Recent research suggests that the actual rate may be closer to 1 in 10 given that many don’t seek diagnosis or treatment for PD, often because symptoms are mild and don’t interfere with sexual function.

PD is not a life-threatening or even “serious” medical condition but one that can lead to depression and relationship problems in around 50% of cases. Moreover, 32% report significant erectile dysfunction (the ability to achieve or sustain an erection).

This article provides facts and statistics about Peyronie’s disease, including who is most likely to be affected and PD’s impact on a person’s life.

Peyronie’s Disease Overview

Peyronie’s disease is a benign (non-cancerous) condition that is thought to be caused by repeated mild sexual trauma or a prior injury to the penis during vigorous intercourse or masturbation. Genetics is also believed to play a part.

The trauma can cause painless scar tissues (called plaques) on the tunica albuginea, the thick sheath surrounding the inner core of the penis. Over time, the plaques can cause “weak spots” that undermine the stability of an erection, eventually—and sometimes suddenly—leading to an abnormal curve.

Depending on the severity of PD, other symptoms may include:

Pain with erections (and sometimes without) Pain during sexual intercourse A hardened indentation on the penis shaft A loss of penile length and/or girth Erectile dysfunction

Psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and relationship problems, are also common with PD.

How Common Is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease is more common than many people think.

While only around 1 of every 100 people with penises seek a diagnosis for PD, a population-based study published in PLoS One suggests that as many as 11 in 100 have PD symptoms. That translates to roughly 1 of every 9 people with penises in the United States aged 18 or over.

If these statistics hold true, this means that roughly 11 million people in the United States have some level of PD ranging from mild to severe.

Peyronie’s Disease by Race/Ethnicity

Peyronie’s disease can affect anyone with a penis. However, for reasons not entirely clear, White people appear far more vulnerable to PD than any other racial or ethnic group.

This may be explained in parts by healthcare disparities in the United States that generally afford White people greater access to medical diagnoses, leaving many people of other groups undiagnosed.

This is evidenced in part by research showing that people who earn $75,000 per year (who are more likely White) are 10 times more likely to seek a diagnosis for PD than those who earn under $25,000 (who are more likely to be Black or Latinx).

But, genetics may also account for the disparity. As a connective tissue disorder, PD is often seen in those who have other connective tissue diseases, like Dupuytren’s contracture (which causes the deformity of the palm and fingers).

As with PD, Dupuytren’s contracture (DC) tends to affect White people more than Black or Latinx people. Moreover, gene mutations associated with DC are common in people with PD, such as the HLA-DQw2 mutation that occurs in 58% of people with PD and DC.

Peyronie’s Disease by Age

Peyronie’s disease generally affects older people but can also occur in younger people, including teens and adolescents. The risk of PD increases after age 40, reaching a peak between 55 and 64.

Based on PD diagnoses alone, studies have historically shown a higher percentage of older people affected by PD than younger people:

Ages 30 to 39: 1. 5% affectedAges 40 to 59: 3. 0% affectedAges 60 to 69: 4. 0% affectedOver age 70: 6. 5% affected

But these figures don’t necessarily paint the entire picture.

According to 2016 research from the Yale School of Public Health, the average age of those with PD symptoms (referred to as “probable PD”) is around 48. However, the average age of those officially diagnosed with PD (referred to as “definitive PD”) is 58.

What this suggests is that PD is not necessarily an “old man’s disease” but one characterized by delayed diagnoses. In fact, studies show that the rate of PD among younger adults may be far higher than previously imagined.

Based on the probable diagnosis of PD, the Yale researchers reported the following rates among 7,711 study participants:

Ages 18 to 24: 15% affectedAges 25 to 34: 12. 9% affectedAges 35 to 44: 9. 5% affectedAges 44 to 54: 8. 7% affectedAges 55 to 64: 13% affectedAges 65 to 74: 13. 1% affectedOver age 75: 13. 9% affected

Not only are the rates of PD higher among younger people than previously thought, but symptoms tend to be more severe with greater penile curvature, higher pain scores, more penile plaques, and higher rates of emotional distress.

What Are the Mortality Rates for Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s disease is not associated with an increased risk of mortality (death). Even so, it is associated with significant physical and psychological morbidity (illness) and a decreased quality of life and well-being.

PD is linked to several long-term health concerns:

Diabetes: PD is more common in people with diabetes. It is also associated with a higher risk of diabetes complications involving the eyes (diabetic retinopathy), kidneys (diabetic nephropathy), and nerves (diabetic neuropathy). Enlarged prostate: People with PD have a two-fold increased risk of prostatitis (prostate inflammation) and a three-fold increased risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) compared to those without PD. Depression: Studies suggest that 81% of people with PD report “emotional difficulty” due to the condition, while 1 in 5 has severe depression. Moreover, 54% reported relationship problems due to anxiety, depression, loss of sexual function, or low self-esteem. Erectile dysfunction: If you have PD, there is a roughly 1-in-3 chance you’ll have erectile dysfunction (ED). With that said, because PD tends to affect adults over 50—who are already at increased risk of ED—the cause of ED may be unrelated (or only partially related) to PD.

Screening and Early Detection

There are no tests able to detect Peyronie’s disease or predict who will get it. PD is a disease that is ultimately diagnosed after it develops, usually with a physical exam and an ultrasound (a non-invasive tool that can detect penile plaques using high-frequency sound waves).

An evaluation can predict the risk of sexual dysfunction. Generally speaking, a penile curve of greater than 60 degrees is linked to a high risk of sexual disability, including the inability to have sexual intercourse. However, the severity of the penile curve can in no way predict who may or may not experience pain.

On the flip side, people with a greater penile curve tend to respond better to injectable drugs like Xiaflex (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) that help treat PD by dissolving penile plaques.

Summary

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is the abnormal curve of the penis that tends to happen in later life. Statistics indicate that 1 in every 100 people with penises is diagnosed with PD in the United States. However, the actual rate (factoring in diagnosed and undiagnosed cases) may be closer to 1 in 10.

White people are disproportionally diagnosed with PD (compared to other groups) due in part to genetic factors that may predispose them to PD. While people over 40 are more likely to get PD, there is increasing evidence that PD affects younger people and teens more than previously thought.