Is erectile dysfunction is curable?

Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
Depending on the cause, you may still be able to get an erection at other times, such as when you wake up.
Causes of erectile dysfunction.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection.
This is usually caused by stress, tiredness or drinking too much alcohol, and it’s nothing to worry about.
It can also be a side effect of some medicines.
If erectile dysfunction happens often, it may be caused by a condition such as:
Things you can do to help with erectile dysfunction.
Healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help with erectile dysfunction.
Don’t.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if:
It might be a sign of a health condition that can be treated.
How sexual health clinics can help with erection problems.
Sexual health clinics treat problems with sexual health. They can provide the same treatment you would get at your GP surgery.
Many sexual health clinics offer a walk-in service, where you do not need an appointment.
They’ll often get test results quicker than GP practices.
What happens at your appointment.
If you see someone about erectile dysfunction, the doctor or nurse may:
ask about your lifestyle and relationships, and any problems you might be having do some basic health checks, such as taking your blood pressure examine your genitals to rule out any obvious physical cause.
If you have symptoms like needing to pee more often than usual, you may also have an examination of your prostate (rectal examination).
Treatments for erectile dysfunction.
Treatment can usually help improve erectile dysfunction.
Medicines for erectile dysfunction.
The main treatments are medicines that increase the blood flow to your penis, called PDE-5 inhibitors.
You can get sildenafil on prescription or you can buy it from a pharmacy. You need a prescription for the other types.
You can buy sildenafil (Viagra) over the internet. Be very careful if you do this as many websites sell fake medicines.
Online medicines are not always regulated and the ingredients in them can vary from one pack to another. They can cause unpleasant side effects, or may not be suitable for you.
It’s best to see a doctor before buying medicines online. They know your medical history and can discuss whether you might benefit from treatment.
If you choose to buy sildenafil (Viagra) on the internet, make sure:
any online pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) any online doctor service is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) all doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC)
Vacuum pumps.
Vacuum pumps encourage blood to flow to the penis, causing an erection.
They work for most men and can be used if medicine is not suitable or does not work.
They’re not always available on the NHS. Speak to a doctor about where to get a vacuum pump.
Treating the cause of erectile dysfunction.
There are also treatments for some of the causes of erectile dysfunction.
your doctor may switch you to a different medicine if it’s causing your erectile dysfunction high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hormone problems may be treated with medicine counselling and therapy can help if your erection problems are linked to emotional or mental health problems – but there can be a long wait for these services on the NHS.
Finding private counsellors or sex therapists.
You can also pay to see a counsellor or therapist privately.
Counsellors and psychotherapists should be a member of the:
Sex therapists should be a member of the:
Page last reviewed: 28 July 2023 Next review due: 28 July 2026.
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