Today, Dr. Natalya Lopushnyan joins us to discuss chordee, including what it is, what it isn't, and how to treat it.
As with all content on our blog, the following is educational only, not medical advice. Always consult your physician about your specific healthcare needs.
Without further ado, here's Dr. L, as her patients affectionately call her, in her own words.
The Bend in the Road: Chordee
Let's talk about a rather bendy topic today: chordee. It's a condition that can cause the penis to curve. It can curve in any and all directions: upward, downward, left, or right.
Now, before you start picturing a scene from a sci-fi movie, let's clarify that this isn't some alien invasion. It's a congenital condition, meaning it's present from birth. If the condition is recognized in childhood, it is fixed at that point. However, since kids don't have too many erections and usually don't know what a normal erection looks like, some boys enter adulthood with a curved penis.
Chordee Is Not Peyronie's Disease
It's important to distinguish chordee from Peyronie's disease. While both can cause penile curvature, they're different beasts.
Peyronie's disease is an acquired condition often related to injury or inflammation. In Peyronie's disease, a scar develops on the inside of the penis, pulling it to the side during an erection.
Chordee, or congenital penile curvature, does not typically have a scar present, and chordee is not a result of trauma or injury.
Why Does Chordee Happen?
The penis is meant to be a symmetrical organ, meaning that the left and the right side, top and bottom, are of the same length. Chordee occurs when the tissue on one side of the penis grows slower than the other, leading to a shorter length and a curved appearance.
Essentially, the shorter part of the penis is pulling the rest of it to the shorter side. It can vary in severity, from a slight bend to a dramatic curve. Note the curve is usually only seen during erection. Most of the time, men with chordee have a completely normal appearing penis when it is flaccid.
Depending on the severity, chordee can also cause different symptoms. If the curve is subtle, it may not cause any issues. If the curve is severe, sometimes 90 degrees or more, it can make intercourse and intimacy with a partner impossible.
The Fix: Chordee Correction via Surgery
For adult males with chordee, the most common treatment is surgery. While you might think that stretching or bending in the opposite direction of the curve may be beneficial, there is no evidence that it improves the curve of the chordee. Also, there are no FDA-approved medications for this condition.
The gold standard is a procedure called penile plication. Think of it as a tiny tailor, stitching up the longer side of the penis to bring it in line with the shorter side. It is performed under anesthesia, usually in the hospital or surgical center. It takes about an hour, and the patient goes home after.
There is a strict no-intercourse rule for at least six weeks after. The worst thing you can do is use the newly straightened penis too soon and undo all the work.
While it might sound a bit snip-snappy, penile plication is a well-established procedure with a high success rate. It can significantly improve both the appearance and function of the penis.
A surgeon experienced in this procedure can routinely straighten the penis to within 5-10 degrees of a perfectly straight line. This, of course, also depends on the original curvature and a few other factors.
Chordee Surgery: A Happy Ending
If you or someone you know is dealing with chordee, see a urologist. Chordee can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for the patient and their partner, but there's a way to improve it. With the right treatment, you can straighten things out and enjoy a more comfortable and confident life.