Erectile Dysfunction

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is a very common condition, especially in men over 40 in the UK. It’s usually diagnosed if you experience either of the following:

• Inability to get an erection
• Unable to keep an erection long enough for sex

Most men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction during their lifetime, but if it happens on a regular basis, you should get it looked into or seek treatment.

How common is erectile dysfunction in the UK?

Erectile dysfunction isn’t something to be embarrassed about because it is a common health condition in men. Research suggests that 1 in 5 men in the UK experience erectile dysfunction and it is estimated that 322 million men worldwide will be affected by 2025.

What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction symptoms include:

• Inability to get an erection at all
• Getting an erection sometimes e.g. when you wake up
• Getting an erection but being unable to keep it long enough for sex
• Needing more sexual stimulation than usual to get and keep an erection

What causes erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by several factors which can be split into 4 main categories:

Physical health conditions:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Thyroid disorders
• High cholesterol
• Hormone imbalances
• Parkinson’s Disease

Psychological health conditions:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Relationship problems

Age and lifestyle factors:

• Excessive alcohol intake
• Recreational drug use
• Being overweight or obese
• Lack of exercise
• Poor diet
• Being over 40 years old

Medication:

• Beta-blockers
• Diuretics
• Antidepressants
• Anti-epileptic drugs
• Hormones and hormone modifiers
• Histamine antagonists

How do I know what’s causing my erectile dysfunction?

To understand what is causing your erectile dysfunction, you’ll need to assess your lifestyle. You should consider:

• Any underlying health conditions you have – if you’re not sure if you have any health conditions, you may need to make an appointment with your doctor to have some tests to rule out any potential medical causes
• Your lifestyle – is there anything you could change to improve your erections? For example, do you drink alcohol, smoke, or take recreational drugs or could you do more exercise?
• The medications you are taking – are there any prescription, over-the-counter or herbal medications you are taking that could be affecting your ability to get and keep an erection?
• Your weight – if you are overweight or obese, you should consider trying to lose weight to improve your sexual function.

How to get erectile dysfunction diagnosed in the UK?

If you are struggling to get and maintain an erection that’s hard enough for sex on a regular basis, you should make an appointment with a clinician for a diagnosis. Erectile dysfunction in the UK is a common symptom and can be easily treated, either by identifying and treating the underlying cause, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure or by taking a suitable erectile dysfunction treatment.

At your appointment, a doctor may:

• Ask you questions about your medical or sexual history and your mental health and wellbeing
• Take your blood pressure and other vital signs such as heart rate
• Perform a physical examination of your penis or a rectal examination or suggest running further tests if you have signs of underlying causes such as an enlarged prostate

These are just routine checks and will help your doctor identify a potential cause and provide you with the most effective treatment.

Erectile dysfunction treatments

There are several erectile dysfunction treatment options available, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. Most erectile dysfunction pills belong to a class of medications called phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors which work to increase blood flow to the penis, helping you to get and keep an erection that’s hard enough for sex.

At Prescription Doctor, we offer a range of erectile dysfunction treatments to suit your needs. To buy erectile dysfunction treatments online, you’ll need to complete a short online consultation which consists of a health questionnaire for one of our clinicians to review. If they approve your order before 3 pm, you can receive your treatments in discreet packaging the next working day.

Prescription erectile dysfunction pills

• Viagra – The most popular erectile dysfunction treatment in the UK contains the active ingredient sildenafil. It works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the blood vessels in the penis, increasing blood flow and helping you get and keep an erection. Generic sildenafil is also available which is the same as Viagra but available at a cheaper cost.
• Cialis – Also known as ‘the weekend pill’, Cialis is the longest-lasting erectile dysfunction medication. The active ingredient, tadalafil, can remain effective for up to 36 hours, making it a more suitable choice for some men and an alternative to Viagra.
• Levitra – Now available under the generic name, vardenafil, this erectile dysfunction medication works in a similar way to Viagra. It is effective for up to 4 hours and works in around 30 minutes.
• Spedra – Spedra contains the active ingredient avanafil and is the fastest-working erectile dysfunction treatment in the UK. It can get to work in as little as 15 minutes and can last for 4 to 6 hours.

Erectile dysfunction cream

An alternative prescription erectile dysfunction treatment is a branded cream called Vitaros which contains the active ingredient alprostadil. It is applied directly to the tip of the penis to relax the blood vessels, increasing blood flow to your penis and making it easier to get and maintain an erection. Vitaros cream can be effective within 5 to 30 minutes and can last for 1 to 2 hours after it has been applied.

Over-the-counter erectile dysfunction treatments

The following erectile dysfunction treatments are available over the counter without a prescription from a clinician. You’ll need to answer a few questions from a pharmacist before you’ll be able to purchase them, so they can assess if the treatment is safe and suitable for you. You can also buy these treatments online from Prescription Doctor but you will need to complete a short online questionnaire first.

• Aronix – An over-the-counter form of sildenafil, the same active ingredient in Viagra. Each pill contains 50 mg of sildenafil and can work in as little as 30 minutes and last for around 4 hours.
• Perrigo sildenafil – Another over-the-counter version of sildenafil that works in exactly the same way as Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction.
• Cialis Together – A 10mg dose of tadalafil, Cialis Together is available without a prescription. Although it is a smaller dose than Cialis, it still can remain effective for up to 36 hours.
• Eroxon gel – A topical gel that is applied directly to the penis and can work in as little as 10 minutes. Because it is applied to the penis, there is a lower risk of side effects and it works by providing a cooling and warming sensation which stimulates the penis nerve endings, increasing blood flow, resulting in an erection.

Can I prevent erectile dysfunction?

It may be possible to prevent erectile dysfunction by making healthier lifestyle choices, but it may not always be possible. You can increase your chances of getting a healthy erection by:

• Exercising regularly
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Avoiding stress
• Quitting smoking
• Avoiding recreational drugs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is erectile dysfunction related to ageing?

ED is more common among older men, particularly in men over the age of 40. However, it is not a natural part of the ageing process. Instead, it is commonly caused by medical conditions that are more common in older men.

Does Erectile Dysfunction mean a man is infertile?

Infertility is a separate issue from erectile dysfunction. A man can perform sexually with no problems, yet not have the ability to father a child. Or a man cannot get or keep an erection yet have plenty of healthy sperm ready to father a child.

How does diabetes relate to Erectile Dysfunction?

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause damage to the small blood vessels that feed blood to the penis. It can also damage the nerves helping to control blood flow. This type of damage can easily lead to the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

Discreet service

From start to finish, you’ll find your purchase of erectile dysfunction treatment simple and as private as possible. Once you’ve placed your order and it has been approved by our EU-registered prescriber, you can relax knowing it will be delivered in completely discreet packaging the very next day. This discretion helps many men find the immediate erectile dysfunction treatment they need online easily and without any mental pain.

Additional resources

What is the best erectile dysfunction treatment for me?

UK erectile dysfunction treatment

Viagra VS Cialis

Viagra VS Sildenafil