HBO's 'DTF St. Louis' Profiles Peyronie's Disease: What the Erectile Condition Means for Men

HBO’s star-studded series DTF St. Louis, which premiered on Sunday, March 1, features a character who suffers from Peyronie’s Disease, a little-known erectile condition which affects an estimated one in 10 men. This is everything you need to know about Peyronie’s Disease.

DTF St. Louis stars Jason Bateman (Ozark), Linda Cardellini (Avengers: Endgame), and David Harbour (Stranger Things) as neighbors caught in a twisted love triangle. Richard Jenkins and Peter Sarsgaard appear in supporting roles. After Floyd (Harbour) rescues Clark (Bateman), the local news network's star weatherman, from certain death during a storm, the two men become friends. But Clark doesn't anticipate the sparks that fly between his wife, Carol (Cardellini), and Floyd, who suffers from Peyronie's Disease.

What Is Peyronie's Disease?

Peyronie’s Disease (PD) affects an estimated one in 10 men nationwide, but the exact number is not known because the condition is so widely underreported. PD is defined as “a medical condition that can cause an abnormal curve in the erection and that may result in pain during intimacy or arousal.”  Research suggests that stigma surrounding PD is a major roadblock for most patients, with 31 percent of undiagnosed PD sufferers admitting that they are embarrassed to speak to a doctor about their symptoms. A further 31 percent of undiagnosed expressed fear that the treatment is worse than the condition itself.

What Are Typical Treatments?

PD is typically treated with injections of Xiaflex (or collagenase), which breaks down excess plaque over the course of several months. In more extreme cases, penile traction therapy or surgery is utilized to correct the curvature. Very rare cases necessitate the implantation of a penile prosthetic to aid erectile function. In some circumstances, the disease has been known to clear up on its own.

"It's depressing," Dr. Geoff Kaplan, a patient suffering from PD, told Men's Journal. "I have a constant reminder that things will never be like they were. But I don't let it define me. Life definitely goes on." Kaplan sought treatment, and because of his "wonderfully understanding wife," he wasn't fearful to get diagnosed. But the process hasn't been easy. "I’ve completed three out of four treatment cycles with XIAFLEX and use the RestoreX traction device," he explained. "Both have definitely helped. Not cured, but helped...Intimacy is challenging, but doable. There's always a workaround."