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current standing of penile traction

I've been trying to find out what the current medical standing of traction devices for penis lengthening is, and am hoping somebody can resolve apparent inconsistencies.

While I have come across many responses suggesting that these are scams or gimmicks, there are currently a number of small studies in influential journals which have yielded positive results, for example:

http://www.andromedical.com/pdf/en/study_penile_extender_regarded_as_effective_treatment_for_short_penis.pdf (yes it's on a commercial website, but published in the BJU nonetheless)

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123245501/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 (most recent)

There are also a few studies specifically related to Peyronie's by Laurence A Levine yielding lengthening - and while Dr Levine has since joined one of the companies (!) he is nonetheless a highly regarded expert in the field, as far as I understand.

However, it's unclear what the current attitude towards these devices are in the medical community - even the medical experts on this website appear to take somewhat contradictory stances:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Urology/traction-devices/show/546901
vs.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Urology/penis-length--strength/show/946671

Is anyone able to indicate what is behind this inconsistency?

Thanks.
2 Responses
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438205 tn?1240959349
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The short answer is that there is not enough information in the  literature to give a knowledgeable answer. Dr. Levine's study did not have many patients and his results were not statistically significant (all of which he pointed out in the discussion).  If people are going to pursue this form of treatment, then they need to do it daily and keep the traction on for several hours. My patients who have tried this for Peyronie's disease tell me that the device slips off and is uncomfortable, so their use is inconsistent.
This treatment is an not an accepted form of treatment for Peyronie's but I doubt that it will cause harm (aside from possible skin irritation). As to it's ability to lenghten otherwise normal penises, I think that there is less information. If all that can be found are individual attestations as to a treatment's effectiveness, then I would be quite skeptical.
Hope that this helps.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
also, please note that the gains made in the first cited study were stable at 6 month follow up.

Please don't think me pedantic - I simply want a clear, reasoned answer taking the evidence into account!
Helpful - 0

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