Erectile dysfunction
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is the most common sex (or sexual) problem in men, trans women and some non-binary people, affecting millions in the UK every year.
ED is when you struggle to get or keep an erection. It’s not uncommon for this to happen from time to time, but should be it should be explored if it's becoming a persistent problem.
More than half (52%) of those aged 25 to 34 say that either they or their partner experiences erectile dysfunction.
Common erectile dysfunction questions
What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is when you struggle to get an erection, or keep one during sex. Depending on what causes this, you may be able to get erections at other times, like when waking up in the morning.
You may sometimes also experience a loss of libido.
What causes erectile dysfunction?
Most men struggle with ED at some point in their life. Stress, tiredness, alcohol use or certain medicines can cause it, and it’s perfectly normal. If it continues to be a problem, there can be an underlying issue such as:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
- depression or anxiety
- hormone problems
What you can do to help
There are some small lifestyle changes that can help with ED. This can include losing weight or not cycling for a while if you do more than three hours a week, but also includes:
- stopping smoking
- eating a healthier diet
- exercising daily
- reducing stress and anxiety
- not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week
If you find that the problem doesn’t get any better, we recommend seeing a GP as it may be a sign of something that can be treated.
Erectile dysfunction treatment
Men’s Sexual Function Plan
£299
This 12-month plan supports those having problems with their erections. With this, you’ll get:
- 30 minutes with a GP and diabetes, cholesterol and testosterone tests to look for any underlying health issues
- a 15-minute follow-up to see how you’ve been doing that you can book in the 12 months after your appointment
- access to our 24-hour Anytime HealthLine for a year to get advice from a nurse when you need it
- help with prescriptions and further tests (costs of medication and further tests not included)
- help with referrals for further appointments (if testosterone therapy is needed, this will require specialist referral)
Other erectile function problems we help with
Loss of libido
Low sex drive and erectile dysfunction are both influenced by similar factors. We can help you learn more about what’s affecting you.
Premature ejaculation
If you find that ejaculating too quickly during sex is a common occurrence, we can help you understand this more and what may help.
Erectile dysfunction information
Dr Luke Powles
Associate Clinical Director,
Health Clinics Bupa Global and UK
What is erectile dysfunction?
Dr. Luke Powles talks us through a more in-depth look at ED, its causes and how to make it go away.
Dr. Elizabeth Rogers
Associate Clinical Director,
Bupa Health Clinics
Inside Health: erectile dysfunction
Watch as Dr. Elizabeth Rogers discusses how common erectile dysfunction is, symptoms and what you can do about it.
What's next?
Call us
If you’d like to to chat about your options, call us on 0333 355 8064^
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Spread the cost
With our payment options, you can book some appointments and spread the cost with 0% finance.
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Bupa health assessments are provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ.
