Erectile dysfunction, often shortened to ‘ED’, is a sexual health condition. ED happens when you either:

• cannot get an erection
• cannot keep an erection long enough to engage in sex

Although it’s normal to struggle with getting or maintaining an erection occasionally, if it happens often, this could be a sign you have erectile dysfunction.

Is it possible to cure ED?

It depends on what’s causing it. You might be able to if you can cure or manage the underlying condition that might be causing it.

In some cases, ED cannot be cured, but it can be managed with erectile dysfunction treatment when you need it. Luckily, erectile dysfunction treatment is safe to take long-term under the care of a doctor.

How common is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a common health condition and various studies have been carried out on people of different ages:

• One study found that around 52% of men aged between 40 and 70 have ED. The chance of having ED also increased with age, with 40% of men aged 40 affected and 70% of men aged 70 affected.
• ED doesn’t just affect men who are 40 or older. Another study found that 2.3% of men aged 30 have ED.
• A further study found that at least 150 million men around the world have ED.

These findings may be underestimated, as many men do not come forward about their symptoms or seek medical help for many reasons, such as embarrassment, anxiety, or cultural reasons.

The symptoms of erectile dysfunction include:

• only being able to get an erection sometimes
• being able to get an erection but not being able to maintain it long enough to have sex
• not being able to get an erection at all
• requiring a lot more stimulation than you needed before to get and maintain an erection
• not getting fully hard when you get an erection

ED can also be linked to a low sex drive. In some cases, this may be part of the reason for your ED.

How long can erectile dysfunction last?

Erectile dysfunction can last several months or years, depending on the cause and whether you try any treatment. Speak to your doctor if you can’t get hard often, as they can help you look into what may be causing it. You can also get medication so you can still have a normal sex life.

Who does erectile dysfunction affect?

ED can affect any man, but it’s more likely if you:

• are over 40 years old
• cycle more than 3 hours a week
• have diabetes, high blood pressure or another medical condition that can cause ED
• have a high body mass index (BMI)
• smoke
• are physically inactive
• are stressed
• have depression or anxiety
• take certain medications
• don’t eat a healthy, balanced diet
• drink more than 14 units of alcohol every week
• are having problems with your relationship (especially if you only have symptoms with your partner but can get an erection alone)
• take recreational drugs often

If you’re having trouble getting and staying hard regularly and this isn’t getting better, you should speak with your doctor. They can diagnose ED based on your symptoms. They can also check for underlying health conditions that could be causing it, such as high blood pressure.

How do I know if I have ED?

If you cannot get and keep an erection and this happens often, you’ve probably got ED. Write down a list of your symptoms and consider keeping a habits diary to see if anything makes it worse or better. You can get diagnosed by speaking with your GP, but you don’t need a formal diagnosis to request treatment now.

Can I test for ED?

Yes, you can use an ED test to check what could be causing your symptoms. Our at-home erectile dysfunction test kit checks for conditions like diabetes or thyroid problems, and checks important levels like your cholesterol and testosterone. The results of your test can be discussed with one of our doctors.

Erectile dysfunction has 4 main causes:

• a physical condition
• a psychological condition
• medication
• lifestyle and age

Knowing the cause of your ED can help you manage and treat it.

Physical conditions that can cause ED

Some common physical conditions that may cause erectile dysfunction include:

• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• hormone problems, such as increased prolactin
• heart disease
• multiple sclerosis
• spinal cord or nerve injuries
• heavy metal poisoning
• nerve damage from a pelvic operation
• thyroid problems
• high cholesterol
• chronic sleep disorders
• conditions affecting the structure of your penis
• penis injuries
• stroke
• Parkinson’s disease

Why these conditions cause ED depends on the condition. It might affect the blood flow to your penis or cause hormonal changes that make it harder to get and maintain an erection. For example, people with diabetes are 3 times more likely to have erectile dysfunction. It may be more likely to happen when your blood sugar levels are too high.

If you have a physical condition you think might be causing your ED, speak with your doctor.

Psychological conditions that can cause ED

Common psychological conditions that may cause ED include:

• depression
• anxiety
• high levels of stress
• ongoing relationship problems
• sexual performance anxiety

Stress and other psychological conditions can affect your hormones, increasing the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. This can restrict blood flow and make it harder to get an erection. They also affect your brain, making it more difficult to get ‘in the mood’ for sex or cause a decrease in sex drive.

If you experience difficulties with your mental or psychological health and feel that this is impacting your sex life, speak with your doctor.

Medications that can cause ED

Some medications cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect because of how they work in your body. According to research, the most common medications that cause ED (in order of likelihood) are:

• 5-α reductase inhibitors – these treat male pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hypertrophy and include finasteride (Propecia) and dutasteride
• neuropsychiatric medications – used to treat mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, seizures, or diseases of the central nervous system. This includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine, as well as pregabalin and gabapentin
• some cardiovascular medications – these help prevent or treat conditions such as heart attack, angina, or high blood pressure and include beta-blockers like propranolol and diuretics like indapamide
• acne medication – specifically a medication called isotretinoin

Other medications linked to ED:

• fibrates (for lowering cholesterol levels)
• corticosteroids (used in lots of conditions, including asthma and arthritis)
• H2-antagonists (for treating stomach ulcers)
• antihistamines (for allergic conditions like hay fever)
• cytotoxics (cancer therapy)

Check with your doctor or read the patient information leaflet included with any medications to see if a side effect is ED, ‘erection problems’ or ‘impotence’.

Lifestyle and age

Age is a factor that can cause or make ED more likely. Other lifestyle choices that may cause ED include:

• chronic alcoholism
• taking recreational drugs, including illegal steroids
• being overweight or obese
• smoking cigarettes or cannabis
• not exercising regularly
• riding a bicycle for more than 3 hours every week
• not eating a healthy, balanced diet
• frequently watching porn

Alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes can all affect how your body works, including how well your blood flows and the ability to get sexually aroused. Not following a healthy lifestyle can also make it more likely that you’ll get ED.

How do I know what causes my ED?

The only way to know what causes your ED is to:

• check for any underlying health conditions – you may need to do some blood tests or other diagnostic screening to rule out certain causes
• have a medication review with your doctor to check if this could be causing your symptoms
• look at your lifestyle to see if anything you’re doing or not doing regularly could be causing ED
• consider losing weight if you have a high