Erectile Dysfunction: A Beginner-Friendly Start
Erectile Dysfunction: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
Persistent difficulty getting or keeping an erection sufficient for sex.
Key takeaways
- Common underlying causes: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, medication, low mood
- Cardiovascular significance: can precede other symptoms by years
- Most useful single change: See a GP rather than buying online; the cause matters more than the symptom.
- Commonest mistake: Buying medicines from unregulated websites.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
It is frequently treated as a purely sexual problem when it can be an early marker of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, which makes it worth a proper check.
Start here
These two first. Everything else is easier once they are habit.
- See a GP rather than buying online; the cause matters more than the symptom
- Ask for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes checks at the same time
Then add these
The next additions, when you are ready for them.
- Review medicines, several of which contribute
- Address smoking, alcohol, weight and activity, all of which are relevant
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Common underlying causes | cardiovascular disease, diabetes, medication, low mood |
| Cardiovascular significance | can precede other symptoms by years |
| First-line medicines | PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil |
| Available from pharmacies | sildenafil, after a consultation |
| Never combine with | nitrate medicines such as GTN |
Common early mistakes
- Buying medicines from unregulated websites
- Taking PDE5 inhibitors with nitrates, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure
- Treating it as only a sexual issue
Where to go next
- Erectile Dysfunction: The Practical To-Do List
- Erectile Dysfunction: Separating Myth From Guidance
- Erectile Dysfunction — the reference entry
- What the Guidance Really Says About Male Fertility
- What the Guidance Really Says About Men and Health Services
When to speak to a doctor
Never take sildenafil or similar medicines with nitrate drugs such as GTN spray — the combination can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure. Seek urgent help for an erection lasting more than four hours, which can cause permanent damage. See a GP promptly for new erectile dysfunction, and call 999 for chest pain.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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