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Common Health Questions

NHS website - Is it normal to have a curved penis?

Is it normal to have a curved penis?

It's common for the penis to curve slightly to the left or right when it's erect. But if you have a more significant bend in your penis, which may cause you pain or difficulty having sex, see your GP or go to your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. These can sometimes be symptoms of Peyronie's disease.

What is Peyronie's disease?

Peyronie's disease causes the penis to become curved when it's erect. The condition mostly affects men over 40, although it can happen at any age.

What are the symptoms of Peyronie's disease?

The symptoms of Peyronie's disease include:

  • a thickened area or hard lump (plaque) in the shaft of the penis (it's rare to get more than one plaque) 
  • a curve in the penis when it's erect (usually it curves upwards)
  • the penis looking misshapen, like an hourglass
  • loss of length or girth of the penis 


But in severe cases, the curve in the penis can make having sex difficult, painful or even impossible. Peyronie's disease may also lead to erectile dysfunction.

What causes Peyronie's disease?

The cause of Peyronie's disease is not yet understood.

It's thought the condition sometimes occurs after an injury to the penis when erect, such as being bent during sex, but it can develop without any obvious cause.

Peyronie's disease may run in families.

Non-surgical treatments for Peyronie's disease

Many men don't need treatment, as they don't have pain or the condition doesn't affect their sexual function. The condition can sometimes improve without treatment.

Various non-surgical treatments are available, including medicines and injections of steroids into the affected area. But there's limited evidence of their effectiveness.

Guidance is available from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on one treatment option: extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT).

This involves targeting soundwaves at the plaque, generally using an ultrasound scanner. The NICE guidance advises that, although ESWT is considered safe, there isn't enough evidence to prove its effectiveness.

Surgical treatments for Peyronie's disease

In severe cases, it may be possible to treat Peyronie's disease with surgery. But doctors recommend waiting at least 12 months before considering surgery, as the condition can improve without treatment in some men.

Surgery may involve:

  • implanting a device to straighten the penis

What should I do if I'm worried about my curved penis?

If you're concerned about a lump or bend in your penis, or it's causing problems with sex, go to your GP or a local GUM clinic.  

Read the answers to more questions about men's health.

Further information:
