When to see a GP about your erectile dysfunction

Seeing a GP about any of your health concerns is always important. They can help you understand whether you have erectile dysfunction as well as the potential causes of the condition.

Erectile dysfunction is a condition that can have both physical and psychological triggers. It can also have a long-term impact on your self-esteem and confidence. 3,4 It’s important to understand the underlying reasons for it. Your GP can help you with this.

You can discuss the effect it’s having on your life and get support in a private and confidential environment. Your GP may also be able to refer you to specialists like sex therapists if they think it might be useful to you.

Erectile dysfunction can be triggered by lifestyle, medical or mental health issues. It can also be a sign of a serious health condition like heart disease or diabetes. Speaking to your GP can help you understand whether an underlying condition is the reason for your erectile dysfunction.

Several medical conditions can cause erectile dysfunction. These include:

To diagnose you with erectile dysfunction, your GP will ask you about your symptoms as well as your general health and wellbeing. They’ll also want to know whether you’re taking any medication or using any recreational substances like drugs or alcohol.

Your GP will also ask you about your sexual history and may also check your:

• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Penis to understand whether you have a physical condition like Peyronie’s disease (scar tissue on the penis)
• Mental health. ^1,6

These are normal parts of a consultation and will help your GP understand the reasons why you may be experiencing erectile dysfunction. If you would prefer a male GP to assess you, you can request this when you book your appointment.

If you think you have erectile dysfunction and don’t want to speak to a GP about it, you can visit your local sexual health clinic or speak to a counsellor or sex therapist. The staff there will be able to talk to you about your concerns and recommend treatment approaches to help you. ^{1, 3}

Your local pharmacist may also be able to advise you and recommend treatments.

You might also want to make lifestyle changes to improve your erectile dysfunction. The condition can be caused by medical, physical or mental health triggers, so there are a variety of steps that you can take to help improve your symptoms. You can:

• Get active.If you are overweight or have a high BMI (25 or more), you might want to add more physical activity to your weekly routine. Adults need around 2.5 hours of exercise each week. Losing weight can also help you improve your confidence, feel better and see an improvement in your erectile dysfunction symptoms.
• Cut back on your alcohol intake.Alcohol can impact your ability to get and maintain an erection. If you reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it may help you sustain erections during sex. You should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. That’s 6 pints or 10 small glasses of wine.
• Stop smoking.Like alcohol, smoking can have negative effects on your health and wellbeing. Quitting may help you get rid of your erectile dysfunction symptoms and see improvements to your overall wellbeing.
• Avoid illegal drug use. If a drug hasn’t been prescribed to you, taking it could have damaging effects on your health.
• Manage and reduce stress.Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Avoiding stressful situations when you can or using techniques to reduce stress like exercise, meditation or therapy might be useful to you. ^{1, 3}