If Your Penis Curves This Much, You Need to See a Doctor

Peyronie’s Disease vs. Normal Curvature

The most common cause for penis curvature is Peyronie’s disease, says Baptiste. It’s estimated that between about 1 to 13 in 100 men over 18 will develop the condition, in which a build-up of scar tissue, called plaque, forms in the tunica albuginea—a fibrous membrane in your shaft—and causes your penis to curve whether it’s erect or flaccid, Baptiste says.

When blood flows to your penis during an erection, it gets trapped inside the tunica albuginea; that’s what keeps your member firm and relatively straight. But if scar tissue or plaque builds up in the membrane, it can pull on the surrounding tissue and cause your penis to bend.

“The curve is typically upwards, but it can also bend to the right or left depending on the amount of plaque built-up and where the tissue has formed,” Baptiste says.

What causes Peyronie’s?

While Peyronie’s is called a disease, it’s actually an injury.

“Penile trauma, including both acute traumatic events and chronic repetitive microtrauma (including during sex), is considered the leading cause,” says Baptiste. He adds that Peyronie’s disease has been associated with infectious conditions, for example, urinary tract infections, as well as problems resulting from medical procedures, such as urethral catheterization, or direct drainage of your bladder.

There is also a genetic component to Peyronie’s in some men, although a predisposition to Peyronie’s is hard to diagnose until symptoms occur, says Baptiste.

After the patient notices curvature or develops symptoms, a physician must wait three to six months for the plaque to stabilize before the condition is considered stable and treatment can start.

How to Get Rid of a Curve

Again, and we can’t say this enough, if the curve is mild and isn’t causing pain there’s no need to treat it or feel nervous about it during sex, especially since some women find a bit of a curve is better for hitting their G-spot. Hell, Megan Thee Stallion even sang the praises of her partner’s bent member in her “Captain Hook” single.

But if you have Peyronie’s or a more severe curve, a urologist will consider the following treatment options to straighten you out.

Surgery

A trip under the knife isn’t the most pleasant thought, but may be a good option for some people to correct Peyronie’s. For example, your doctor may decide to stitch your tunica albuginea on the opposite side of the curve or remove plaque build-up in your penis, both of which can straighten your shaft, says Baptiste.

Traction therapy

Wearing a traction device for a set amount of time each day can put enough tension on your penis to stretch it in the direction that’s opposite of the curve. It’s also used after the surgeries mentioned above to strengthen your penis and prevent it from losing length, Baptiste says.

Injections

In the early stages of Peyronie’s, injecting medications like interferon or collagenase can break down scar tissue and slow down the rate by which new scar tissue builds up.

How to Prevent Curvature

Peyronie’s is a vascular problem, Baptiste says, meaning it affects your blood vessels and how blood flows to your penis.

That’s why warding off the condition starts with a healthy diet and exercise. Lean proteins, plenty of fruits and veggies, and low fat and sugar intake—along with aerobic exercise—may help ensure plaque doesn’t build in your blood vessels and hinder blood flow, says Baptiste.

Cut out smoking and excessive drinking since both vices can stiffen your blood vessels so they aren’t able to easily fill and relax.

Other Reasons Your Penis is Curved

If you don’t have Peyronie’s, one of these other causes might be behind your curved penis.

Genetics

If your penis has looked like a highway off-ramp for as long as you can remember, you may have just been born that way. Severe genetic curvature is rare, and usually makes itself known during puberty.

“If you’re born with less tissue on the right or left side of your penis, it will curve to that side,” Baptiste says. “This is very common and results in minor curvature.”

Injury

If you previously broke your penis (trust us, you’d know it if you did) and it wasn’t treated or it healed incorrectly, your tunica albuginea can curve and scar tissue or plaque build-up further sets the curve in place, says Baptiste.

Surgery is needed to fix the curve and remove plaque to rebuild strength and straighten your shaft.

Autoimmune disease

Although rare, an autoimmune disease like lichen sclerosis—which typically affects men between 30 and 50 years old—can shorten your urethra, Baptiste says. “A shorter urethra may cause your penis to curve downward,” he says.