The Ultimate Guide to Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common healthcare issue in the UK, affecting approximately 50-55% of men between the ages of 40-70. Despite its prevalence, ED is still considered a taboo topic within society, and can lead to feelings of embarrassment and lower self-confidence for many men.

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

ED, also known as impotence, is a common condition that limits a man’s ability to get or maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. To meet the clinical definition of erectile dysfunction, this condition normally persists for at least 3 months.

Is Erectile Dysfunction common?

Erectile Dysfunction is common, with the equivalent of 4.3 million men in the UK suffering from it to some degree. It can occur at any age; it is increasingly common for younger men to be diagnosed with the condition. In fact, the latest NHS reports reveal 1 in 10 men will suffer from ED in their lifetime.

Who is affected by Erectile Dysfunction?

ED is not biased – it can affect any male and whilst it’s increasing common in older males, any age can experience ED.

Common risk factors for developing ED include but are not limited to:

• Stress
• Tiredness
• Anxiety
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Aalcohol
• Smoking
• Relationship problems
• Poor mental health

Diagnosing the ‘root cause’ ED can be incredibly difficult due to the wide range of causes associated with it.

How does erectile dysfunction affect a man?

ED can be a one-off occurrence in some cases, this is not unusual and mainly occurs when a man is stressed, tired, anxious, or has consumed too much alcohol. This is usually nothing to worry about. However, for other males, it can be an ongoing issue caused by poor physical or emotional health. In these cases, ED can be a large contributor to stress, it can affect a man’s self-confidence, and lead to relationship problems. For some, it can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment.

How does erectile dysfunction affect a woman?

When thinking of erectile dysfunction, many primarily perceive it as a ‘sexual issue’ for men. But for their partner, it can lead to a significant loss in self-esteem. Younger women are more likely to experience this loss in self-confidence, with 47% of those aged between 25 and 34 stating their confidence had been affected as a result of their partner’s ED, compared to 23% of those aged 65 and over. A study found across all ages found, 40% of women felt less confident due to their partners’ ED. In these cases, ED can lead to feelings of hurt and anger towards their partner. Undoubtedly, this may cause relationship problems, a loss of sexual desire, and stress for women too.

What to do if it's the first time you've experienced erectile dysfunction?

If it’s the first time it has happened, do not worry or panic. It is considered normal for most men to have trouble getting or maintaining an erection ‘up to 20%’ of the time. Usually, this is temporary or situational ED. Situational ED has several root causes such as stress, drug or alcohol consumption, smoking, fatigue, or inexperience. Therefore it is recommended you deal with the root cause of the issue – this may be limiting your alcohol intake, taking steps to reduce stress or stopping recreational drugs.

If this is an gongoing issue, and occurs often, you can look at treatment options. Visit Ann Summers x E-Pharmacy to find the correct ED treatment for you, or try natural remedies such as lifestyle changes.

Are erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation related?

Many studies have confirmed there is an association between ED and premature ejaculation. With ED, an inability to get erect or sustain an erection may mean a man ejaculates soon after he is erect due to his fear of losing his erection. It is not clear how one encourages or affects the other, but there is said to be a correlation between male sexual health issues.

Can erectile dysfunction cause infertility?

ED does not have a direct link with infertility. However, being unable to get or maintain an erection means sexual intercourse is unable to happen, so the couple cannot conceive in this way. The sperm is not affected, however, meaning there are other options to conceive a baby together.

Does erectile dysfunction affect sperm count?

ED does not affect sperm count – these are two completely separate bodily functions.

Can erectile dysfunction be reversed?

For many men, erectile dysfunction can be reversed – this can be through medications or naturally (through lifestyle changes). Lifestyle changes to increase heart health, boost testosterone, and improve sleep (quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, reducing weight, and increasing exercise) can naturally reverse ED, and addressing psychological problems (unhealthy relationships, and mental health issues) can help reverse ED too. In cases where this is not possible, medications are useful for men to experience an improved erectile function.

There are also some natural remedies you can try to help you sustain an erection. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), natural treatments and herbal drugs are seeing a 15% growth in trade year-on-year. The most popular natural ED treatments are: Panax Gingseng, Yohimbe Bark, Horny Goat Weed, Ginkgo Extract. Unfortunately, the evidence for the effectiveness of these herbal treatments is not conclusive compared to prescription treatments. You should always make your doctor aware before trying any herbal treatments, as they can interact with other medications and pose a danger to your health.

Are erectile dysfunction drugs safe?

Erectile dysfunction treatments are generally well tolerated when taken as prescribed. As with all medication, however, there is a risk of side effects. When taking ED pills, mild side effects may include headaches, dizziness, facial flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, and muscle aches.

If you’re allergic to any of the ingredients found in these pills you should avoid them. If you’ve recently experienced a stroke or heart attack, or have low blood pressure, you should also avoid taking them. If you ever experience an erection lasting longer than 4 hours, this is considered a medical emergency and should be treated as soon as possible – this is known as Priapism and can damage the penis if not treated.

How does erectile dysfunction medication work?

Erectile dysfunction medications are otherwise known as PDE5 inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors inhibit the PDE5 enzyme that breaks down a molecule involved in increasing blood flow called cGMP. PDE5 inhibitors increase blood flow to the penis in response to sexual arousal. Simply put, PDE5 inhibition = more cGMP = harder and longer erections. This only occurs when a man is physically turned on.

What erectile dysfunction medication is the best?

Ann Summers x E-Pharmacy offers a range of regulated erectile dysfunction medications: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Spedra. The ‘best medication’ depends on the needs and wants of the patient – some medications work slower and last for a shorter time, whereas other medications work quicker and last longer. Nevertheless, in the past few years, the treatment of ED has come a long way, and double-blind trials (accounting for the placebo effect) revealed PDE5 inhibitors have on average a high success rate of treating erectile dysfunction.

How can I access prescription medication for erectile dysfunction?

When ordering ED treatment online it’s important to buy from reputable, registered online pharmacies - something which is sometimes hard to be sure of on the internet.

E-Pharmacy is a licensed UK pharmacy that can be accessed via the Ann Summers website. Customers can simply click the ‘E-Pharmacy’ button on the Ann Summers website, select the ED medication they need, fill in a health questionnaire, pay for their treatment, and get the medication delivered to their door. E-Pharmacy is a licensed UK pharmacy and uses the same high-quality suppliers as NHS pharmacies and hospitals.