Erectile dysfunction treatments
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common and refers to the persistent or recurrent difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. For many men, ED can be effectively managed once the underlying causes and risk factors are reviewed.
Through DoktorABC UK, you can access an online medical assessment via a secure platform, connecting you with independent, UK-registered healthcare professionals who can determine whether prescription treatment may be appropriate.
Key service points
- Online medical questionnaire and clinical assessment
- Prescription treatment may be considered if clinically appropriate
- Discreet service
Access treatment following online medical consultation
Start the online consultation and complete a confidential medical questionnaire.
A UK-registered healthcare professional will review your information and determine whether treatment may be appropriate. If suitable, a prescription can be issued following clinical assessment.
Important information
DoktorABC UK is a digital health platform that connects patients with independent, UK-registered healthcare professionals. DoktorABC UK does not provide medical care, issue prescriptions or dispense medicines. All clinical decisions are made by the prescribing clinician following an individual medical assessment.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition affecting men of different ages. This represents approximately one in five men and demonstrates that ED is a very common condition. Erectile dysfunction is defined as the ongoing or recurring inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity.
Men of different ages are affected and seek explanations and solutions for their erectile difficulties. In many cases, ED is treatable. There is a range of physical and psychological causes that can contribute to erectile dysfunction.
When should ED be treated?
If a man experiences erectile dysfunction over a prolonged period or repeatedly, and this causes distress, treatment should be considered. Erectile dysfunction and potency problems can vary in nature. Often, the erection is either not firm enough or does not last long enough for sexual activity.
This problem can be addressed through appropriate clinical management. Through DoktorABC UK, you can access online consultation with UK-registered healthcare professionals for prompt and effective assessment of erectile dysfunction.
How can erectile dysfunction be treated?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) refers to the inability to achieve or maintain an erection long enough for sexual activity. There are many causes of ED, but ultimately erectile dysfunction occurs when insufficient blood flows into the penis or blood flows out too quickly during arousal.
This is partly due to an enzyme called PDE-5. PDE-5 inhibitors, taken orally, work to increase blood flow to the penis and help maintain an erection over a longer period.
When the penis is not erect, the blood vessels in the penis are constricted and the erectile tissue contains little blood. During sexual arousal, a substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is released.
This causes the vascular smooth muscle to relax, allowing more blood to flow into the erectile tissue—the penis becomes erect. PDE-5 inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), which is responsible for breaking down cGMP and thus affects erectile function. By taking PDE-5 inhibitors, the concentration of this messenger substance increases, leading to a sustained erection.
However, PDE-5 inhibitors only work when sexual stimulation is present.
Medicines based on PDE-5 inhibitors have proven generally reliable for erectile dysfunction. The most widely used treatment options include clinically established prescription medicines, which may be considered following an individual medical assessment.
Apart from PDE-5 inhibitors, there are some other alternatives available for treating erectile dysfunction, though these are not offered through DoktorABC UK.
PDE-5 inhibitor medication
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, or PDE-5 inhibitors for short, refer to a class of active substances used in medicines to treat erectile dysfunction. In the UK, several prescription treatment options are authorised for the management of erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when insufficient blood flows into the penis. This circumstance can often be attributed to an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5). In most cases, a clinician will consider PDE-5 inhibitor treatment.
These block the body's own PDE-5 enzyme, which widens the blood vessels and makes it easier for the erectile tissue of the penis to fill with blood. These preparations in tablet form are taken orally and work for between 4 and 36 hours depending on the medicine.
However, an erection-enhancing effect only occurs when a man is sexually aroused.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors therefore have no influence on sexual desire, nor can they "automatically" trigger an erection.
Several prescription medicines have been developed over time for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
These treatments belong to a clinically established class of medicines that support blood flow during sexual stimulation.
The choice of treatment depends on individual health factors and is made by a prescribing clinician following a medical assessment.
Following your online consultation, the treating clinician will suggest the treatment method that may be suitable for you. All potency medicines are prescription-only and their active substances often differ in their mode of action.
Available potency tablets
Oral prescription treatments are one of several clinically recognised options for managing erectile dysfunction. Suitability depends on individual health factors and clinical assessment.
Their efficacy has also been demonstrated in clinical trials. This applies exclusively to prescription potency medicines based on PDE-5 inhibitors as active substances. Four different PDE-5 inhibitors are currently recognised for use in medicines for erectile dysfunction.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are the most commonly used active substances in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Both belong to the category of PDE-5 inhibitors and develop their erection-enhancing effect shortly after intake.
