Peyronie’s Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis

January 21, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Humberto Villarreal, M.D., assistant clinical professor, Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology, Department of Surgery, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte.

Peyronie’s disease is usually suspected when men notice symptoms, such as a penile curvature or pain. After reviewing the signs and symptoms, the care team will perform a variety of exams and tests to confirm the diagnosis so they can develop a personalized treatment plan.

Peyronie’s Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease range from mild to severe. Symptoms may develop slowly or appear quickly. In many cases, the pain decreases over time, although the curve in the penis may remain. In milder cases, symptoms may go away without causing a permanent curve.

Signs and symptoms of Peyronie's disease may include:

• A curve in the penis either during an erection or without one
• Hard lumps on at least one side of the penis
• Pain during an erection or during intercourse
• Narrowing or shortening of the penis
• Erectile dysfunction

Peyronie’s Disease Diagnosis

To diagnose Peyronie’s disease, the care team will first examine the patient and palpate (touch) his penis to evaluate any lumps under his skin caused by scar tissue formation. The urologist will also assess the degree of curvature in the penis. This may be accomplished through photographs taken at home or by inducing an erection in the medical office. This is an important step, as some Peyronie’s disease treatment options are preferred in men with less penile curvature, while others are favored when more curvature is present.

The care team may also measure the strength of the patient’s erection. Surgery for Peyronie’s can decrease the ability to get erections, so it is important to know how strong the patient’s erections were prior to pursuing surgical therapy.

The care team may ask whether the patient needed medications or injections to achieve an erection, or whether they were able to achieve erections at all. These questions will help determine the best course of action.

In addition to performing the examination and getting the patient’s medical history, the care team may perform an ultrasound. This allows them to see the blood flow in the penis, as well as the location of the plaques, or scar tissue, that cause Peyronie’s disease.