Treating Peyronie’s Disease: I’ll Try Anything Because the Curve in My Penis Makes Sex Hurt

Johnny Leon (not his real name), 37, sought help when he noticed his penis was curving slightly and sex had become painful. His doctor diagnosed him with Peyronie’s disease—a rarity for such a young man—and set him on a course of treatments that has included electrical stimulation and medicines to dissolve scar tissue

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When I first developed signs of Peyronie’s disease, I didn’t know what it was. It started with a strange indentation on the side of my penis that you could see only when it was erect. After 34 years, you kind of know what your body parts look like. I ignored it, but I knew I wasn’t crazy or imagining things.

About six months later, I finally went to see a doctor because the shaft began to curve to the left where it used to be straight. The doctor could feel the scar tissue and so could I. It felt harder in certain places. Basically, the scar tissue builds up somehow and won’t stretch with the rest of your penis. The doctor said the curving can stop or reverse itself in some cases, but in others, it worsens.

I went back again four months later because my situation took a turn for the worse, so to speak. My penis started bending downward and sex was becoming more uncomfortable. There was a pulling sensation, and the curve made sex a little more difficult. They say there’s a point where sex becomes less painful, but I haven’t reached that point yet. Try bending your penis when it’s hard, or take your thumb and forefinger and stretch the skin until it hurts. That’s what it feels like when I get an erection or wake up in the middle of the night to urinate.

So, it was official. My doctor diagnosed me with Peyronie’s disease.

Next Page: What’s Peyronie’s disease?

What’s Peyronie’s disease?
The doctor gave me the lowdown and said that Peyronie’s affects only about 3% of guys in their 40s and 50s, and it’s rare at my age. It might affect a larger population of guys, but not everyone comes forward for help. It’s unclear whether it’s genetic, and there’s no known cause unless you have some sort of injury—which I didn’t have. It’s frustrating to read how rare it is, and I can’t help but think I’m being punished or something.

The doctor started me on treatment with a third of a pill of Cialis at night and colchicine pills twice a day, which the doctor said was for gout; he told me that certain studies suggest it may help break up scar tissue. So basically, the idea was to break up the scar tissue and stretch the penis back to a straight shape. I did that for two or three months without any results.

"I don’t know if it has gotten worse lately. I hardly look at my own penis now." —Johnny Leon, Peyronie's Patient

A year ago, I started using verapamil and an anti-inflammatory with iontophoresis. Verapamil is supposed to help dissolve the scar tissue. Iontophoresis is a treatment in which you apply a medication to the skin where you think the scar tissue is and place electrically charged pads over it. The electric charge is supposed to force the medication through your skin. It burns at first and feels like getting a mild tattoo on your penis.

For six months, I did it for an hour about six days a week. Finally, I gave up. The treatment seriously interfered with my life! The machine and medication were also expensive, and my insurance didn’t cover it. I spent $10,000 of my own money for something that didn’t work.

Next: My doctor’s doing everything he can

My doctor’s doing everything he can
I took a break from treatment for six months and went back to the doctor again this year. He put me back on colchicine and Viagra, but they aren’t helping either. I don’t blame my doctor. He’s doing everything he can. Surgery is an option, but it shortens your penis, and I don’t know any guy in the world who would want that. How could this be so impossible to fix?

I don’t know if it has gotten worse lately. I hardly look at my own penis now. My boyfriend always tries to downplay it. He insists that it’s not bad and that he wouldn’t notice if we just met, but I think he said that just to be nice.

As far as hurting one's pride and masculinity, this is the worst thing a guy can experience without having something removed down there. I mean, it’s disfiguring and it’s psychologically and emotionally damaging.

Apparently, there is an injectable drug containing enzymes that do something to the scar tissue; it's being tested for FDA approval. My doctor’s not crazy about injecting the penis, but at this point, I’m willing to try almost anything.

I think if more guys come forward to see a doctor for treatment instead of suffering quietly with Peyronie’s, there would be more interest in researching remedies. I’m counting on the new enzyme treatments that might be approved. I’m 37 now. I’m not a 60-year-old man, and I like to have sex frequently. I just want to get back to a normal sex life.

