Erectile Dysfunction: Causes, Self-Help and When to See a Doctor

Erectile dysfunction (ED) means being unable to get an erection, or unable to keep one long enough for sex. The NHS describes it as very common, particularly in men over 40, and usually nothing to worry about when it happens occasionally. If it keeps happening, see a doctor: it can be a sign of a health condition that can be treated. This guide summarises the causes, what you can do yourself, the treatments doctors use, and where products fit in.

What counts as erectile dysfunction?

According to the NHS, ED is when you are either unable to get an erection or unable to keep it for long enough to have sex. Depending on the cause, you may still get erections at other times, such as on waking. Low sex drive can occur alongside it.

Common causes

The NHS separates occasional problems from frequent ones.

Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. A pattern is what matters.

What you can do yourself

The NHS says healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help:

• lose weight if you are overweight
• stop smoking
• eat a healthy diet
• exercise daily
• try to reduce stress and anxiety
• do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week
• if you cycle for more than 3 hours a week, stop cycling for a while

When to see a doctor

See a doctor or a sexual health clinic if erection problems keep happening. The NHS gives the reason plainly: it might be a sign of a health condition that can be treated.

At an appointment, the NHS says a doctor or nurse may ask about your lifestyle and relationships, do basic checks such as blood pressure, and examine your genitals to rule out an obvious physical cause.

Treatments doctors use

The NHS states that treatment can usually help.

• Medicines. The main treatments are PDE-5 inhibitors, which increase blood flow to the penis: sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil. These are medicines with their own cautions, so take them only on a doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice. VitaHC does not sell them.
• Vacuum pumps. The NHS says vacuum pumps encourage blood to flow to the penis and work for most men, and can be used if medicine is not suitable or does not work. It advises speaking to a doctor about where to get one.
• Treating the cause. A doctor may switch a medicine that is causing the problem, or treat blood pressure, cholesterol or hormone problems.
• Counselling or therapy. This can help when erection problems are linked to emotional or mental health problems.

Where products fit, and where they do not

• Pumps. We list water-based pumps such as the Bathmate Hydromax 7. They are sold as consumer devices, not as prescribed medical vacuum devices, so the NHS statement above should not be read as a claim about a particular product. Follow the maker’s instructions and limits, and speak to a doctor first if you have a health condition.
• Supplements. The NHS page does not list herbal supplements among ED treatments. We sell several, and we describe them only by what their makers state. A supplement will not treat high blood pressure, diabetes or a hormone problem.
• Delay sprays and sleeves. These are for other purposes. They do not treat ED.

If a product seems to help, that is not a reason to skip a check-up when the problem keeps returning.

Common questions

Is erectile dysfunction normal as you get older?

It is more common in men over 40, according to the NHS, but frequent problems should still be checked because the cause may be treatable.

Can stress alone cause it?

Yes. The NHS lists stress, tiredness and alcohol as the usual causes of occasional problems, and depression or anxiety among the causes of frequent ones.

Should I buy erection medicine online?

The NHS says sildenafil can be bought from a pharmacy and that the other PDE-5 medicines need a prescription. Get advice from a doctor or pharmacist before taking any of them.

The takeaway

Occasional erection problems are common and usually linked to stress, tiredness or alcohol. Problems that keep happening deserve a doctor’s visit, because the cause is often treatable. Lifestyle changes help some men, and proven treatments exist. Products can sit alongside that care, not replace it.

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Sources

• NHS: Erectile dysfunction (impotence), page reviewed 28 July 2023; read in full 2 October 2026

About this guide: researched and drafted with AI assistance (Claude) from the sources listed above, and published by Amzad Hosen, owner of Vita Health Care. The guide has not been medically reviewed. This is general information, not medical advice; it cannot diagnose a condition. Last reviewed: 2 October 2026.