Erectile Dysfunction
Around 50% of men will suffer with erectile dysfunction (ED), at some point in their lives. Yet despite its prevalence, ED remains a difficult topic to talk about both for patients and some doctors. As a result many men resort to buying ED treatments online or from a pharmacist, or wait until the issue has destroyed their relationship and confidence. But this does not have to be the case.
Talk to our medical experts discretely with our online consultations
Why is addressing Erectile Dysfunction so important?
It has been said that the penis is a barometer for health, both physical and mental. If you are suffering with ED, the most important thing to do is find out why as your poor erectile function could herald the onset of more serious illness such as heart disease, diabetes or testosterone deficiency.
What are the causes of erectile dysfunction?
Causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) include:
- Vascular conditions (conditions that disrupt blood flow to the penis) – these include cardiovascular disease (CVD), atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, and diabetes.
- Neurogenic conditions (affecting the nervous system) – these disorders include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetes, and spinal injuries.
- Hormonal conditions – these ailments include an overactive thyroid gland, an underactive thyroid gland, low testosterone, Cushing’s syndrome (high cortisol level), and head or brain injury recently or in the past.
- Anatomical conditions (affecting the structure of the penis) – these can include Peyronie’s disease (occurs when fibrous scar tissue develops on the penis and causes curved, painful erections), surgery and radiation therapy for bladder, prostate or rectal cancer, or injury to the penis.
- Side effects of prescribed drugs
- Recreational drug use
- Excessive alcohol consumption
Erectile Dysfunction is also more likely to occur in people who smoke, are overweight and with low activity levels, or who are suffering from psychological problems such as stress, depression and anxiety.
What treatments are available for Erectile Dysfunction?
At H3 Health we offer all forms of erectile dysfunction treatment from conventional pills such as Viagra, to more complex long-acting medications, creams, and surgical urological procedures where required.
What should you do if you are suffering with Erectile Dysfunction?
Don’t put off seeing a doctor as every day you wait you could miss the benefits of effective treatment.
Getting an erection is actually a highly complex process involving psychological desire, hormonal, neurological and vascular processes. But ultimately, our erections are down to effective blood flow, and the majority of ED drugs work by interfering with the chemical process that lets blood leave an erect penis. Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are all part of the same family of drugs known as PDE-5 inhibitors, and provided the underlying cause for erectile dysfunction is treated as well, these medications can be highly effective in improving erection quality.
Medication is a common and often very useful way to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Viagra remains the most commonly used ED medication, and is best taken around 60 minutes before sexual activity, with its effects lasting up to 4 hours. Generally, however, this medication, (and similar drugs), cannot cause an erection if there is a lack of sexual arousal. It is imperative, therefore, if you have been suffering from ED for more than a few weeks, that you see your doctor rather than opting for the over the counter quick fix of erectile dysfunction drugs, because, as discussed above, this may be a warning sign of other more serious health problems. Furthermore, if your ED is due to a pre-existing health condition, then always try and address that first, as successful treatment of the underlying problem will often result in a better sex life.
Overall, erectile dysfunction drugs are a great way to re-establish your erection and to enjoy your sex life once again, but before you treat this symptom, it is vital to understand the underlying cause. Every man with prolonged erectile dysfunction should be seeing their GP or a male-health specialist doctor to work out why they developed erectile problems in the first place. Don’t just rely on a pill.
Frequently Asked Questions about our Erectile Dysfunction Service
When it is safe to do so and you are stable on your medication, we can issue a set quantity, or allow you to order your medication as needed. Some medication requires monitoring, such as blood tests, and you will be reminded of this. Failure to complete these monitoring requirements will mean we will not be able to issue your prescription for safety reasons.
If you are already known to the clinic or if you have had your ID confirmed through other contacts with us, for example during a home visit for bloods and other physical tests, then yes.
We have partnered with a national phlebotomy service, Nationwide Pathology, who offer accredited blood tests all over the U.K. As such, we would request that, where possible, you do not obtain blood tests elsewhere. For those patients that have already had blood tests, we are happy to use them provided they were obtained from a reputable source, such as your NHS GP. However, we ask that you do not expect your NHS surgery to do further testing for you as you have chosen to seek private health care. If you do obtain blood tests from other clinics, they may need to be repeated (especially if via finger prick).
