Dr. Mulhall answers: Penile shortening and loss of stretch during erection are recognized as the biggest complaint of patients with Peyronie’s disease. By the time that most men present to a doctor for Peyronie’s disease they have generally noticed that their penis is shorter during erection and may even appear shorter in the flaccid (soft) state. The shortening is the result of the scar tissue. Scar tissue is non-expansile (non-stretchy) and indeed contracts during its development. Theoretically, if there was a treatment that reliably and consistently softened scar tissue, its use might translate into some length gain. However, there are no medical treatments identified which routinely result in regain of penile length. Some authorities believe that the earlier a patient arrives for treatment the better the outcome. Indeed, if treatment is started early it may prevent progression of the condition and may result in less length loss. At this time there is no medical evidence to prove that this approach will result in such an outcome.
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