Erection difficulty is more common than most people think. People may feel awkward talking about it, but opening up about the subject can help find solutions to treat it.
Usually, men aren’t shy when it comes to talking about sex. However, there’s one sexual topic that remains a taboo subject that they would rather forget about completely: erection difficulties (ED).
Ways men experience and deal with erection difficulties
Erection difficulties (or erectile dysfunction) refer to the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance, and it’s more common than you might think. In the UK, one in three men will experience some degree of erection difficulty at some point in their life. It can be a distressing condition and can happen at any age. It occurs when the blood vessels in the penis are narrowed, and the blood flow is not sufficient to get and keep an erection.
Anyone experiencing erection difficulties may feel ashamed and anxious, but generally, the tendency is to pretend it’s not happening. Of 3,445 UK men experiencing ED surveyed, 56% say that sex is a very important part of their relationship, but 63% of them would rather keep their ED issues to themselves.*
Opening up the conversation about erection difficulties
People have to put aside their awkwardness and be more open about ED. Admittedly, it may not be easy. If you’re unable to get or maintain an erection, you might feel extremely uncomfortable discussing it with a healthcare professional. More recently, The Urology Foundation surveyed 2,000 UK men and found that, if they were having ED problems, 46% of them would NOT visit their doctor.
However, the bigger problem is not talking about it at all because of the several misconceptions. Many men — 63% of those surveyed by The Urology Foundation — think that ED is an inevitable consequence of ageing (it isn’t). What’s more, 78% aren’t aware that the condition could be a sign of heart disease. Of course, if you’ve had problems getting a full erection once or twice, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have ED. Still, if you have any concerns, it’s always best to speak with your pharmacist.
Managing the condition with an over-the-counter medicine
Even though some men won’t visit their doctor, there are some positive signs that people would be keen to explore solutions to manage their ED. The Urology Foundation study makes clear that 64% would consider a pill or non-prescription medicine to address the condition.
Also, studies have shown that effective treatment for ED can significantly improve sexual satisfaction for men and their partners and increase sexual self-confidence, resulting in better relationships and an enhanced quality of life.
Cialis® Together is an ED brand available without a prescription at pharmacies, and it is committed to helping men get a fulfilling and healthy sex life. Until recently, the over-the-counter treatments for ED available in the UK have only lasted up to four hours. Cialis® Together is the first non-prescription ED medicine that is effective for up to 36 hours. It works by widening the blood vessels in the penis and will help men get an erection when sexually aroused, and then the erection should subside after sexual activity.
The main advantage of having up to 36 hours to decide when to have sex is that it fits into the realities of a relationship by allowing you to decide when the moment is right for both of you, helping make spontaneous sex an option.
So, don’t be embarrassed. Pharmacists can give you advice about the appropriateness of any medication, its potential side effects and if you need to see your GP. Effective treatment for ED is a beneficial approach. That’s why we need to talk about it more.
Cialis® Together 10mg tablets. For Erectile Dysfunction in adult men. Contains tadalafil. Always read the label.
*Source: Irrational Agency, quantitative survey UK, 2021, N=10,197 adult men; 3,445 men qualified either as suffering erectile dysfunction or identified through IIEF-5 screening (IIEF – International Index of Erectile Function).
MAT-XU-2305654 v1.0 December 2023
