Dr. Mulhall answers: The penises affect by Peyronie’s disease present with variety of deformities. The type of deformity that an individual patient experiences depends on 3 major factors (1) the size of the plaque (2) the location of the plaque and (3) the elasticity of the tunica that is unaffected by the plaque. Similar volume plaques in different locations may result in different deformities especially if the tunical stretchability is different between 2 men. Similar locations may result in different deformities if the plaque volume or tunical elasticity is different. Most men have curvature as the plaque is located on one side of the penis; upward curvature when the plaque is on the upper (dorsal) side of the penis for example. If the plaque is one side, let’s say the dorsum and starts to extend around from the midline to the sides of the penile shaft, then a man may notice indentations on either side of the penis which may eventually be severe enough to cause waisting. Waisting on both sides is called an hourglass deformity and the result of this is a hinge-effect or instability during sex. Some men present with waisting without curvature and this may result from a plaque that is located on the side of the penis and not the top or bottom.
How Can We Help?