applying to the skin (topical treatments).

Treatments applied to the skin
Treatments applied to the skin (topical treatments) typically include applying creams or gels directly to the penis. A popular option is Verapamil cream, which can help ease pain and lessen tough tissue (plaque) buildup.
Extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT)
Extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) uses sound waves to help break down tough tissue (plaque) and improve blood flow in the penis. This can stop the pain, improve the curve, and help healing. It’s a non-invasive treatment, meaning no surgery is needed, and is usually used in the early stages of Peyronie’s disease. Although it’s a simple procedure, it’s important to talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Traction and vacuum devices
Traction and vacuum devices are tools that can help straighten your penis over time.
- Traction devices help straighten the penis by gently stretching it over time. The device puts a slow, steady pull on the penis, which helps it become longer and straighter over time. This can improve the curve by making the tissue more flexible.
- A vacuum pump helps straighten the penis by gently pulling it. It works by creating a vacuum that brings more blood to the area, helping to stretch the tissue. Over time, this can reduce the curve and make the tissue more flexible.
Both treatments are non-invasive meaning no surgery is needed. They need to be used regularly for a few months to see results. It’s important to talk to a doctor to see if one of these treatments is right for you.

Surgery

Surgery is usually only used for men with serious abnormalities to the penis that are painful or make it hard to have sex and when other treatments, like medications, traction devices, or vacuum pumps, haven't worked.

Your doctor will most likely suggest putting off surgery until your penile curvature has stopped getting worse, and you have been pain-free for at least 3 months.

There are a few different surgeries to help straighten the penis if it has a curve:

The Nesbit procedure
The Nesbit procedure is a surgery often used to help straighten your penis when you have a curve that is caused by conditions like Peyronie’s disease. The doctor removes the scar tissue causing the curve and uses tissue from the other side of your penis to fix it.
This surgery can help straighten things out, but it might make your penis a little shorter, usually by about 1 to 1.5 cm. It works best for men with a mild to moderate curve, no serious problems with getting an erection, and a longer penis.
It’s important to talk to your doctor to see if this surgery is right for you and make sure you feel good about the decision.

Which applies to you?