Bent Penis / Chordee

What is bent penis / chordee?

Chordee (congenital penile curvature) causes the penis to bend or twist, especially while it is erect. Chordee does not always have negative impacts during childhood but can inhibit sexual function later in adulthood. Doctors often recommend correcting chordee when your child is young, rather than waiting until later.

What are the symptoms of bent penis / chordee?

The most visible symptom of chordee is a sharp curve of the penis, either upward or downward. This curve can start anywhere from the base of the penis near the testicles to the beginning of the glans.

Other possible symptoms of chordee include:

Penile torsion. The midline raphe, located on the bottom of the penis shaft, circles around the penis tissue rather than running along the shaft.
Dorsal preputial hood. The foreskin — the tissue that usually wraps around the tip of the penis — only covers the top half of the penis.
Skin tethering. The tissue around the urethra near the tip of the penis is extremely thin.
Webbed penis. The skin on the bottom of the penis shaft is connected to the skin of the scrotum, creating an area of webbed skin.

What are the causes of bent penis / chordee?

The precise cause of chordee is unknown.

The most common reason is that the penis does not develop properly in the womb. If the child is born with a curved penis, this means that the tissues may have stopped developing in the womb. Doctors aren’t sure what causes tissues to stop growing. Genetics may be part of the reason.

How to treat bent penis / chordee?

In cases where the defect is mild, your child’s doctor may just recommend observation. In more severe cases, your child’s doctor may recommend surgery to correct the chordee. It is typically advised waiting until your child is at least 6 months of age before performing surgery, which is when potential risks of using general anesthesia reach their lowest point.

For more information, contact Dr Ong. Book an appointment today!