As told to: Nick Burns
Last Updated: August 21, 2008

Yoga for Great Sex

No wonder yoga devotees always seem so blissed-out. According to Jacquie Greaux, author of the new book, Better Sex Through Yoga: Easy Routines to Boost Your Sex Drive, Enhance Physical Pleasure, and Spice Up Your Bedroom Life (Doubleday), “Yoga increases your flexibility and circulation—and therefore your sensation.” Do these moves a few times a week to help prep you for creative maneuvering in the sack. 

Pose: Locust
Position it’s best for: Satisfying Side (facing each other, on your sides)—a way to make love that allows you to relax and enjoy.

Why it helps: Strengthens abs and back; stimulates the pelvis by squeezing glutes and perineum.

How to do it: Lie on your stomach with chin resting on floor, arms at your sides (palms down), and legs together; point toes. Inhale and raise torso, arms, and legs as high as you can. Hold for 3 breaths.

Pose: Killer Hip Opener
Position it’s best for: Splitting Bamboo (him on top, you on bottom with one leg over his shoulder), which allows for deep penetration. Once you start feeling more flexible, try putting both legs over his shoulders for an even more intense experience.

Why it helps: Stretches hips, glutes, and hamstrings; relieves sore or tight pelvis for increased arousal and sensitivity.

How to do it: Sit on floor with your legs together and extended. Bend right knee and place calf on top of left thigh, with right ankle resting just outside left knee. Flex both feet, exhale, and bend forward from waist. Hold for 5 breaths; repeat on opposite side.

Pose: In the Saddle
Position it’s best for: Rock Steady (sitting face-to-face, legs wrapped around each other’s waists), a position that means less work for you so you can concentrate on other things. You’ll love the stimulating entry angle, too.

Why it helps: Opens hips and stretches legs, back, and shoulders; stimulates key acupressure point for sexual energy, located in the middle of your lower back.

How to do it: Sit with outstretched legs opened wide and feet pointed out. Place hands behind butt and push up onto fingers, lengthening and straightening your back while pulling shoulders back and down. Hold for 5 breaths.

Pose: Hello
Position it’s best for: Doggie Style, just the thing when you want deep penetration—and to let your partner control the rhythm.

Why it helps: Stretches backs of legs; increases strength in the pelvis.

How to do it: Stand with legs about 3 feet apart. Bend at waist and touch hands to floor or a block, then move them forward so your back is straight. Place right hand directly under chin and swing left arm up. Hold for 4 breaths; repeat on opposite side.

By Su Reid-St. John

Related Links (Please Search):
3 Lifestyle Habits That Can Boost Your Sex Drive
All About Yoga
Health’s Sexiest Sex Survey EVER!

Last Updated: July 30, 2008
Filed Under: Sex and Relationships

Social Smokers Aren’t Hooked on Nicotine, Just Smoking

By Ray Hainer

There’s a species of smoker among us that is common yet poorly understood. Their habitat consists of parties, barbecues, and the sidewalks outside bars and restaurants. They prefer to scrounge for their cigarettes, and if they do buy a pack, they’re apt to nurse it for a week or more. You may hear them say, “I’m not a smoker,” or “Only on weekends.”

These are “social smokers”—and there are more of them than you might think.

Smoking is often characterized as an all-or-nothing activity—on doctor’s office questionnaires it’s usually a yes-or-no question, for instance—but by some estimates, anywhere from one-fifth to one-third of adults who smoke don’t light up every day. While some of these so-called nondaily smokers smoke regularly but sparingly, up to 30% likely fall into the social-smoker category.

Hard numbers are difficult to come by, in part because the definition of a social smoker is so vague. A 2007 study of social smoking among college students—one of very few that have been published on the subject—found the term was used “loosely and inconsistently,” even among researchers. But most people know a social smoker when they see one. They smoke occasionally, almost always in groups, and more often than not while drinking alcohol. By definition, they do not consider themselves addicted to nicotine. Many started smoking casually in high school or college but never graduated to a daily habit.

“If I’m out drinking, or hanging out with people who are smoking, then I usually get the urge to smoke,” says Vickie, 45, from New York City. “But I might smoke Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and then not smoke for a week.” 

Vickie’s friend Katherine, 46, has smoked intermittently since her college days, but she limits it to specific times and places. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a cigarette before 7 p.m.,” she says. “I have smoked alone, but very, very rarely, and I don’t think I’ve bought a pack in 20 years. I know that I could put it down at any time.” Though she sometimes goes for months without smoking, she may smoke a whole pack in a weekend if some old friends are in town or if she’s on vacation. “Smoking is a small indulgence that I sometimes do,” says Katherine, “sort of like eating too much ice cream.”

Last Updated: February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Mother and Daughter

What Is Safer Sex?

By Nick Burns

Safer sex is a general term used to describe methods for reducing the chance that you will spread or catch sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs). The idea is that with a few simple tools and strategies, you can increase safety without sacrificing your sex life.

Use condoms
The first and best line of defense is to use a latex barrier whenever you have sex (if you have a latex allergy, use polyurethane instead). That means using a condom on the penis or on a sex toy; latex gloves on your hands; and when engaging in oral sex, dental dams or plastic wrap to cover the anus or vagina.

Get tested for HIV and other STDs
Knowing your own status is the only way to approach the next point honestly.

Communicate
Safer sex also involves talking with your partner, discussing activities and risks and making educated choices together. Of course, sex raises a number of other questions. Do you trust your partner? How do you get a guy to use a condom if he refuses to do so? What if you are suspicious that your partner is not being monogamous?

Some people choose to avoid risky activities completely or find ways to reduce the complications associated with them—although this strategy still requires honesty, communication, and STD testing.

Be monogamous or abstinent
Total abstinence is the only 100% effective safe sex method; it’s just not that realistic for most people. Next in line is a long-term monogamous relationship in which both partners know their status to be negative for STDs (itself requiring testing and honest communication), and both stay true to the monogamous ideal.

Last Updated: February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Mother and Daughter

Shocking HPV Statistics: Liz Lange Speaks Out on Cervical Cancer

Liz Lange, the founder and president of Liz Lange Maternity, was diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was 35. She beat the disease and is now working with the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation to educate women about human papillomavirus (HPV)—a group of viruses that cause the vast majority of cervical cancer cases—and the importance of regular Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer.

In 2001, I made my annual visit to the gynecologist, just like I had every year. A week after my appointment, my doctor called me back and explained that my Pap test results were abnormal. After removing tissue for a biopsy, they found cervical dysplasia, or abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. (Read risk factors for cervical cell changes) They ran more tests, and about a week later I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. (Read how HPV causes cervical cancer and abnormal Pap smears).

I was completely shocked. Here I was, a college-educated woman who lived in Manhattan, and I really had no idea that the Pap test was used to diagnose cervical cancer. I knew I was supposed to go the gynecologist once a year, but I didn’t really know why. The symptoms in early cases are often silent, and I hadn’t exhibited any signs of cancer. My abnormal Pap test was the first indication.

The diagnosis terrified me. I had a 2½-year-old and an 8-month-old baby, and I was working on a fashion show and launching a new product line. On a personal level, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be there for my children; professionally, I was afraid that if people knew about my diagnosis, they would think of me as sick and be uncomfortable doing business with my company. It was so upsetting that any time I talked about it I burst into tears. I kept silent about it for a long time.

I decided to have a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. It was difficult to accept. It was the right choice for me, but that’s not the case for all women. If the disease is caught early enough, many women can have fertility-sparing surgery.

Since my hysterectomy, I’ve been cancer-free for almost eight years. Now I feel absolutely compelled to tell my story, because it really shows how it can happen to anyone. Look at the stats: 80% of women will be exposed to human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted sexually. Some types of HPV cause genital warts, but others have no symptoms at all. Most of the time, the infection goes away on its own. But in some cases (and certain strains of the virus are worse than others), women end up with damage in the cells of the cervix, which can become cancerous.

A recent survey suggested that 89% of mothers didn’t think they were at risk for HPV or weren’t sure if they were at risk. Women need to know how important it is to speak to their health-care professionals about HPV, and to have regular Pap tests to check for cancer. The HPV vaccine may be an option for a lot of women. (Learn about the HPV vaccine and why it’s controversial).

