Why Is My Penis Curved?

Having a slight curve in your erect penis is completely normal — many men notice a gentle bend when they’re hard — similar to the shape of a banana. If it doesn’t cause pain or interfere with sex, there’s no need to worry about a curved penis. 

But if the curve is more severe, painful, or makes sex and masturbation difficult, you could be dealing with Peyronie’s disease, which often requires medical attention. 

Below, we explain how penile curvatures develop, what’s considered normal, and how to straighten your penis with medical support.

There’s no such thing as a “normal”, flawlessly straight, symmetrical penis. 

And it’s not uncommon for men to have a slight curve in their penis. Your erect penis might curve to the left or right, or up or down, and it might also fall to one side when it’s flaccid. 

As long as your penis doesn’t feel painful or affect your sexual function, a slight curve usually isn’t a big deal. Men with a mild penile curvature (less than 30 degrees) usually have no trouble during sexual intercourse.

There are a few possible reasons why you may have a curved penis. They include:

• Past or acute penile fracture (ouch!)

• Congenital penile curvature

• Peyronie’s disease (this is the most common reason behind a curved penis)

Let’s dig into these below.

Penile Fracture

Sometimes, a curve may develop in your penis after an injury like a penile fracture. 

According to research, more than 20 percent of patients with penile fractures end up with a penile curvature greater than 60°. This is often due to lack of surgical repair of the fracture.

How does a fracture happen? It’s possible to fracture your penis during rough sex or very aggressive masturbation. 

Congenital Penile Curvature

Penile curvature can also be something you have from birth. This is known as congenital penile curvature or chordee, and it’s quite rare.

Most men with congenital penile curvature first notice their erect penis is curved during puberty or early adulthood.

When mild, congenial penile curvature usually doesn’t require treatment. But more severe cases can affect your sexual performance or self-image, and benefit from some form of treatment.

Peyronie’s Disease

The most common cause of penile curvature is Peyronie’s disease. This condition develops when scar tissue forms inside the tunica albuginea of the penis, making it stiff. This causes it to bend in a specific direction when erect.

Let’s sidebar for a quick lesson in penis anatomy. 

When you get an erection, blood flows into the corpora cavernosa, two spongy cylinders inside the penis. You’re able to maintain this erection due to the tunica albuginea, a fibrous membrane that surrounds the fleshy shaft of the penis and traps blood inside the erectile tissues.

If you have plaques or scar tissue in your tunica albuginea, they can pull on the surrounding tissues of your penis and cause your erection to curve in one direction. This scar tissue is primarily made of collagen, making it inflexible and firm to the touch. 

Unlike normal penile curvatures, Peyronie’s disease usually involves a more significant curve to your penis. 

You may notice your penis bends noticeably in one direction or that it has a sharp bend that gives it an unusual appearance. 

Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease include:

• Penile curvature. The most common (and obvious) symptom of Peyronie’s disease is penile curvature. 

• Volume loss or narrowing. Some men with Peyronie’s disease experience volume loss and narrowing, which gives the penis an hourglass or bottleneck shape.

• Hard lumps. Scar tissue can feel like hardened lumps directly under the skin.

• Shortening of the penis. Some men with Peyronie’s disease may experience a loss of length or girth.

• Penile pain and painful erections. Studies show that penile pain occurs in about 20 to 70 percent of men with Peyronie’s disease during its acute phase.

• Sexual dysfunction. There’s a link between Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Experts don’t know what causes Peyronie’s disease. A widely accepted theory is that it develops from past injuries leading to scar tissue formation in the penis, which forces the penis to bend to either side when erect.

It may also develop due to an autoimmune disease that damages the tissue inside your penis.

Risk factors for Peyronie’s disease include:

• A family history of Peyronie’s disease

• Having an existing autoimmune disease or connective tissue disorder

• Frequently having vigorous, rough, or aggressive sex that might cause penile injuries 

• Having certain medical conditions like diabetes, ED, or a history of prostate cancer

Your risk of developing Peyronie’s disease also increases with age, since this condition is generally more common in older men.

If you have a curved penis and think it could be Peyronie’s disease, the best course of action is to talk to your healthcare provider.

They may refer you to a urologist — a type of doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating problems that affect your urinary tract and reproductive system.

A urologist may ask about your recent symptoms and general medical history to diagnose Peyronie's disease. They may also complete a physical exam, including checking your penis for plaques or tender areas. 

Make sure to answer your healthcare provider’s questions as thoroughly and accurately as possible. Remember, they’re there to help you, and there’s no need to feel embarrassed when you talk about penile curvature, painful erections, or other symptoms.

Not all cases of penile curvature need treatment. That’s because some degree of penile curvature is totally normal.

If you have Peyronie’s disease or congenital penile curvature that doesn’t cause any pain or negatively affect your sexual performance, your healthcare provider may recommend simply doing nothing. 

If your penile curvature requires treatment, you have options.

Let’s go over them.

Nonsurgical Treatments

The following non-surgical treatments can treat severe penile curvature:

• Collagenase. Collagenase (Xiaflex^®) is an enzyme that breaks down plaques when injected into tissue. It’s the only FDA-approved treatment for Peyronie’s disease and is used in men with penile curvature of 30 degrees or more.

• Interferon-alpha 2b. Interferon-alpha 2b is a protein produced from white blood cells. When injected into the tissue of the penis, it may reduce the size of the plaques, reduce pain and straighten the penis.

• Verapamil. Verapamil is an injectable medication that’s typically used to treat angina and high blood pressure. It may also help to lower pain and curvature in men with Peyronie’s disease.

• Penile traction devices. These devices can help physically stretch the tissue of the penis into a certain shape. You may need to wear the device for a set amount of time over the course of the day to stretch or bend the penis and reduce curvature.

Surgical Procedures

In some cases, penile curvature only improves through surgery to remove plaques from your penis. Doctors typically don’t perform surgery until your plaques stop developing.

A urologist may suggest that you undergo surgery to fix penile curvature if you:

• Experience pain during sex or when you have an erection

• Have symptoms that haven’t improved over time

• Physically can’t have sex due to your penile curvature

Surgical procedures that can treat penile curvature include tissue grafts and plication, a type of tissue removal that may straighten your penis.

If you have Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction, your healthcare provider may suggest a penile implant to straighten the penis when erect. They may also suggest taking an ED medication like sildenafil (Viagra^®) or tadalafil (Cialis^®).

It’s natural for your penis to curve mildly to the left or right. Slight penile curvature generally isn’t something you need to worry about or “fix”.

But if you have a significantly curved penis or if your penis’s curvature makes sex painful or difficult, it’s best to see a healthcare provider. A curved penis can also impact your mental well-being, influencing both your sex life and self-perception, leading to stress and anxiety. 

Here’s what we know:

• Penile curvatures can happen for a few reasons. The three most common causes of penile curvatures are penile fractures, chordee, and Peyronie’s disease.

• Peyronie’s disease is the most common cause of a curved penis. Peyronie’s disease may cause symptoms like severe penile curvature, painful erections, and hardened lumps under the penile skin.

• Treatments are available. Medications and surgical procedures can help reduce severe penile curvature and improve your quality of life. Your healthcare provider can work with you to find the best option for your unique situation. 

Think your erectile dysfunction symptoms are the result of a curved penis? Get medical advice from a healthcare professional today and explore evidence-based treatment options.

You can also read more about issues that can affect the penis in our blog: 15 of the most common penis disorders.