Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when you’re unable to get and keep an erection that’s strong enough for sex. Most men experience it, and often it’s just a one-time thing. But when it keeps happening, it’s something you may need treatment for.
And that’s where we come in. Talk to us to get expert advice. We’ll show you what medications are safe, so you can pick the option that suits you best.
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Sometimes known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is when a man has persistent problems getting and sustaining an erection. Sometimes, this may be:
difficulty getting hard enough for sex
or not staying hard for long enough for sex to happen.
How long it needs to be happening for it to be medically defined as ED is a subject pretty open to discussion. There’s actually a scale called The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) which gives men an ED ‘score’ based on their erection habits over the previous month.
Normally, a clinician will be able to tell if you need treatment by asking you a few questions about your symptoms and general health.
Who gets ED?
About 50% of men over 40 (so it’s quite common). But you can get erectile dysfunction at any age.
You’ve probably seen the TV commercials for ED medication. Older men strolling with their partners across a sunset beach. These ads target men in this age group, and it figures. Because as men get older, they’re more likely to develop health problems like high blood pressure or poor circulation. And these conditions can make it harder to get an erection.
But ED affects young men too. As well as the physical side of it, there’s the psychological side. In a new relationship, you may feel pressure to satisfy your partner for example, and this can lead to ED. Or you may be stressed at work, which may also trigger it.
So in fact, the answer to the question “Who gets ED?” is anyone (and in some way or another, at some time, probably everyone).
How common is erectile dysfunction?
It depends who you ask. Some health bodies have suggested that about 50% of men over 40 will develop erectile dysfunction. And a study of the condition in men under 40 estimates that a quarter in this group will get it at some point.
Unfortunately, the nature of ED means that many men won’t seek help for it. So it could well be more common than we think. But experts reckon that most men will get some form of ED at least once, even if it’s only short-term.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Erectile dysfunction
What causes erectile dysfunction?
Lots of things can lead to ED. It can be down to physical problems (being overweight or having high blood pressure), psychological problems (anxiety or depression) or a combination of the two. Even tiredness can trigger ED.
ED can also be triggered by an underlying health condition, like diabetes, or it can be an early sign of heart disease. So if you keep getting erection problems, you should see a clinician, as these conditions need to be treated too.
In the body, ED is caused by loss of circulation to the penis, where the arteries at the base of the penis contract and don’t let blood through. An enzyme called PDE5 plays a part in this, and makes the arteries tighter.
Treatment for ED works by countering the effects of PDE5, so blood can flow into the penis, and help it to become erect when you’re aroused.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Erectile dysfunction
Does ED always need treatment?
No. Sometimes making lifestyle adjustments can make it go away. If you drink a lot of alcohol, smoke cigarettes or take recreational drugs, curbing these habits can help with erections. Being overweight can be a factor in ED too, so eating a healthy diet and exercising more is a good solution as well. You might get erectile dysfunction if you’re anxious about sex. And talking to someone about it, whether it’s your partner, a friend or a therapist, can make all the difference. If you find that having conversations about it doesn’t help though, medication may be recommended.
Which erectile dysfunction pills are best?
It’s down to personal choice on your part really, and your health background. Viagra is a household name and has been around the longest, and some would argue it’s the most successful treatment for ED. The generic, Sildenafil, is less expensive, but has the same active ingredient in it, and functions in the same way in the body. The benefit of Cialis is that you only have to take one and it stays active for up to 36 hours (other ED drugs average about 4 or 5 hours). There’s also a smaller dose version of this designed to be taken every day, called Cialis Daily. With the everyday version, you’re ‘ready to go’ all the time, and you don’t have to wait around for the drug to take effect (it takes half an hour to an hour for most others). Tadalafil (generic Cialis) is cheaper and works in exactly the same way. As well as being a licensed treatment for ED, Tadalafil is an approved option for BPH (or benign prostatic hyperplasia) which is when you have an enlarged prostate. So if you experience BPH and ED, Tadalafil can treat both conditions. Stendra is an on-demand treatment that starts to work from 15 minutes after you take it. It’s a good option for men who want a quick-acting drug, but don’t want to take something every day. And then there’s Staxyn, which is said to be better for older men or men with pre-existing conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes.
What about MUSE?
MUSE is a ‘urethral suppository’ - basically a very small pellet you insert into the opening at the end. You can use MUSE up to seven times in seven days, so there’s quite a lot of flexibility with it. On that basis, if you’re looking to have sex frequently, MUSE might be one of the better options for you. Applying the pellet takes a bit of getting used to. But because it’s a locally acting treatment, it works faster than pills - usually within 10 minutes of application. We don’t offer MUSE at the moment. Before you use it for the first time, a doctor or nurse will need to explain in person how to use it.
