Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Safe, Effective Treatment
Erectile dysfunction (also known as ED and impotence) is a very common condition, which affects the majority of men at some point in their lives. Up to 50% of men aged 40 - 70 and up to 70% of men over the age of 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction to some extent.
There are several options, which are currently licensed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the UK. Modern prescription ED treatments are safe, affordable and effective and can help up to 80% of men treat erectile dysfunction.
Treatment Options
Comparing Erectile Dysfunction Prescription Medications
| Active Ingredient | Strengths | How long it takes to work | How long it lasts | Effect of food | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra / Sildenafil | Sildenafil | 25, 50, 100 mg | Around 30 - 60 minutes | Around 4 hours | Any food may slow down action and reduce effectiveness |
| Cialis / Tadalafil Daily | Tadalafil | 2.5, 5 mg | Immediately (Continuous effect) | Lasts all day | Not affected |
| Cialis / Tadalafil | Tadalafil | 10, 20 mg | 15 - 30 minutes | Up to 36 hours | Not affected |
| Levitra / Vardenafil | Vardenafil | 5, 10, 20 mg | Around 30 minutes | Around 5 hours | Any food may slow down action and reduce effectiveness |
| Spedra | Avanafil | 50, 100, 200 mg | 15 - 30 minutes | Around 5 hours | Any food may slow down action and reduce effectiveness |
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) also known as impotence is a common condition which affects the ability to achieve and maintain an erection necessary for sexual intercourse. Erectile dysfunction is also known as impotence.
How Common is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a very common condition which affects the majority of men at some point in their lives. It affects around 50% of men over the age of 40 to some degree and over 70% of men over the age of 70.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
There are many causes of erectile dysfunction and the process of achieving an erection is complicated. These causes can be either physical or mental.
- Physical factors may include:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes (Up to 25% of men with diabetes aged 30—34 and 75% of diabetic men aged 60—64 are affected)
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- smoking
- alcohol consumption ( Alcohol can damage the nerves leading to the penis, reduce testosterone levels and increase levels of the female hormone oestrogen)
- cycling for long periods
- kidney disease
- medication
- Mental factors include:
- depression
- anxiety
- stress
Although there are many causes for erectile dysfunction the primary cause for over 70% of men is usually a narrowing of the arteries in the penis (which may be caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking as well as other risk factors).
How does Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Work?
Erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra belong to a group of medicines known as PDE5 inhibitors. These medicines widen the blood vessels in the penis, which allows more blood flow into your penis when you are sexually excited. The increased blood flow allows the penis to achieve a firm erection necessary for sexual intercourse.
For over 80% of men these treatments are very effective and will help treat erectile dysfunction.
What are the available treatment options for Erectile Dysfunction
There are many effective treatments for erectile dysfunction including Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis, (tadalafil), Levitra (Vardenafil) and Spedra (avanafil).