Different prescription formulations may be available depending on clinical suitability and current availability. Through DoktorABC UK, in addition to Viagra®, many other PDE-5 inhibitors containing the active substance sildenafil may be prescribed by treating clinicians.
Reputable pharmaceutical companies are responsible for manufacturing these potency medicines.
Can side effects occur?
Like any other prescription medicine, PDE-5 inhibitors can be associated with possible side effects.
The most common side effects with PDE-5 inhibitor treatment include headache, facial flushing, indigestion and nasal congestion. Your clinician will inform you about possible side effects during consultation.
Reporting side effects (UK)
Suspected adverse reactions can be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
When PDE-5 inhibitors should not be taken
In certain cases, PDE-5 inhibitors should not be taken. Please always speak with your clinician before starting medication.
PDE-5 inhibitors should not be taken if you suffer from serious cardiovascular or liver disease, or if you have suffered a heart attack or stroke within the past six months. Use is also contraindicated in certain eye conditions.
Furthermore, there are a number of medicines that release nitric oxide - medically referred to as NO donors. If PDE-5 inhibitors and nitric oxide are combined, this can cause a severe drop in blood pressure in the body, which in the worst case can be life-threatening.
In general, it is possible that potency medicines and other active substances may influence each other's efficacy. Always provide complete information about your current medicines and medical history during your medical assessment.
Alternative treatment options
Natural treatment approaches
In addition to medicinal treatment, there are also a variety of natural alternatives that may be used as complementary approaches. Some plants and natural substances are claimed to have potency-enhancing effects. They are said to have positive effects on erectile function and also on libido. The best known are presented here.
- Ginkgo: The active substance is obtained from the leaves of the ginkgo tree, native to China but now found worldwide. Some non-prescription approaches are sometimes discussed in relation to sexual health.
- Ginseng: One of the most popular herbal substances, used in China for thousands of years as an aphrodisiac.
These substances are marketed by their manufacturers; however, there are hardly any meaningful studies to support their efficacy. Furthermore, these herbal preparations are not prescribed by clinicians.
Psychological and lifestyle support
Psychotherapy as a complement to medicinal treatment can also make a difference if psychological factors contribute to the development of ED.
Counselling or psychology support
For men in whom psychological factors clearly contribute to erectile dysfunction, it is likely that these will manifest in other ways as well. Counselling may be considered for low self-confidence, inhibitions or relationship conflicts as a therapeutic approach.
Physical training
This is also part of a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity supports healthy bodily functions. A clinician may also recommend targeted exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor to support potency.
Healthy lifestyle
This is less a treatment than a general recommendation regardless of the diagnosis of the underlying cause of impotence. A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced, low-fat and low-cholesterol diet, as well as moderate alcohol consumption and no nicotine or other drugs.
All these behaviours affect blood quality and also nerve function. Both are critical factors in achieving a healthy erection.
Other treatment possibilities
Intracavernosal injection therapy
With this method, the medicine is injected directly into the erectile tissue of the penis. The penis becomes erect after about 20 minutes and remains erect for 30–60 minutes. This method can only be prescribed by a urologist following thorough diagnosis. It is suitable for patients who cannot tolerate PDE-5 inhibitors or cannot take them.
Vacuum pump
Those who cannot or must not take medication, or who are allergic to certain ingredients, can also counteract erectile dysfunction with mechanical means. The best-known method is the so-called vacuum pump. This involves a vacuum device with which blood is effectively pumped into the penis.
Constriction ring
Used similarly to the vacuum pump is the constriction ring. This plastic ring is placed around the penis at the beginning of sexual activity. An erection occurs when blood flows increasingly into the erectile tissue of the penis.
Surgical options
If other conventional methods cannot be used or are not successful, there is the possibility of an implant in the erectile tissue. This method is reliable and requires only a one-time surgical procedure to make an erection possible again.
Why DoktorABC UK?
DoktorABC UK is a digital health platform that connects patients with independent, UK-registered healthcare professionals. The platform provides access to online medical assessment through a secure digital service. All prescribing decisions are made by the clinician following an individual assessment.
The service is designed to be straightforward and discreet. You can save time and access clinical assessment for erectile dysfunction through a convenient online process.