Injections for erectile dysfunction
Another prescription medication for ED is injections. You may find that tablets aren’t the right treatments for you, or that your body doesn’t tolerate them. Like MUSE, ED injections such as Caverject kick in very quickly (within five minutes) and they contain the same active ingredient (alprostadil) so if you’re looking for fast results, injections can give you that. You inject these medications into the penis directly, and you don’t need to be aroused in the first place for them to take effect. If you’ve not used them before though, you should see your doctor in the first instance, as they will need to show you how to do it. You shouldn’t use injections any more than three times a week (and not more than once over any 24 hour period). We don’t currently offer injections for ED, so we’d advise speaking to a doctor in person if you’ve tried the highest dose of tablets and they haven’t worked for you.
Can you get erectile dysfunction pills over the counter?
Most are prescription only. The only licensed ED treatment that doesn’t require a prescription is Viagra Connect. It’s a rebranded version of the 50mg dose of Viagra, but it’s not available in the US.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Can you get side effects from ED treatment?
Answer:
Yes. Some mild side effects are quite common, don’t cause any problems and go away after the first couple of uses. Headaches, a stuffy nose or mild aches and pains in the muscles are examples.
There are other possible side effects that can be a bit more uncomfortable, such as stomach pain or dizziness. You should talk to our clinician if you notice these. They might suggest a different drug or lowering your dose.
It’s rare, but some men experience serious side effects from ED drugs. This includes getting an erection that won’t go down, loss of hearing, problems with vision or chest pain. If you notice anything like this, you should go to hospital immediately.
Is there a link between erectile dysfunction and alcohol?
Answer:
Drinking too much alcohol can cause temporary ED, or make existing erection problems worse. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that alcohol dulls the senses and desensitizes us, meaning the nerve signals that transmit arousal messages in the body don’t work as well. Another reason is that drinking alcohol increases blood pressure, making the arteries tighter (including those at the base of your penis).
The best way to avoid alcohol induced ED is to limit how much you drink.
What about natural remedies for erectile dysfunction?
Answer:
There are some herbs and homeopathy therapies that have been claimed to effectively treat ED, but the scientific evidence that they work is thin.
Some natural or alternative treatments for ED can have serious side effects, and because they aren’t prescription medications, you won’t go through any health checks before taking them. So in some cases, herbal ED remedies can be dangerous.
For this reason, it’s better to consult with a clinician before taking any kind of treatment for ED, be it prescription, non-prescription or otherwise.
Why should I buy ED medication online with Treated?
Answer:
It can be tricky to know where to start with ED treatments. But with a Treated subscription, we’ll help you to find just the right medication for you. Let our clinicians know about your health, and we’ll recommend options that are safe and suitable. And from there, the choice is yours.
We’re flexible too. Once you’ve chosen your medication, you can choose how often you’d like to receive it, and the quantity of it as well. So you can control your own delivery schedule.
You may have questions about your medication once you’ve started using it, or you might find that you’re not getting what you want from it. You can reach out to our clinical team anytime. They’ll also get in touch with you regularly to see how everything’s going. If you’d like to switch to a different ED treatment, or adjust your dose, you can.
And if you want to change, pause or cancel your treatment at any point, that’s in your hands too.
Capogrosso, P., Colicchia, M., Ventimiglia, E., Castagna, G., Clementi, M.C., Suardi, N., Castiglione, F., Briganti, A., Cantiello, F., Damiano, R., Montorsi, F. and Salonia, A. (2013).
One Patient Out of Four with Newly Diagnosed Erectile Dysfunction Is a Young Man—Worrisome Picture from the Everyday Clinical Practice. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(7), pp.1833–1841.
A review of the use of tadalafil in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with and without erectile dysfunction. NCBI, Ther Adv Urol. 2014 Aug; 6(4): 135–147.
In the US, you can get ED medication privately, online or in person with a prescription. On this page, we’ll discuss the various ways you can get ED drugs and treatment.
If you’re having sex, chances are you’re thinking about birth control. But besides condoms, most of what’s out there is made for women. What’s a man who wants control over his reproductive health to do? Male birth control hasn’t historically gotten the scientific attention or cultural buy-in of the pill, but progress is happening. Birth control for men — including, yes, a male birth control pill — is on the horizon. It’s just not here quite yet.
There are a few herbal remedies or natural supplements being talked about as ‘natural Viagra’. These solutions, sometimes referred to as ‘herbal Viagra’, can include things like Korean red ginseng, horny goat weed, yohimbe and maca. For years, some have claimed that herbal remedies can help to keep men hard in the bedroom, and increase sex drive.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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