Peyronie’s Disease: Testosterone Levels Not Linked to Extent of Penis Curve
For men with Peyronie’s disease, the degree of penis curvature doesn’t appear to be affected by low testosterone levels, according to a July 2019 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
A bent penis is one of the main characteristics of Peyronie’s disease. The curve is caused by plaques that form on the tunica albuginea, the tissue that surrounds two spongy chambers that fill with blood during an erection. The plaques make the penis less flexible, and the penis bends, making intercourse a challenge.
Previous research has suggested that the severity of the curve might be linked to a man’s testosterone levels. In the current study, researchers further investigated this idea.
They recruited 184 men with Peyronie’s disease to participate. The men’s average age was 54 years, and they had had Peyronie’s disease for an average of 18 months. About three-quarters of them were still able to have intercourse.
The men’s testosterone levels were measured. Because testosterone production fluctuates throughout the day, all measurements were taken before noon for consistency. The researchers analyzed the measurements in several ways. For example, they calculated each man’s free testosterone and total testosterone. (Click here for more details on these designations.)
On average, the men’s total testosterone levels were 425 ng/dL. According to guidelines set forth by the American Urological Association and the Endocrine Society, measurements below 300 ng/dL are considered low.
The researchers also assessed the degree of curvature for each man’s penis. The average curve was 34 degrees.
After analyzing the data, the researchers determined that “there is no relationship between low testosterone levels and the magnitude of [Peyronie’s disease]-associated penile deformity.”
It should be noted that this study focused on the degree of curvature, not the presence of Peyronie’s disease itself. It’s still unknown whether low testosterone is be linked to Peyronie’s disease in general, and future studies may focus on such a connection.
The authors also pointed out that while their study subjects had a noticeable curve to the penis, not all Peyronie’s disease patients do. Some men’s penises have indentations or take on an hourglass shape. Since the latter forms are difficult to measure, this study focused only on men whose penises curved.
Resources
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Mulhall, John P., MD, MSc, FECSM, FACS, et al.
“Testosterone Levels Are Not Associated With Magnitude of Deformity in Men With Peyronie’s Disease”
(Full-text. Published online: July 11, 2019)
https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(19)31232-9/fulltext
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