'I Just Want It To Work'

He avoided relationships for years due to a rare penile condition – now he wants it fixed because he’s found the love of his life

- Carla Coetzee

He’s been living with a dark secret for years – one that’s dominated his life and made him feel like a shadow of a man. It’s something Steven Pretorius* has carried with him for a long time – but he can’t anymore.

For decades he was too afraid to get close to anyone and suffered in silence. Now he’s met someone with whom he wants to spend the rest of his life.

But before he can enjoy married life, he’ll need surgery to correct his penis.

“For years my penis bent downward instead of being straight when erect,” Steven says. “It was so bad that sex was impossible.”

Steven has Peyronie’s disease (see box), a condition that causes the penis to be abnormally curved when erect.

So ashamed is he of his medical con­dition that he’s never been in a serious relationship.

Now in his 40s, Steven is still a virgin.

When he was younger he had surgery he hoped would fix his penis, but the operation only added to his problems.

He hasn’t been back to a doctor since because he simply can’t afford it.

Steven, a former salesman from Gau­teng, had no choice but to live with the condition.

“But now I love someone so much it hurts to think I might not be enough for her,” he says.

The woman he’s dating doesn’t know about the medical problem that’s preventing him from popping the question.

“For years I couldn’t even look at it. But recently I forced myself and realized I must talk to someone about it.”

He’s met the woman of his dreams and wants to start a family.