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Straight Talk on Penile Curves

Question:

Is it normal to have a curved penis?

Answer:

Not all penises stand up straight. To understand what makes one curve, you need to understand what the penis is made of. The penis is comprised of three parallel expandable cylinders, or corpora. The two corpora cavernosa make up the top part of the shaft, while the corpora spongiosum is positioned in the groove between and beneath them, wrapping around the urethra and forming the head of the penis. Each of the corpora is surrounded by a thin layer of tissue called the tunica albuginea.

When a male is aroused, chemical signals are sent from the brain and spinal cord that increase the blood flow to the penis. Blood flows into the corpora faster than it can escape, and engorgement occurs. Normally, the tissue layers surrounding the corpora have enough elasticity to allow for full expansion. When this process occurs symmetrically, a straight erection results.

Many men have some degree of penile angulation. One reason for this can be that one of the corpora cavernosa is shorter than the other; this causes an erection to point in the direction of the shorter corpora. Another common condition some men are born with is "penile torsion," which causes the penis to appear somewhat twisted as well as curved. Rarely are these conditions severe enough to require surgery.

Peyronie's disease accounts for some cases of severe penile curvature. This is a somewhat common acquired condition, affecting approximately 1% of men, according to a 1997 Journal of Urology study. These men have a scar in the tunica albuginea tissue that prevents symmetrical expansion of the corpora. The scar is thought to come from tiny tears in the tunica that occur when the shaft buckles during sex. (A full-blown tear leads to severe swelling and bruising and is called a "penile fracture"; it requires prompt surgical attention.)

These small tears allow some blood to seep into the tunica, which later forms a scar. Peyronie's in the early stages is often associated with painful erections. As the condition progresses, the pain subsides but the deformity can increase to such a point that intercourse is no longer possible. If treated early enough, a man with Peyronie's may get results from taking vitamin E orally. If he waits until the bend is so severe that he can no longer have intercourse, surgery may be required to straighten his penis.

If you have a mildly curved penis that has always been that way, you're simply normal and don't need treatment. If your penis has only recently begun curving, and seems to be getting worse, you should see a urologist for possible treatment.