If you have erectile dysfunction (ED) the treatment that you will receive will depend on the underlying cause of the condition (see Erectile dysfunction - Causes). The treatment options for ED are explained below.
Treating underlying conditions
If your ED is caused by an underlying health condition, such as heart disease or diabetes, that condition may need to be treated first before treatment for ED can begin. In some cases, treating the underlying cause may also resolve the problem of ED.
See the Health A-Z index to find out more about the condition that you have been diagnosed with and how it will be treated.
Hormone therapy
If a hormonal condition is causing ED, you may be referred to an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist is a healthcare professional who specialises in the treatment of hormonal conditions.
Hormones are chemicals produced by the body. Many hormonal conditions can be treated using injections of synthetic (man-made) hormones to restore normal hormone levels.
Lifestyle changes
The symptoms of ED can often be improved by making changes to your lifestyle to reduce the impact of known risk factors for ED. These include:
As well as helping to improve your ED, these types of changes can also improve your general health. For example, losing weight may help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease (conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels). See the Health A-Z topic about Cardiovascular disease – Prevention for more information.
If you are taking a medication that can cause ED and there is an alternative medicine available, your GP will discuss this with you. It is important never to stop taking a prescribed medication unless you are advised to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who is responsible for your care.
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are one of the most widely used and effective types of medication for treating ED. They work by temporally increasing the blood flow to your penis.
In England, three PDE-5 inhibitors are available for treating ED. They are:
- sildenafil - sold under the brand name Viagra
- tadalafil - sold under the brand name Cialis
- vardenafil - sold under the brand name Levitra
Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil
Sildenafil and vardenafil work for about eight hours and they are designed to work "on demand". Tadalafil lasts for up to 36 hours and is more suitable if you require treatment for a longer period of time, for example, over a weekend.
Depending on the type of PDE-5 inhibitor you are taking and the dose, you may need to take the tablet 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity. With sildenafil and vardenafil, you should be able to have sex from one hour after taking the medicine up to eight hours later. After taking tadalafil, the effects will last for up to 36 hours.
It may take longer to notice the effects of the tablet if it is taken with food, so you should take your PDE-5 inhibitor on an empty stomach. You can then eat after an hour without affecting the medicine.
Only take one tablet within a 24-hour period.
You may have the choice of which PDE-5 inhibitor to take as sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil are likely to be equally effective. Your GP should explain the benefits of each medication and how it works. The choice may depend on:
- how often you are sexually active
- whether you have tried any of the medications before
There have been many studies to test the effectiveness of sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil. In general, at least two-thirds of men report having improved erections after taking one of these medicines.
If you do not find that PDE-5 inhibitors are effective it may be because:
- you have not waited long enough after taking the dose
- you have waited too long after taking the dose
- the dose is not high enough
- you have not had enough sexual stimulation
These medications are triggered by sexual stimulation, so you also need to be aroused for the medication work.
Warnings
PDE-5 inhibitors should be used in caution in people who have cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease (when your heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted). However, sexual activity is also likely to be beneficial for your cardiovascular health. Your GP should discuss the risks and benefits with you and will prescribe PDE-5 inhibitors if it is safe to do so.
PDE-5 inhibitors should also be used in caution in people who have anatomical problems with their penis, such as Peyronie's disease (a condition that affects the tissue of the penis). However, this will also depend on your individual circumstances and in some cases PDE-5 inhibitors will be safe to use.
PDE-5 inhibitors should also be used with caution in people who:
- are at risk of priapism - a painful erection that lasts for several hours; for example, people who have sickle cell anaemia which causes abnormal red blood cells
- are also taking alpha-blockers - a medication that is used to treat a number of conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension)
Do not take PDE-5 inhibitors if you are also taking medicines or drugs that contain nitrates. The combination of the two substances can put your heart in danger.
Organic nitrates are often used to treat angina and amyl nitrate is a recreational drug that is more commonly known as "poppers".
You are also warned not to take PDE-5 inhibitors if you:
- have been advised not to take part in sexual activity or in activities that widen your blood vessels
- have low blood pressure (hypotension)
- have recently had a stroke - a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted
- have unstable angina - an underlying heart condition that causes symptoms such as chest pain
- have had a heart attack - a medical emergency where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked
- have a history of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy - an eye condition that causes a sudden loss of vision
In some cases, PDE-5 inhibitors can still be used even if you are affected by one of these conditions. For example, your GP may advise that PDE-5 inhibitors are safe three to six months after a heart attack.
