The Consumer’s Guide to Nonsurgical Treatment for Peyronie’s Disease
Health ConditionsMen's Health

The Consumer’s Guide to Nonsurgical Treatment for Peyronie’s Disease

Learn everything you need to know about oral medications, injections, and other therapies for Peyronie’s disease.
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Updated on June 3, 2025
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M ost men who have Peyronie’s disease will not need surgery to correct the curvature. Rather, the condition can be corrected or managed with nonsurgical treatments, including injections, penile traction devices, and oral medications.

This is especially true in the earlier, acute stage of Peyronie’s disease (PD), in which scar tissue (also called plaque) forms under the skin of the penis, causing an abnormal curvature. In the chronic phase, the scar tissue will no longer grow, but complications such as erectile dysfunction (ED) may develop.

An estimated 10 percent of men develop PD at some point in their lives.

 It usually occurs in men in their 50s or 60s, according to Petar Bajic, MD, a urologist specializing in male sexual dysfunction and the director of the Center for Men’s Health at Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute.

“The men that I’m seeing in the office are usually the ones that are bothered by it in some way,” he says. “I suspect many men out there may not come in, either because they might be embarrassed to talk about it or because they may have a relatively mild [case] that is not bothersome.”

Although some men will need surgery to correct the curvature caused by the condition, many can find relief from symptoms without surgery.

Nonsurgical Treatments for PD and How They Work

Because there are several treatment options for PD, it’s important to find the one that’s right for you. With his patients, Dr. Bajic uses a shared decision-making approach.

“We talk about what treatments the individual patient may be interested in, while considering the relative pluses and minuses of each approach,” he says. “There are a lot of things that men can do.”

You can start by discussing these nonsurgical treatment options with your doctor.

Oral Medications

oral-medications-peyronies-disease
The main role of oral medication is to help prevent PD from getting worse, as oral drugs haven’t been shown to treat the curvature caused by the condition. Some of these medications include:

Vasodilators

  • Common names and brands: Tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca), sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
  • How they work: Vasodilators enhance blood flow. In the case of PD, as well as ED, they are used to increase blood flow to the penis and improve the strength of erections. Using medication to strengthen an erection can reduce the risk of further injuries to the penis, says Bajic.
  • Cost: These drugs are relatively inexpensive, and most health insurance plans cover them.
  • Side effects: Potential side effects associated with these drugs include elevated heart rate (tachycardia), heart palpitations, fluid retention (edema), nausea, and vomiting. Headache and excessive hair growth may also occur.
  • What else to know: Vasodilators may help prevent PD from worsening and address any ED symptoms you may be experiencing due to the condition. But they won’t reduce plaques or improve penis curvature.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

  • Common names and brands: Aspirin, ibuprofen (Bayer, Advil)
  • How they work: These drugs don’t treat PD specifically but can help manage the pain associated with the condition by reducing inflammation, Bajic says.
  • Cost: Insurance doesn’t cover them, but they are available over the counter (without a prescription) and fairly inexpensive.
  • Side effects: With NSAIDs, side effects are relatively rare, but they can include stomach ulcers, indigestion (stomachaches, nausea, diarrhea), headaches, drowsiness, and dizziness.
  • What else to know: Again, NSAIDs won’t treat the curvature, but they can be used in addition to condition-specific approaches to address pain and discomfort.

Injectable Drugs

injectable-drugs-peyronies-disease
There are three injectable treatments available for PD: collagenase clostridium histolyticum, verapamil, and interferon. Of the three, Bajic generally only recommends collagenase clostridium histolyticum, because it has been found to be most effective in clinical trials.

Although generally effective, injectables won’t completely resolve penis curvature from PD or restore lost length or girth, he cautions. In addition, in very rare instances, injectable treatments can cause penile tissue to rupture, which would require surgery to repair, he says.

Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum

  • Brand: Xiaflex
  • How it works: Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is an enzyme that breaks down the collagen scar tissue found in PD plaques. The only injectable drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of PD, collagenase clostridium histolyticum is injected directly into the plaques, following local anesthesia.
  • Cost: Collagenase clostridium histolyticum can be expensive, but most health insurance plans cover it, and the manufacturer offers a copay assistance program. Treatment typically starts with two injections, given 1 to 3 days apart, followed by six weeks of penile stretching. Some men require multiple treatments.
  • Side effects: After an injection, you may experience bleeding, bruising, itchiness, pain, redness, or swelling at or around the injection site. You will also need to abstain from all sex for a period of time (talk to your doctor about how long).
  • What else to know: When prescribing collagenase clostridium histolyticum, Bajic typically combines the treatment with stretching exercises using a traction device to help correct curvature and restore lost length. The combination won’t result in a straight penis, but it gives better results than either therapy alone, he says.