To help educate women, I’ve teamed up with the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation. Test your knowledge about cervical cancer with this six-question quiz and get a FREE Liz Lange limited edition health journal.

As told to Mara Betsch

Last Updated: February 13, 2009
Filed Under: Mother and Daughter

Great Sex: Making Sex Fun Again

From Health magazine

Q: We’re trying to get pregnant, and sex feels like work. How can we make it fun again?
A: When sex becomes more about peeing on sticks than pleasure, try these tricks.

Forget your cycle. That magic window of ovulation can also be a desire-stifling trap. Remember, your sex drive isn’t completely linked to your egg release, so don’t cut off the action when your fertility ebbs. Having sex when you want to all month long will take some of the pressure off.

Do everything but. Give each other a massage, and have intimate contact beyond the bedroom. Long, strong hugs daily will make a difference.

Embrace your imagination. Fantasizing about someone else isn’t a form of cheating. If it spices things up—and it usuallydoes—it’s perfectly OK.

Q: I think I should see a sex specialist, but I don’t know whom to contact. Any guidelines?
A: If you’re concerned about an issue in the bedroom, it’s always a good idea to seek outside help. Here’s a quick guide.

If it hurts. See your OB-GYN. If your problem has a non-gynecological cause, which is unlikely, he or she can refer you to a sex therapist.

If you’re never in the mood. See your OB-GYN. She can diagnose (or rule out) a hormone problem and treat it, and offer help if stress or lack of exercise are factors. She may also refer you to a sex therapist.

If you can’t reach orgasm. If it’s a recent development, see your gyno; a hormone imbalance may be the culprit. If it’s been a lifelong problem, ask your OB-GYN to refer you to a sex therapist; orgasm is a learned reflex response, and it is possible (though difficult) to learn later in life.

If he can’t do it. He should see his internist (because erectile problems can signal heart disease), as well as a urologist. Some medications or complications after surgery can lead to impotence; the urologist will be able to trace the cause.

Q: Our 7-year-old daughter walked in on us having sex. What should I say to her?
A: Though you can’t be sure how much she saw, you can assume she didn’t understand it. She may feel frightened, especially if you seemed to be playing rough or if you yelled at her. If you reacted angrily, apologize and explain that you were caught off guard.

Be straightforward, but avoid going into detail about what you were doing. (Save the birds-and-bees talk for when she starts to ask questions about sex.) Use terms she can relate to. You might tell her that you and Daddy were playing a loving game for grown-ups. Remind her that you and her father love each other and her. Most importantly, keep your tone reassuring; that ease her mind more than anything you say.

What’s the Future of the HPV Vaccine?

By Sally Chew

If you can’t keep up with the public debate about vaccinating girls against the human papilloma virus (HPV), you’re not the only one. Gardasil’s future in the U.S. (a similar vaccine called Cervarix is sold in some other countries) is so hard to predict that a student at Yale University has attempted to render it digitally on a campus computer, according to a study released Monday.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that reports of serious side effects were too rare for major concern. “Based on all of the information we have today, the CDC and FDA have determined that Gardasil is safe to use and effective in preventing 4 types of HPV,” the CDC stated. But the discussion on the table in the U.S. right now—about whether to routinely vaccinate all girls between 9 and 12—is far from over.

Yale’s Sanjay Basu, who based his computer model on a combination of game theory, psychology, and epidemiology, input the various public concerns to gauge where the HPV vaccine debate might be headed in the future. He plugged in worries about side effects, for instance; complaints about the cost (5 per shot, and 5 for the full series recommended); and fear that the vaccine, which blocks four cervical cancer–causing HPV strains, encourages girls to have sex.

Basu’s findings? Public perception and economics “may prevent achieving vaccination levels sufficient to maximize the health effects of the population and to minimize the health-related costs of HPV disease,” according to a press release.

Of course, we still have a lot to learn about Gardasil, which was approved for use in females between 9 and 26 years of age in June 2006 after an accelerated review. Expect more news all the time, both good and bad.