Side effects
PDE-5 inhibitors can cause some side effects, including:
- headaches and migraines
- flushing (redness)
- indigestion
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (being sick)
- a blocked or runny nose
- back pain
- vision disturbances
- muscle pain
See the Medicines information tab above for more information about your medication.
NHS prescriptions
Your GP can prescribe PDE-5 inhibitors to anyone as long as it is safe to do so (see warnings above). However, in some cases you may need to pay the full cost of the medication. The exact price will depend on the dosage and your local pharmacy but, on average, four PDE-5 tablets cost around £17 to £30.
Some people are entitled to PDE-5 inhibitors on NHS prescriptions (see below). This means that you will only need to pay the prescription charge, which is around £7.20. If you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, then it will not cost you anything. See Help with costs – Prescriptions for more information about prescription charges.
People with the following medical conditions are entitled to NHS prescriptions for PDE-5 inhibitors:
- diabetes - a condition that is caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood
- multiple sclerosis - a condition that affects the body's actions and activities, such as movement and balance
- Parkinson’s disease - a condition that affects the way the brain co-ordinates body movements, including walking, talking and writing
- polio - a condition that can cause severe muscle paralysis (lack of movement)
- prostate cancer - the prostate is a small gland between the penis and the bladder
- a severe pelvic or spinal injury
- spina bifida - a series of birth defects that affect the development of the spine and nervous system
- certain genetic conditions, such as Huntington's disease
People who are receiving or who have received certain medical treatments may also be entitled to NHS prescriptions for PDE-5 inhibitors. These treatments include:
- pelvic surgery - which is often used to remove tumours (growths) or to treat conditions such as incontinence
- surgical removal of the prostate gland (prostatectomy) - which is often used to treat prostate cancer
- dialysis for kidney failure - where a machine is used to filter your blood because your kidneys can no longer perform this function
- kidney transplant - where a healthy kidney is surgically implanted into the body of someone with little or no kidney activity
You may also be entitled to a NHS prescription if you were receiving some types of ED medication on 14 September 1998 which was paid for by the NHS. This is because the availability of ED medications on the NHS was changed in 1999. However, those who had been on ED medication for some time were allowed to continue receiving it on the NHS.
In certain circumstances, some specialist centres may provide a NHS prescription for PDE-5 inhibitors - for example, if ED is causing you severe distress. The healthcare professional who is treating you will consider whether ED is:
- disrupting your daily life
- affecting your mood or behaviour
- affecting your relationships
Vacuum pumps
A vacuum pump is another treatment method for ED. It consists of a clear plastic tube that is connected to a pump, which is either hand or battery operated.
You place your penis in the tube and pump out all of the air. This creates a vacuum that causes the blood to fill your penis, making it erect. You then place a rubber ring around the base of your penis in order to keep the blood in place, allowing you to maintain an erection for around 30 minutes.
It may take several attempts to learn how to use the pump correctly, but they are usually very successful. After using a vacuum pump, 9 out of 10 men are able to have sex, regardless of what causes their ED.
Considerations
You should not use a vacuum pump if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking anticoagulant medicines, which reduce the ability of your blood to clot.
Side effects of vacuum pumps include pain or bruising, although these occur in less than a third of people.
People who qualify for NHS prescriptions for ED treatments may be able to get a vacuum pump on the NHS (see above for more details). However, most people will need to buy one. The Sexual Advice Association produces a number of factsheets, including one on vacuum pumps that provides details of companies that supply them.
Alprostadil
If your ED does not respond to treatment, or you are unable or unwilling to use PDE-5 inhibitors or a vacuum pump, you may be given a medicine called alprostadil. This is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that helps to stimulate blood flow to the penis.
Alprostadil is available as:
- an injection directly into your penis - this is called an intracavernosal injection
- a small pellet placed inside your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the tip of your penis) - this is called urethral application
You may to be trained in how to correctly inject or insert alprostadil. If your partner is pregnant, use a condom during sex if you are inserting alprostadil into your urethra.
Alprostadil will usually produce an erection after five to15 minutes. How long the erection lasts for will depend on the dose.