Verapamil

  • Brands: Calan, Verelan
  • How it works: Verapamil is an antihypertensive drug and calcium channel blocker that is most often used to treat high blood pressure. Research suggests that calcium channel blockers increase the activity of collagenase, an enzyme that helps break down the excess collagen that makes up PD plaques.
  • Cost: Not all health insurance plans may cover verapamil, as it hasn’t been approved by the FDA for treating PD. It’s given as an injection every 2 to 12 weeks, for a total of six injections. They are administered directly into the affected area of the penis, under local anesthesia.
  • Side effects: Side effects are generally mild, but you may experience constipation, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, or a reduced heart rate. After an injection, you may have bleeding, bruising, itchiness, pain, redness, or swelling at or around the injection site.
  • What else to know: During treatment, you’ll need to avoid sexual activity (including intercourse, masturbation, and oral sex) and not use your penile traction device for 24 hours following each injection. Six weeks after the final injection, your doctor will perform a penile ultrasound to see if the treatment has worked. If significant curvature remains, you may need another round of injections.

Interferon

  • Brand: Intron A
  • How it works: Interferon is a naturally occurring protein in the body and an antiviral drug designed to control inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties appear to help resolve plaques and reduce penile curvature from PD. Like other injectables, it’s injected directly into the plaques, under local anesthesia.
  • Cost: Because interferon hasn’t been approved by the FDA for use in men with PD, not all health insurance plans may cover it. Typically, it’s given as six injections, administered every 2 to 12 weeks.
  • Side effects: As with other injectables, after an interferon injection, you may have bleeding, bruising, itchiness, pain, redness, or swelling at or around the injection site
  • What else to know: In one study, the majority of men who were treated with interferon injections had a 20 percent reduction in curvature.

Other Therapies

other-therapies

Penile Traction

  • Brands: Many
  • How it works: Penile traction therapy uses an external device to stretch (or bend) the penis over the course of a few months. It must be worn daily to achieve results: twice a day for 30 minutes at a time, for at least three months, Bajic says.
  • Cost: Penile traction devices range from $20 to $525.
  • Side effects: The most common side effects with penile traction include bruising, discoloration of the skin, itchiness, pain, and skin irritation.
  • What else to know: A study found that penile traction is the most cost-effective option for PD, but surgery and collagenase clostridium histolyticum injections are more effective for relieving symptoms. The approach improves curvature “by about a quarter to a third, and it can restore some of the length that has been lost due to PD,” Bajic says.

Shock Wave Therapy

  • Brands: Many
  • How it works: In this approach, your doctor will use a small device to apply small, electromagnetic pulses to the affected area of your penis. It can help address pain caused by the condition.
  • Cost: Shock wave therapy is expensive — up to $500 per treatment session, with multiple treatment sessions often required. And health insurance may not cover it.
  • What else you need to know: Shock wave therapy gets a lot of attention, mainly because of the number of ad campaigns that promote it for ED. But the American Urological Association’s guidelines on PD recommend the use of shock wave therapy for pain only during the acute phase of the condition, Bajic says.

7 Essential Facts About Nonsurgical Treatment for Peyronie’s Disease

1. The disease rarely goes away on its own.

PD can worsen over time, and in moderate-to-severe cases, it can cause curving or shortening of the penis, pain, calcification, indentations, loss of girth, and narrowing of the penis (which, in severe cases, can result in an hourglass-like shape).

1. The disease rarely goes away on its own.

2. But treatment isn’t always necessary.

If plaques are small, the curvature is mild, and the condition isn’t causing pain, sexual dysfunction, or a negative body image, you can just live with PD. It won’t affect any other part of your body.

2. But treatment isn’t always necessary.

3. Nonsurgical treatments are often best for improving the condition.

While they’re unlikely to result in a completely straight penis, nonsurgical treatments can help prevent PD from getting worse, improve deformities, and reduce pain. Plus, they may involve fewer complications, risks, and side effects than surgical treatments.

3. Nonsurgical treatments are often best for improving the condition.

4. Most oral medications aren’t likely to benefit people with PD.

Oral drugs won’t treat the curvature. A vasodilator, though, may prevent PD from worsening, especially if used in the acute phase. You can also take NSAIDs to reduce pain.

4. Most oral medications aren’t likely to benefit people with PD.

5. Two nonsurgical treatments for PD are more likely to improve penile deformity.

The two nonsurgical treatments that are likely to be the most effective at improving the penile deformity caused by PD are injectable collagenase clostridium histolyticum and penile traction therapy — ideally, a combination of the two.

5. Two nonsurgical treatments for PD are more likely to improve penile deformity.

6. Improvement takes time.

Everyone’s a little different, but for most people, it tends to take several months to start experiencing the benefits of nonsurgical treatments, such as injections or penile traction therapy. While tadalafil will work quickly to improve erections, its role in potentially preventing PD from worsening is a more gradual process (and won’t reduce plaques or curvature).

6. Improvement takes time.

7. Health insurance may cover some — but not all — treatments for PD.

Oral medications (such as tadalafil), injectable collagenase clostridium histolyticum, and penile traction therapy are more likely to be covered by health insurance than shock wave therapy. But you can always investigate the possibility of a partial refund or copay assistance from the manufacturer. Your doctor may be able to help you get authorization or coverage for treatments that are not initially covered by your health insurance.