No, a GP letter is not needed. However, you are welcome to send us a letter, or a summary, if you feel it would help.
Unfortunately, we can only see and treat patients who are residing in the UK. We are unable to treat anyone who lives, or is temporarily, overseas.
You can call 03309120769 (national rate) to speak to one of our team or use the online web contact form. You can also email hello@h3health.co.uk
Alternatively, a number of our services can be booked online – you’ll see a Book Now button on the appropriate service pages.
Please see https://www.h3health.co.uk/about-us/making-a-complaint/ – we take all complaints very seriously and will investigate your issues in a customer-centric way.
The cost of the prescription varies depending on what you need. Charging is very different from NHS treatments where the prices are subsidised and you only pay £9.35 per drug regardless of how many packs you need. Some items are more expensive – Female Testosterone, for example, is £80 per tube, but this will last 3-4 months.
The cost of blood tests vary. We will recommend the most appropriate group of tests to suit your requirements. We can test for one thing alone, or a group.
For example, a single testosterone blood test is £35 and a full well man screen is £190.
We send your prescriptions via electronic prescribing to our pharmacy partner, CloudRx. They will prepare them for you, and deliver the medication to your door within 72 hours, and often sooner.
It can take up to 7 days for the processing of your blood tests and for us to receive notification from our partner, Nationwide Pathology. Once we have received them your doctor will be notified, and they will review them. Your doctor will then email them to you with any comments, via a secure link.
Depending on your chosen service, you may have a follow-up consultation to discuss your results.
You can call 03309120769 (national rate) to speak to one of our team or use the online web contact form. You can also email hello@h3health.co.uk
Please note that we do not provide urgent care or assistance, and in these cases, you need to contact NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency. Or contact your own GP for other matters.
H3 Health is regulated by the Care Quality Commission who are the independent regulator of health and social care in England – you can find out more about the CQC at their website.
We do not treat anyone under the age of 18 years.
We do not provide urgent care or treatment of acute conditions.
If you have a medical emergency we request you call 999 or urgent care service via your NHS GP or 111 service.
The consultation costs include the appointment with the GP only. It does not cover prescriptions, follow up appointments, or monitoring blood tests or further investigations.
General health appointments are charged at £175 for up to 30 minutes.
First female health appointments are £250 for up to 1 hour.
All follow up appointments are £175.
If you think you might need a longer appointment, you can book an hour for £250.
After you have seen the doctor, they will send a letter to your normal GP advising of any new diagnosis, treatments and plans.
You might need further blood tests or investigations, or a referral to a specialist. We will explain the cost prior to undertaking any work.
You will be charged £30 per email to the clinical team after your consultation if you require further time.
After you have your pre-appointment assessment, if you require a blood test we will arrange a convenient time and location for one of our trained healthcare specialists to visit you to take bloods and carry out any other physical tests that may be required.
If you are seen in person, then this will be at Warwick Nuffield Hospital, The Chase, Old Milverton Lane, Leamington Spa, CV32 6RW.
All of our consultations are doctor-led. You will see a practicing GP, all of whom work within the NHS also, and have a dedicated interest in either Men’s or Women’s Health. For example, for testosterone deficiency you will see a male GP who has a specialist interest and understanding of this condition. For menopause, we have female GPs who have a specialist interest in Women’s Health. Where additional support or treatment is required, we can also refer you to our other specialists such as hospital consultants.
We want to practice as safely as we can and involve your normal GP. We will notify your GP of treatments we provide so that they can update their systems and ensure that there are no concerns highlighted over other treatment you might be receiving from them. For example, some medications cannot be taken alongside others, or you might need more monitoring with some.
For that reason, we ask that you provide your GP’s details before your first appointment using the hello@h3health.co.uk email address.
Latest Erectile Dysfunction related advice
Why I hate little blue pills
With an estimated half of all men likely to experience difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection at some point in their lives, it's tempting to reach for a quick fix solution. However, as we discuss in this blog it's best to understand the underlying cause before treating the symptoms.
