If you suffer from induratio penis plastica (IPP), also called Peyronie’s disease, you are not alone – it’s a condition that affects millions of men. The good news is that, depending on the cause, various therapeutic options for reducing the pain are now available.
One proven treatment method is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT). This involves shock waves being applied to the pain point from outside the body.
Induratio penis plastica/Peyronie’s disease
Induratio penis plastica (IPP), also known as Peyronie’s disease, is an acquired and generally progressive condition of the penis. Most men notice the presence of the disease when they feel thickened nodules (so-called plaques) under the skin of the penis. As the condition progresses, pain may occur in the erect or flaccid penis. Curvature of the penis when erect also occurs, making intercourse difficult or even impossible.
Causes
It is currently supposed that, under certain conditions, profuse deposits of connective tissue may form in the normally highly elastic sheath of the penile cavernous body. This excessive accumulation of fibrous tissue in the sheath of the cavernous body leads to the formation of fibrous plaques.
Treating IPP with shock wave therapy
When treating IPP/Peyronie’s disease, the pain points in the penis are treated with extracorporeal shock waves. In a pilot study1, shock waves were delivered to the flaccid penis once a week for a period of five weeks. This led to a reduction in pain on erection.
Further studies2,3 on IPP also showed positive outcomes in relation to alleviation of penile pain.
A therapy session generally lasts about 20 minutes. On average, between two and eight sessions are required, depending on severity and how the patient responds to treatment.
Sources
1Michel, M. S.; Ptaschnyk, T.; Musial, A.; Braun, P.; Lenz, S. T.; Alken, P.; Köhrmann, K. U.: Objective and subjective changes in patients with Peyronie‘s disease after management with shockwave therapy, Journal of endourology, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2003, 17, 41-44.
2Palmieri, A.; Imbimbo, C.; Longo, N.; Fusco, F.; Verze, P.; Mangiapia, F.; Creta, M.; Mirone, V.: A first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled clinical trial evaluating extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease. European Urology, Elsevier, 2009, 56(2), 363-370.
3Hatzichristodoulou, G.; Meisner, C.; Gschwend J. E.; Stenzl A.; Lahme S.: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in Peyronie’s disease: results of a placebo-controlled, prospective, randomized, single-blind study. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Elsevier, 2013, 10(11), 2815-21.