Erectile dysfunction or ED is when a man is unable to get and keep an erection long enough for sexual intercourse. This problem isn’t uncommon, as a study by Atomik Research found that out of the 2,000 participants involved, 50% of British men in their 30s admit to having erectile problems.
Even though this issue is prevalent, most men don’t talk about it. It seems like an embarrassing issue to talk about even with their partners, and they are less likely to consult a doctor. Though ED itself isn’t dangerous, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue that needs addressing.
If you are going through this issue, don’t worry. We’ll take a look at the available treatment options for ED in the UK.
Medication
When it comes to treating ED, the common medication people take is avanafil, tadalafil, and sildenafil. Luckily, you can get these medications on the NHS. However, the first two require a doctor’s prescription.
Sildenafil, or commonly known under the trade name Viagra, can be bought over-the-counter after a regulatory change by the MHRA.
To achieve an erection, blood needs to flow into the penis and becomes entrapped. This is done by a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Eventually, the erection subsides when the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is released and breaks down the cGMP, and the trapped blood is released.
ED works by blocking PDE5 so that you can hold an erection. You can expect ED medication to last up to four hours.
Penile Injections
Your doctor may prescribe penile injections as a second-line treatment if you do not respond well to medication. The drug, typically alprostadil will be injected into the side of the penis.
Your doctor would show you how to do this for the first time so that you can administer it yourself in the future. Fortunately, if done right, it’s not as painful as it is thought to be.
The injection will start taking effect in 15 minutes and an erection should last for 45 minutes. Alprostadil is a vasodilator. It works by relaxing the muscles and blood vessels in the penis so that blood can flow.
Vacuum Constriction Device (VCD)
This sounds intimidating, but it does not cause any pain. A VCD is an external pump that is used to draw blood into the penis of a man who cannot naturally sustain an erection.
The user places his penis inside a cylinder which is connected to the pump. When the pump is working, this will create a vacuum in the cylinder, thus forcing blood into the penis.
Once a fully erect penis is achieved, a band of appropriate tightness will be wrapped around the base of the penis and this ensures the blood remains in the penis.
You may need to buy this device yourself, but some men may be able to get it prescribed on the NHS depending on their circumstances.
