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Topics: Health
Callum Jones
One in ten men are said to have 'curved penis syndrome' and are suffering in silence, according to a doctor.
What goes on down below is not exactly something a lot of us want to talk about, even though we probably should be.
Especially when it comes to health - yes, it may be pretty embarrassing but things won't get sorted unless we talk about them.
And according to Dr Mohit Khera, from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, Peyronie's disease - as it is technically known - impacts one in ten men.
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The disease is a disorder in where scar link tissue, called plaque, forms under the skin of the penis. Typically, it is caused by repeated micro-injuries during sex, masturbation or exercise.
As a result, an individual's genitals become curved to varying types of degrees.
Added to that, patients can't usually recall the specific trauma to their penis, making it potentially harder to understand.
Dr Khera has warned that most men do not seek help for the condition due to the stigma and embarrassment surrounding it.
But it is really important that any men who think they have the condition to seek medical assistance as soon as they possibly can as Peyronie's disease becomes highly treatable if it is caught early.
Speaking on the The Peter Attia Drive podcast, Dr Khera said: "Up to seven to nine percent of men in the US have Peyronie's disease.
"This population, I call the population that suffers in silence. They never talk about it. In fact, studies show that they are very silent and never seek care.
"The issue with this is that it has a significant impact on their quality of life."
"Patients who have the disease really suffer from depression. They feel like there is a disfigurement."
The doctor went on to say that treatment such as injections and surgery can be offered to those who have the condition.
Peyronie's disease has two different stages: the active phase and the passive phase.
The active phase, which can last up to a year, sees the scar tissue forming while the penis is becoming gradually more curved. At this stage, men may also experience some pain, though that is not guaranteed.
The passive phase follows the active phase, where the penis stops continuing to curve.
Speaking of the recovery rate for men, Dr Khera said: "Of all the men, 15 percent will just get better. Forty percent will stay the same. And 45 percent of patients will get worse."