Your Erectile Dysfunction pills, on-demand.

Also 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. Other times, it may be not staying hard for long enough for sex to happen.

There are several possible causes. It can be down to physical problems (being overweight, having high blood pressure), psychological problems (anxiety or depression) or a combination of the two.

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 during periods of sexual arousal.

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^[2]. Unfortunately, the nature of ED means that many men won’t seek help for it. So it’s not really possible to determine how common erectile dysfunction is with any accuracy. But experts do think that most men will get some form of ED at least once, even if it’s only short-term.

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.

Men may also find their erection problems improve if they just talk to someone about them. This can be their partner, or their doctor. Stress or anxiety around sex can often be the issue, and a simple conversation can make a difference. In those instances where these approaches don’t work, medication may be recommended.

It’s down to personal choice, and your medical profile.

Viagra is a household name and has been around the longest, and some would argue the most successful treatment for ED. The generic, Sildenafil, is an inexpensive option.

The benefit of Cialis is that you only have to take one and it stays active in the body 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 30-60 minutes for most others). Tadalafil, generic Cialis, is cheaper and works in exactly the same way.

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 those with pre-existing conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes.

If you’re unsure, your doctor will be able to help you settle on the one that suits you best.

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 a doctor if you notice these. They might suggest a different drug or lowering your dose.

It’s rare, but some men do get 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’ll need to go to the emergency room.

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. As a pharmacy medicine though, you’ll still need to have a consultation with a pharmacist before it can be given to you.

Drinking excessive amounts of 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 the penis).

The best way to avoid alcohol induced ED is to limit how much you drink.

There are some herbs and homeopathy therapies that have been claimed by some to effectively treat impotence, 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, men who use them don’t go through any health checks before taking them. So for some men, taking herbal ED remedies can be dangerous.

For this reason, it’s better to consult with a doctor before taking any kind of treatment for ED, be it prescription, non-prescription or otherwise.

At EveAdam, it all starts with our secure consultation. Answer a series of health questions and one of the prescribers on our clinical team will review your responses, and recommend treatment where suitable. You can then select an option to buy ED treatment online, and have it delivered to you from a UK pharmacy. When you set up your subscription plan, you choose your own amount and frequency that you would like to be delivered.