A new study reported last week found that the drug prevents genital warts in boys and men, for instance. And on the Pacific island nation of Fiji, there was reportedly some panic recently over whether the local government’s policy of recommending the vaccine was premature—or even “experimental.”

Last Updated: February 19, 2009
Filed Under: Mother and Daughter

Safest Lubricants and How Meds Affect Your Libido

From Health magazine

Q: I’ve heard that vaginal lubricants carry health risks. Should I worry if I use them?
A: Vaginal lubricants have been linked to fertility problems and vaginal infections, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re at risk. If you’re trying to get pregnant, definitely steer clear because these products can render sperm immotile, which can decrease your chances of conception.

Not trying to get knocked up? Then it’s fine to use a water-based lubricant, but avoid the oil-based ones because they don’t wash away easily and can create a breeding ground for bacteria.

If you’re prone to yeast infections, don’t use any vaginal lubricant that contains glycerin (a sugar-based compound that can trigger or feed a yeast infection). Perfumed, flavored, and warming lubricants have also been shown to increase the risk of urinary tract and vaginal infections. Your best lubricant options are Liquid Silk, Maximus, and Slippery Stuff, which are all water-based and glycerin-free.

Q: Ever since I gave birth to my second baby two months ago, I haven’t been able to reach orgasm during sex. Am I doing something wrong? What’s going on?
A: There are several common physiological reasons why you may be experiencing postchildbirth-orgasm difficulties. Widening of the vagina during delivery and strain to the pelvic floor during pregnancy and childbirth can stretch the main sensory nerves to the genital area. As a result, many women have a temporary loss of sensation in this region during and after pregnancy. Also, enduring a prolonged or traumatic labor and/or delivering a large baby can damage the pelvic-floor muscles and nerves, causing numbness and feelings of vaginal looseness, both of which can affect the ability to have an orgasm.

For help restoring vaginal tone and sensation, try doing Kegel exercises; other remedies that might help include biofeedback (using sensors to monitor pelvic-floor-muscle contractions in order to zero in on the muscles that need to be worked on during Kegel exercises) and stimulation therapy (using electrical currents to contract pelvic-floor muscles so you can learn to duplicate the exercises on your own).

There’s another possible reason you may be having trouble reaching orgasm: low testosterone levels. This is quite common postpartum and can diminish libido and cause orgasmic difficulty. Testosterone-replacement therapy (prescribed in the form of a cream or gel patch applied to the skin, or given as a pill or injection) can be effective. However, because of the potential risks and side effects (and the impact that it can have on nursing) it’s important to thoroughly discuss this option with
your doctor.

Remember: It’s crucial to give yourself plenty of time to return to a comfortable sex life after having a baby. Every woman is different, so don’t feel like there’s a set time frame for when you’re supposed to be ready for sex again.

If your orgasm problems persist, speak to your gynecologist; she can have your hormone levels checked and recommend medical and alternative therapies that can help you get back on track.

Q: Lately, I have zero sex drive. Could it be my antidepressant? If so, what can I do about it without going off my meds completely?
A: This is a tricky one to call. Depression itself can dampen sexual desire, but so can some of the medications that are used to treat the condition. The biggest potential culprits are antidepressants in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) group, like Zoloft and Prozac, which can have an impact on two of the body’s primary arousal-related chemicals—nitric oxide and dopamine. By inhibiting the production of nitric oxide, SSRIs can hinder vaginal blood-flow and lubrication, decreasing arousal. These medications also reduce the body’s dopamine activity, which can lead to lower libido and orgasmic dysfunction.

But there’s no reason you should have to put up with a diminished sex drive. Talk to your doctor about any sexual symptoms you’re having and ask her about possible remedies that might work for you, including switching antidepressants, adjusting your current dosage, or periodically taking brief (one- to two-day) medication holidays.

Jennifer Berman, MD, is director of the Berman Women’s Wellness Center and author of For Women Only.

Find out more about Jennifer at Bermansexualhealth.com. And send your questions to AskHealth@health.com.

Last Updated: February 17, 2009
Filed Under: Sex and Relationships