What is Peyronie’s Disease?
Peyronie’s Disease (PD) is a poorly-understood condition in which calcified plaques develop in the tunica albuginea layer of the penis. During erection, the tunica layer does not stretch well in the area of the plaque. The asymmetrical stretching results in the penis bending towards the direction of the plaque. Deformity due to PD can be simple or complex – that is, curvature can go in more than one direction. Indentations along the erect penis can also occur.

PD can be a devastating condition for men. Penile curvature can cause sexual discomfort for men with PD and/or their partners. In severe cases, sexual intercourse is not possible. Even in mild cases of PD, men frequently experience significant distress because of the unusual appearance of their penises.

How can the P.D.A.D.™ help?
It is critically important to accurately evaluate penile deformity in order to make meaningful assessments of disease status, progression, and improvement. Treatment options for Peyronie’s disease are based largely on the magnitude of curvature. Clinical research trials are ideally performed with an objective method for determining response to treatment.

A recent research study showed poor agreement between patient’s perceived curvature and their actual curvature as measured with a dedicated tool, such as the P.D.A.D.™ device. This is not surprising, since men are only able to view their penises from above. Initial results from an ongoing study show that even physicians, who are able to examine the penis thoroughly as the patient lies on an exam table, have poor ability to accurately estimate curvature.

Despite the importance of accurate assessment, and the poor ability of patients and doctors to estimate degree of curvature based on appearance, there has historically been no standardized method or tool for measuring penile deformity. Dr. John Mulhall, widely recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on PD, designed the Penile Deformity Assessment Device (P.D.A.D.)™ to address these issues.

How does the P.D.A.D.™ device work?
The P.D.A.D.™ is designed for efficiency, accuracy, and simplicity of use. It can be used by clinicians as part of a formal office-based curvature assessment, or by patients to accurately track their own degree of curvature. On one side of the P.D.A.D.™ is a ruler that is used to measure stretched flaccid or erect penile length. On the other side is an easy-to-read goniometer that is placed along the penis when it is in the erect state. The fulcrum of the P.D.A.D.™ is placed at the angle to be measured. By simpling aligning the two arms of the P.D.A.D.™ with the portions of the penile shaft proximal and distal to the point of curvature, an arrow on the device points to a number representing the degrees of curvature.

At the end of the device is a unique tool for measuring penile indentation. With the end of the long arm directed perpendicular to the penis at the point of indentation, a narrow piece can be extended directly into the indented space. Markings on the P.D.A.D.™ are then used to measure the depth of the indented space.