Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get, or keep, an erection. When you are aroused, nerve signals are sent to the base of the penis, which relaxes the arteries and allows more blood to flow in – this causes it to expand and harden. Anything affecting nerve transition, or blood flow, can prevent the penis from becoming, and staying, hard.  

Without a firm erection, satisfactory sex is not possible, and though it’s considered by some to be too embarrassing to talk about, most men will suffer from this at some point in their life. In fact, it’s incredibly common in men over 40. But it’s not just confined to older generations, and lots of younger men are also grappling with the same problem.

Often erectile dysfunction is caused by a temporary problem, and this is usually psychological. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all cause erectile dysfunction, but you should see a return to normal when your mental wellbeing starts to improve. In the short-term, medication, such as sildenafil Viagra, can help you get back on track. 

There are lots of other physical causes of erectile dysfunction, including: 

• obesity and being overweight 
• diabetes 
• heart problems, including heart disease 
• high blood pressure, including hypertension 
• injuries (these can affect you both mentally and physically) 
• cancer or surgery affecting the penis 
• high cholesterol 
• long-term substance abuse 
• conditions that affect the nervous system 

These can be long-term or permanent problems, but often, as in the case of obesity or high cholesterol, they can be remedied with simple lifestyle changes. 

The biggest risk factor in men is age, and the likelihood of suffering from erectile dysfunction increases from the age of 40 upwards. It will affect most men at some point in their life, but this much-stigmatised problem is often kept quiet.

For a discreet and quick way to treat erectile dysfunction, there are a range of erectile dysfunction medications available to buy online. Before you choose, consider whether you’d prefer to take a tablet daily, or as required. If you anticipate having sex at least twice a week, we may recommend taking a daily tablet, like Cialis.  During your online consultation, we can help you choose the most suitable medication for your lifestyle.  

Compare erectile dysfunction tablets UK

Sildenafil (Viagra)

• Also sold under the brand name, Viagra
• Available in three strengths – 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg
• Works within 60 minutes 

Tadalafil (Cialis)

• Also sold under the brand name, Cialis 
• Available in two strengths – 10mg and 20mg 
• Works within 30 minutes 
• Considered to last longer than other tablets 

Cialis Daily

• Also sold in its generic form 
• Available in two strengths – 2.5mg and 5mg
• Taken once per day 
• Suitable for people who anticipate sexual activity twice a week   

Spedra 

• New to the UK market
• Available in three strengths – 50mg, 100mg, and 200mg 
• Works within 30 minutes 

Vardenafil (Levitra)

• Also sold in its generic form, vardenafil 
• Available in three strengths – 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg 
• Works within 25 minutes 
• Available as an oro-dispersible tablet 

Erectile dysfunction tablets work by increasing blood flow to the penis to help maintain an erection. This is done by optimising the chemical (cGMP) responsible for relaxing the arteries in the penis and increasing blood flow to the area. ED treatment medications, like Viagra, stop anything which might inhibit the chemical from working properly, such as the enzyme known as PDE5. You might hear this group of tablets, referred to as PDE5 inhibitors. Typically ED tablets start working within 30 to 60 minutes of digestion.

It’s important to remember, that ED medication won’t work if you are not aroused, there still needs to be some sexual stimulation, either physical or emotional. Likewise, once you’ve ejaculated, the tablets will stop working, and you will lose your erection.

Not everyone is suitable to take erectile dysfunction tablets, so as part of the buying process, we’ll check to make sure that you’ve chosen the right course of treatment. If you suffer from any of the following health problems, let your pharmacist know. 

• Chest pains 
• Angina or other cardiovascular disease 
• Severe liver problems 
• Low blood pressure
• A recent stroke

It’s important to note that ED treatments are not suitable for women. 

If you can’t take erectile dysfunction tablets, there are alternatives. Making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or cutting down on your alcohol intake can help, but your GP might also suggest other remedies, such as a vacuum pump, or counselling to deal with any underlying psychological problems that could be contributing.

Whether you’re looking for a way to treat the problem in confidence, or perhaps you just haven’t got time for a trip to your GP surgery or pharmacy, we can help. It’s easy to buy from an online pharmacy in just a few simple steps. 

1. Browse our range of erectile dysfunction tablets
2. Complete a consultation form and select your treatment
3. Buy securely with fast delivery 

If you order before 4pm on a weekday or 11am on a Saturday, we will dispatch your medication the same day. Your order will arrive via Royal Mail in discreet, unbranded packaging that contains only your name and address. 

We will ask you to complete a short online consultation form before you buy, so our pharmacist can help determine which medication is suitable for you. This is completely confidential and takes just a few minutes.

Post My Meds is a registered online pharmacy in the UK – we are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council so you can rest assured that when you buy from us, you’re in safe hands. Our range of erectile dysfunction tablets are also approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Whether erectile dysfunction (ED) can be cured depends on what’s causing it. If the problem is fixable then it’s possible to make a full recovery. For example, if your ED is due to anxiety, you can expect to see a change in your symptoms as your mental health improves.  

Your GP can help you identify the cause of your erectile dysfunction, and in the meantime, medication like Viagra (sildenafil) can be used to treat the ongoing symptoms.

According to NHS England, erectile dysfunction is a common condition; some experts estimate that it affects half of all men aged between 40 and 70.¹ This much-stigmatised condition is often considered too embarrassing to talk about, but with the right treatment, erectile dysfunction doesn’t have to mean the end of your sex life.

Vasculogenic conditions, that affect the flow of blood around the body, can cause erectile dysfunction. Blood flow is a crucial element of getting and maintaining an erection, and anything which interferes with this process can cause erectile dysfunction. This includes high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, like heart disease.   