7. Health insurance may cover some — but not all — treatments for PD.

Answers to Common Questions About Nonsurgical PD Treatment

If you have just been diagnosed with PD or think you may have it, you’ll likely have a few questions for your doctor. Here, Bajic answers some of the questions he’s often asked.

Is Nonsurgical Treatment Right for Me?



Your urologist may use what’s called a penile Doppler ultrasound to determine the degree of penile curvature in your erection, blood flow related to the erection, and type of scar tissue.

 If PD is in the acute phase — the early stages of the condition, which can be anywhere from two weeks to 12 months or more after the scar or curvature starts — there are nonsurgical treatments that can prevent the condition from getting worse and help address the pain and discomfort it causes.
Even if you’re in the chronic phase of the condition, nonsurgical treatments could still help if the curve or bend in your penis is the only noticeable symptom.

Next Steps: Moving Forward With Nonsurgical Treatment Decisions

medal-harple-long-white-1440x270

Once you’ve been diagnosed, Bajic advises learning as much as you can about PD. It can also be helpful for your partner to learn about the condition.

“There’s a lot of fear of the unknown and why it’s happening,” he says. “That’s part of why it’s so important to have that discussion with an experienced provider — to just better understand [the condition], what the options are, and what the expectations of those options are.”

Bajic emphasizes the importance of working with your urologist to come up with an individualized treatment approach to PD that’ll lead to the best outcome for you. He adds that people often start to feel a lot better once they see an improvement in symptoms.

“Everybody copes with PD differently, so we’re always available to help guide them through the process, whatever it is that they may need,” he says.

Resources for nonsurgical treatment of PD:

Here are a few more things to consider.

cg-next-steps-peyronies-disease

Self-Reflection

Before your next appointment, consider how well your nonsurgical treatment plan is working, whether you have any other concerns, and what you may want to discuss with your doctor. Ask yourself:

  1. Am I satisfied with my current nonsurgical PD treatment plan?
  2. Have I noticed a difference in my symptoms — better, worse, or the same? 
  3. Am I okay with the fact that my penis is unlikely to be perfectly straight with this treatment plan?
  4. Am I being forthcoming with my doctor about all of the symptoms and concerns I have? 
  5. Am I feeling anxious or depressed about my body or sex life?
doctor-discussion-peyronies-disease

Doctor Discussion

To help make the most of your next doctor’s appointment, jot down some questions you’d like to ask. Here are a few conversation starters you can save on your phone for your next PD appointment:

  1. What should I do if I don’t notice any improvement?
  2. What should I do if the curvature gets worse?
  3. What if other symptoms (such as pain or difficulty getting or maintaining an erection) get worse?
  4. What is the best way to manage side effects of the medication?
  5. How often should I schedule checkups?
  6. Are there any other lifestyle changes I can make to better manage PD?
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Peyronie’s Disease. Cleveland Clinic. April 11, 2023.
  2. Segundo A et al. Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Erectile Dysfunction Associated With Peyronie's Disease Among Men Seeking Urological Care. Sexual Medicine. June 2020.
  3. Penile Curvature (Peyronie’s Disease). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. August 2019.
  4. About Verapamil Injections for Treatment of Peyronie’s Disease. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. August 19, 2019.
  5. Stewart CA et al. Intralesional Injection of Interferon-A2B Improves Penile Curvature in Men With Peyronie’s Disease Independent of Plaque Location. The Journal of Urology. December 2015.
  6. Joseph J et al. Outcomes of RestoreX Penile Traction Therapy in Men With Peyronie’s Disease: Results From Open Label and Follow-Up Phases. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. December 2020.
  7. Nehra A et al. Peyronie’s Disease (2015). American Urological Association. 2015.
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Christopher Wolter, MD

Medical Reviewer

Christopher Wolter, MD, is an assistant professor in urology at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been in practice since 2008, specializing in the areas of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, urologic reconstruction, urologic prosthetics, post prostate cancer survivorship, erectile dysfunction, neurourology and neuromodulation, and overall functional considerations of urogenital health.

Dr. Wolter has been heavily involved in urologic education. He spent the last 12 years heavily involved in resident education and leadership for his department, including the last eight years as urology residency program director. He currently serves as the director of urologic education for the preclinical and clinical rotations for the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Phoenix, Arizona, campus.

Wolter completed his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Illinois. He then completed his urology residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, followed by a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive urology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Jen Laskey is a writer, editor, and content strategist. She has worked on EverydayHealth.com in various capacities since its inception, and her writing has appeared in many major publications, including SAVEUR magazine, EatingWell magazine, NBC, TODAY, and Fodor's Travel guides. She has also served as the senior editorial director of Twill Health, leading editorial strategy and daily operations for Twill's health and mental health apps.

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