In men who did not respond to PDE-5 inhibitors, alprostadil intracavernosous injections were successful in 85 out of 100 men. Alprostadil that is inserted into the urethra is successful for up to two-thirds of men.
Warnings
Alprostadil should not be used:
- in people at risk of priapism (a painful erection that lasts for several hours) - for example, those with sickle cell anaemia
- alongside other ED medications
- if you have a penile implant or if you have been advised to avoid sexual activity
Urethral application may also not be used in:
- some people who have anatomical problems with their penis (conditions that affect the physical structure of the penis)
- people who have infections of their penis, such as balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis)
Side effects
Alprostadil can cause some side effects including:
- changes in your blood pressure
- dizziness
- headache
- pain in your penis
- urethral burning or bleeding
- reactions at the site of the injection, such as swelling
See the Alprostadil medicines information for more information about this medicine.
NHS prescriptions
As with PDE-5 inhibitors, NHS prescriptions for alprostadil may only be available for people with particular health conditions or those receiving some types of medical treatments. If you need to pay the full prescription cost, a single injection of alprostadil costs around £8 to £22, depending on the dose. A single dose of alprostadil for urethral application is around £10.
Surgery
Surgery for ED is usually only recommended if all other treatment methods have failed. It may also be considered in:
- younger men who have experienced trauma (serious injury) to their pelvic area - for example, in a car accident
- men with a significant anatomical problem with their penis
In the past, surgery was used if there was clear evidence of a blockage to the blood supply of the penis. The surgeon could unblock the blood vessels to restore a normal supply of blood. However, research now suggests that the long-term results of this type of surgery are poor, so it is unlikely to be used.
Penile implants
Penile implants are a type of surgery that may be considered. These can be:
- semi-rigid implants - which may be suitable for older men who do not have sex regularly
- inflatable implants - which consist of two or three parts that can be inflated to give a more natural erection
Penile implants are not usually available on the NHS and inflatable implants may be very expensive. However, around three-quarters of men report being satisfied with the results of this type of surgery.
Complications
As with all types of surgery, having penile implants inserted does carry a risk of infection. If you take preventative antibiotics (medicines to treat bacterial infections), the rate of infection is around two or three in 100. Mechanical problems with the implants may occur within five years in five per cent of cases.
Psychological treatments
If your ED has an underlying psychological cause then you may benefit from a type of treatment called sensate focus.
If conditions such as anxiety or depression are causing your ED, you may benefit from counselling (a talking therapy).
Sensate focus
Sensate focus is a type of sex therapy that you and your partner complete together. It starts with you both agreeing not to have sex for a number of weeks or months. During this time, you can still touch each other, but not in the genital area (or a woman’s breasts).
Set aside a time when it is just the two of you. Massage, touch or stroke each other, with or without clothes on. The idea is to explore your bodies knowing that you will not have sex.
After the agreed period of time has passed, you can begin touching each other’s genital areas. You may want to spend several weeks gradually increasing the amount of time spent touching the genital areas. You can also begin to use your mouth to touch your partner, for example, licking or kissing, them. This can build up to include penetrative sex.
You can find out more about sensate focus from the British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy (BASRT).
Psychosexual counselling
Psychosexual counselling is a form of relationship therapy where you and your partner can discuss any sexual or emotional issues that may be contributing to your ED. By talking about the issues, you may be able to reduce any anxiety that you have and overcome your ED.
The counsellor can also provide you with some practical advice about sex, such as foreplay techniques and how to make effective use of other treatments for ED in order to improve your sex life. See our Live Well section for information and advice about sexual arousal and good sex.
Psychosexual counselling may take time to work and the results achieved have been mixed.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is another form of counselling that may be useful if you have ED. CBT is based on the principle that the way you feel is partly dependent on the way you think about things. CBT helps you realise that your problems are often created by your mindset. It is not the situation itself that is making you unhappy, but how you think about it and react to it.
Your CBT therapist can help you to identify any unhelpful or unrealistic thoughts that may be contributing to your ED - for example, to do with:
- your self-esteem (the way you feel about yourself)
- your sexuality
- your personal relationships
Your CBT therapist will be able to help you to adopt more realistic and helpful thoughts about these issues.
See the Health A-Z topic about Cognitive behavioural therapy for more information about this type of treatment.
