Treating Peyronie’s Disease: A Progressive Approach

Peyronie’s disease treatment typically follows a stepped approach, beginning with the least invasive options before progressing to more direct interventions.

The initial treatment often involves oral medications. These medications are designed to halt the progression of plaque formation in the penis, which is responsible for the characteristic curvature and tethering effect seen in Peyronie’s disease. The primary goal at this stage is to prevent the condition from worsening.

When oral medications prove ineffective or when the penile curvature is too severe for medications to address adequately, treatment advances to intra-lesional injections. Among these injectable options, Xiaflex (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) stands out as the only FDA-approved medication specifically for Peyronie’s disease.

Xiaflex works by delivering an enzyme directly into the affected area. This enzyme breaks down the abnormal collagen that forms the plaque, gradually releasing the bonds that cause penile tethering and curvature. Patients should understand that this is not a quick fix—improvement occurs gradually over months and sometimes even years of treatment.

This progressive treatment approach allows physicians to tailor therapy to the severity of each individual case while minimizing unnecessary interventions.