There are lots of erectile dysfunction drugs on the market, but the ones approved for use in the UK are part of a group of medicines known as PDE5 inhibitors. This includes:

• Viagra (sildenafil) 
• Cialis (tadalafil) 
• Levitra (vardenafil) 
• Spedra (avanafil) 

These drugs all work in the same way by relaxing the arteries at the base of the penis to increase blood flow for a firm, long-lasting erection. 

Though they are considered to be equally effective, they perform in different ways and you might find that you are more suited to one brand over another. 

If you’ve been using the same tablet for a while and you’re not happy with the results, speak to your pharmacist or GP about switching to an alternative. 

The last drug to be approved for erectile dysfunction in the UK was Spedra in 2013. 

It contains the active ingredient avanafil, which works in a similar way to Viagra by relaxing the arteries at the base of the penis for improved blood flow. Though Spedra is still relatively new to the market, some men prefer it for its quick action. It works in just 15 minutes, which is faster than any other ED drug on the market. 

Read more in our blog: ‘Viagra vs. Cialis vs. Levitra vs. Spedra – how each stacks up‘  

The safest drugs for erectile dysfunction are those approved for use in the UK by the medicines and healthcare regulator (MHRA). To ensure you’re buying something that is approved, we recommend using a regulated pharmacy, like Post My Meds. We sell both branded and unbranded alternatives of MHRA-approved erectile dysfunction drugs. 

Some ED treatments pose a serious risk to your health, such as Kamagra. This is an Indian-manufactured alternative to Viagra, which has been banned for sale in the UK. 

The four main products used by GPs and pharmacists in this country, include Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Cialis Daily, Spedra (avanafil), and Levitra (vardenafil).

To improve your symptoms of erectile dysfunction, you must first understand what is causing your condition. Your GP can diagnose any underlying medical conditions or mental health problems that are contributing to the problem. Improving your overall wellbeing and general health is also important, so we recommend that you: 

• Cut down on your alcohol consumption 
• Quit smoking 
• Lose weight (if applicable) 
• Improve your diet and exercise regularly  
• Relax and practice self-care

These things all take time to work, so in the meantime some individuals may consider using an ED tablet, like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil) to help relieve the symptoms. Known as PDE5 inhibitors, they work by relaxing the arteries at the base of your penis to increase blood flow for a firm, long-lasting erection. Regaining your confidence in the bedroom short-term can be just as important to your long-term recovery as tackling the underlying cause.

Erectile dysfunction is often caused by temporary or short-term problems that can be fixed by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or cutting down on alcohol. 

If it’s caused by a more complex health problem, such as diabetes, your erectile dysfunction is likely to last longer. While you tackle these underlying conditions, it may be recommended to use medication, like Viagra (sildenafil), to treat your symptoms. 

Age is also a risk factor, so you can expect to suffer more as you get older, and you may need to rely on short-term treatments to help you overcome erectile dysfunction.

Quitting smoking can lead to vast improvements in erectile dysfunction. The nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to contract which stops blood from entering the penis and therefore prevents you getting an erection. Likewise, the pressure put on your heart by smoking can lead to cardiovascular conditions that are known risk factors for ED. 

You can improve your chances of getting and keeping an erection by quitting, but how long it takes before you see the results is up for debate. While some experts think that you could notice a difference in as little as 2 to 12 weeks, others estimate longer.

There are two main ways of treating erectile dysfunction – tackling the underlying problem and using medication to alleviate your symptoms in the short-term.  

It is possible to recover fully from erectile dysfunction, but you can only do this by tackling the underlying cause. This can take time, so to take the pressure off, it may be recommended to consider using a tablet like Viagra to help you regain confidence in the bedroom. 

While your GP is investigating the cause of your ED, you could also try making some simple lifestyle changes to give your medication the best chance of success. Losing weight, reducing how much alcohol you drink, and giving up smoking can all help. 

Diabetes is often associated with erectile dysfunction because they share many of the same risk factors – a poor diet, lack of exercise and heavy drinking. It’s also a known cause of ED, and according to one estimate, half of all men with type two diabetes can expect to develop erectile dysfunction within five to ten years of being diagnosed. 

This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the nervous system and vessels, both of which play a crucial role in getting and keeping an erection. Managing your blood sugar is the best way to reduce your chances of developing erectile dysfunction. 

Find out more in our blog, ‘Does diabetes cause erectile dysfunction?’

Diabetes is often associated with erectile dysfunction because they share many of the same risk factors – a poor diet, lack of exercise and heavy drinking. It’s also a known cause of ED, and according to one estimate, half of all men with type two diabetes can expect to develop erectile dysfunction within five to ten years of being diagnosed¹. 

This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the nervous system and vessels, both of which play a crucial role in getting and keeping an erection. Managing your blood sugar is the best way to reduce your chances of developing erectile dysfunction. 

Find out more in our blog, ‘Does diabetes cause erectile dysfunction?’

Stress, anxiety and depression can all cause erectile dysfunction. When you are aroused, your brain sends nerve signals to the base of your penis – this is the start of a series of steps that leads to an erection. Stress can interfere with this process and lead to erectile dysfunction, but there are things you can do to help. 

If you think stress is to blame for your problem getting an erection, speak to your GP. They may refer you for counselling or suggest some other ways of relaxing that could help improve both your mental health and your symptoms of ED. In the meantime, you could consider a medication like Viagra to help revive your sex life.

Being overweight is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. High cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure – all associated with carrying too much weight – can cause ED. 

Losing weight can reduce your chances of developing erectile dysfunction.

According to one study, a man with a 42-inch waist is 50% more likely to suffer from ED than a man with a 32-inch waist¹, but eating better and exercising more can help.