Abstract

Introduction: Peyronie’s Disease (PyD) can present with both physical and psychological ramifications on patient well-being, which often prompts consultation for therapeutic intervention. The purpose of our study is to examine patient perception of their disease.
Material and methods: A cohort of eleven patients were provided questionnaires during their initial workup for PyD. The focused questionnaire examined patient-reported disease severity, erectile dysfunction, and the impact on the patient’s life. Additional factors reviewed included physician-reported disease severity and curvature.
Result: The eleven patients questioned were sexually active men with a mean Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score of 16 (range 5-25). Seven patients reported a curvature between 30-60 degrees associated with their PyD and four patients reported between 60-90 degrees of curvature. Five patients endorsed the presence of an hourglass defect and nine patients reported penile shortening. On a scale of 1-10, the mean negative impact of PyD on the patient’s sex life was 7.9. Eight patients reported that PyD significantly decreased their interest in sex, frequency of sex, and sexual satisfaction. Seven patients reported that their PyD affected their self-esteem. Color Doppler Duplex Ultrasound (CDDU) identified concomitant arterial insufficiency or cavernous venous occlusive disease in 8 patients. Despite this observation, six of the patients reported getting erections hard enough for penetration “most times” or “almost always.” Seven patients reported that vaginal intercourse was difficult secondary to PyD and nine patients reported having vaginal intercourse less often secondary to PyD. All patients reported trying some form of therapy for PyD.
Conclusion: Peyronie’s disease can significantly affect a patient’s sex life and self-perception. It is important to inquire about these experiences during the initial evaluation of PyD to better understand patient motivation toward treatment.

Keywords:Peyronie’s disease; Erectile dysfunction; Quality of life