Summary of “Peyronie’s Disease and the Female Sexual Partner: A Comparison of the Male and Female Experience”

***Trost Commentary and Key Take-Home Points***

This summary is of an abstract that was presented at the SMSNA meeting (SMSNA.org) but has not yet been published.  This abstract is excellent though, and it highlights some very important aspects of PD.  Specifically, many (? most) men with PD are concerned about how the condition may affect their partner or future potential partners.  They are often worried that the partner will be bothered or not happy with the overall look of the penis, and it may prevent them from having meaningful intimacy.  However, this study (and other similar ones) have consistently highlighted that while men with PD feel that the condition significantly bothers their partners, in reality, the partners are more often bothered by the fact that it psychologically bothers the affected man more so than they are bothered by the condition themselves!  With this information in mind, the motivation for treatment can often be addressed partly with education alone.  This abstract also highlights an important point, that PD is not a condition that affects only one person but the couple as a whole.   

Comparison

Peyronie’s disease is a condition causing penile pain, deformity and sexual dysfunction. These symptoms result in significant bother for the patient, but there is little data about the effect on the female sexual partner (FSP).  

This study reviewed data and questionnaires given to both the Peyronie’s disease patient and FSP. Data for 28 men was used and had a mean disease duration of 12 months with 71% reporting penile shortening and a composite curvature of 80 degrees. When asked about sexual dysfunction, including decreased frequency, pain and difficulty with vaginal intercourse, both men and FSP responses were consistent. Both reported difficulty with vaginal intercourse at 82.6% and 85.7%, respectively.  

However, only 17.4% of FSPs reported being “very” bothered by the appearance of the erect penis compared to 64.3% of men. Similarly, fewer FSPs were “very” bothered by the curvature during vaginal intercourse than men, 27.3% vs. 61.5%, respectively.  The FSPs reported equal concern between “none”, “moderate” and “severe” with fear of damaging their partner’s penis during vaginal intercourse.  

Peyronie’s disease has negative effects on vaginal intercourse for both men and FSP, with many reporting difficulty with vaginal intercourse. Women were less bothered than their partner by the appearance and curvature during intercourse than the men with Peyronie’s disease.  

References