Erectile dysfunction treatment: What’s right for you?

Struggling to get or keep an erection can knock your confidence, but it's incredibly common. The good news? Erectile dysfunction (ED) is usually treatable, and for most men, there's an option that works.

Here’s what to know.

Key takeaways

• Erectile dysfunction is common and is usually treatable.
• Erection pills like sildenafil and tadalafil are the most effective first-line treatment for many men.
• Lifestyle changes can improve erectile dysfunction and your overall health.
• A clinician should always assess persistent erectile dysfunction, as it can sometimes be an early sign of other health conditions.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction means regularly struggling to get or keep an erection that's firm enough for sex.

Almost every man has an off day. Stress, poor sleep, too much alcohol or feeling unwell can all affect your erections. That's normal.

But if erectile dysfunction happens regularly or is affecting your confidence, relationships or quality of life, it's worth seeking treatment.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

Getting an erection is more complicated than most people realise. Your brain, hormones, nerves and blood vessels all have to work together.

If one part of the system isn't working properly, it can affect your erections. That’s why it’s so important not to ignore persistent ED, as it could be an early warning sign of something else.

Common causes of ED include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Excess alcohol
• Depression and anxiety
• Low testosterone

ED can also be a side effect of some medicines.

Erectile dysfunction treatment options

Treating ED depends on the cause. Your clinician might recommend:

Erectile dysfunction medicines: The main treatments are medicines that increase blood flow to your penis.

Switching medication: Your doctor may switch you to a different medicine if it's causing your erectile dysfunction.

Treating the underlying cause: ED causes such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hormone problems may be treated with medicine.

Counselling and therapy: A counsellor or psychotherapist can help if your erection problems are linked to emotional or mental health problems, rather than a physical cause.

Erection pills for erectile dysfunction

For most men, erection pills are the quickest and most effective place to start when it comes to treating ED.

Erection pills don't create an erection on their own. What they do is make it easier for blood to flow into your penis when you're sexually aroused.

They belong to a group of medicines called PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) inhibitors. They're safe, well-studied and work well for most men.

Sildenafil (Viagra)

Sildenafil (better known by the brand name Viagra) works well for most men, starts working in around 30 to 60 minutes and lasts for about four hours. It's often a good choice if you only need treatment occasionally. You can get sildenafil from a pharmacy. You need a prescription for the other types of ED meds.

Tadalafil (Cialis)

Tadalafil lasts much longer than sildenafil—up to 36 hours in many men. This longer duration allows greater spontaneity, as there's less need to plan sex around taking medication.

Tadalafil can be taken when needed, but is usually prescribed as a low-dose daily tablet.

Other erection pills

Other ED medications include vardenafil and avanafil.

Which erection pill is best?

There isn't a single "best" erection pill for everyone.

Sildenafil is a great choice if you're looking for an effective, lower-cost option that you take when you need it.

Tadalafil is often the better fit if you'd rather not plan sex around taking a tablet, thanks to its longer-lasting effects. Or daily tadalafil keeps you ready for sex whenever the moment’s right.

Lifestyle changes that can improve erectile dysfunction

ED pills work well, but they're not the whole story. Lifestyle changes can improve erectile function over time. That's because the same things that protect your heart also improve blood flow to your penis.

These include:

• Losing excess weight
• Exercising regularly
• Stopping smoking
• Limiting alcohol
• Managing stress
• Getting enough sleep
• Eating a balanced diet

Can testosterone help with erectile dysfunction?

Low testosterone can contribute to erectile dysfunction. It can also cause symptoms like low sex drive, reduced strength and fatigue.

If you have symptoms of low testosterone, such as a low sex drive, fatigue or reduced strength, an at-home blood test can check whether your testosterone levels are low. If so, treatment called testosterone replacement therapy might be recommended.

Other erectile dysfunction treatments

If you can’t take ED tablets, or don’t want to, there are other erectile dysfunction treatments such as:

Vacuum erection devices

Vacuum pumps draw blood into your penis using gentle suction. A constriction ring placed around the base of your penis helps maintain an erection.

Penile injections

Medications such as alprostadil can be injected directly into the penis to produce an erection.

Creams for erectile dysfunction

Topical alprostadil cream is available for some men with erectile dysfunction. It’s applied directly to the tip of your penis.

What are the side effects of erectile dysfunction treatments?

The good news is that most men don't experience serious side effects from erection pills. When they do happen, they're usually mild and wear off as the medicine leaves your system.

Common side effects of PDE5 inhibitors include:

• Headache
• Facial flushing
• Indigestion
• Nasal congestion
• Dizziness
• Temporary visual disturbances

People taking nitrate medications for angina should not use PDE5 inhibitors because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Can erectile dysfunction be cured permanently?

If your ED is linked to things like stress, smoking, excess weight or heavy drinking, dealing with the underlying cause can make it disappear altogether.

If it's caused by conditions like diabetes or heart disease, you may need ongoing treatment.

Fortunately, modern erectile dysfunction treatments are highly effective, meaning most men with ED can enjoy a great sex life once they seek medical support.

Get your confidence up

If ED is becoming a regular problem, don't just hope it'll go away. Getting the right treatment can improve your sex life, boost your confidence and sometimes even uncover health issues that are easier to treat early.

At Voy, our clinicians can assess your symptoms, discuss appropriate treatment options and prescribe evidence-based erectile dysfunction treatments online where suitable. Take Voy’s quick sexual health quiz to get started.