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With over a decade of experience and thousands of five-star reviews, PrivateDoc is the UK’s trusted partner for safe, effective, and highly confidential erectile dysfunction treatments
Male health blood test
Effective treatments
Sildenafil
From £1.56 per pill
Based on a 25mg 32 pack
- Stronger, longer-lasting erections with Sildenafil
- Fast-acting: works in 30–60 minutes.
- Confidence that lasts: up to 4 hours.
Viagra
From £2.19 per pill
Based on a 25mg 32 pack
- Stronger, longer-lasting erections with Viagra
- Fast-acting: works in 30–60 minutes.
- Confidence that lasts: up to 4 hours.
Hezkue / Sildenafil Spray
£44.99
Per pack
- Fast-acting sildenafil absorbs in just 5 minutes.
- Enhanced performance for firmer, longer erections.
- Skip the pills with Hezkue’s convenient spray.
Viagra Connect
From £6.13 per pill
Based on a 50mg 8 pack
- Fast absorption for results in under an hour.
- Skip the doctor’s visit with Viagra Connect.
- Confidence that lasts: up to 4 hours.
Cialis
From £9.06 per pill
Based on a 10mg 32 pack
- A PDE-5 inhibitor that increases blood flow to help achieve and maintain an erection.
- Starts working within 30–60 minutes and can last up to 36 hours.
- Only works when you’re aroused — often called “the weekend pill” for its long-lasting effect.
Tadalafil (generic Cialis)
From £1.46 per pill
Based on a 10mg 24 pack
- Tadalafil is the generic version of Cialis, containing the same active ingredient.
- A PDE-5 inhibitor that increases blood flow to help achieve and maintain an erection.
- Works within 30–60 minutes, lasts up to 36 hours, and only works when you’re aroused — hence the name “the weekend pill.
Cialis Once-a-Day
From £2.74 per pill
Based on a 2.5mg 84 pack
- Cialis Once-a-Day (Cialis Daily) is a regular, daily treatment for erectile dysfunction.
- The only prescription ED medication designed for continuous use.
- Helps you get and maintain erections when aroused — without needing to plan ahead.
Tadalafil Once-a-Day
From £0.69 per pill
Based on a 5mg 84 pack with subscription
- Tadalafil Once-a-Day (also known as Cialis Daily) is a daily treatment for erectile dysfunction.
- The only prescription ED medication designed for regular, continuous use.
- Helps you get and maintain erections when aroused — no need to take a tablet before sex.
What is ED?
Erections are complex. Simply put, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is an inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual performance.
To function correctly, your brain, nervous system, hormones, and blood vessels must work in a coordinated sequence. If any part of this chain is disrupted, difficulties can occur. It is a common experience; stress, low mood, and alcohol are frequent culprits for occasional issues.
However, because your vascular health and your sexual health are so closely linked, persistent ED should not be ignored. If it becomes a regular occurrence, it is worth a conversation with a professional to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Which erectile dysfunction treatment is best?
Erectile dysfunction has a range of effective treatment options available both with and without prescription. Often our patients will trial a variety of medications during the course of their treatment to ascertain which is most effective - as the overall experience will be different for every man. To help explain the differences here is a useful erectile dysfunction treatment comparison table:
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| Feature | Viagra / Sildenafil | Hezkue (Liquid Sildenafil) | Cialis / Tadalafil | Viagra Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength / dosing | Comes in 25mg, 50mg & 100mg | Flexible dosing 25mg, 50mg & 100mg in a discreet container | Comes in 10mg & 20mg | Comes in 50mg tablets |
| Time to effect | Effective in 30 - 60 minutes | Effective in 30 - 60 minutes | Effective in 30 - 60 minutes | Effective in 30 - 60 minutes |
| How long it lasts | Lasts for 4-5 hours | Lasts for 4-5 hours | Lasts up to 36 hours | Lasts for 4-5 hours |
| Prescription | Prescription required. Simply complete our fast, free online consultation | Prescription required. Simply complete our fast, free online consultation | Prescription required. Simply complete our fast, free online consultation | No Prescription Required, Order discreetly online |
| Pricing | Prices from £17.99 | Price £44.99 - for 10x50mg doses | Prices from £19.99 | Prices from £15 |
Male Health Blood Test
Male Health Blood Test
Take control of your health. The Male Health Blood Test looks deeper than symptoms, checking key markers like testosterone, cholesterol, blood sugar, and prostate health to help identify what’s really behind fatigue or erectile dysfunction.
A simple at-home blood test with quick results, expert interpretation, and ongoing support from our clinicians.
ED blog posts
Understanding erectile dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction, (ED), is a common condition affecting millions of men in the UK. It's when a man has consistent difficulty getting or maintaining an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual activity.
Debunking the top 10 myths about erectile dysfunction
Debunking the 10 most common myths about erectile dysfunction.
How lifestyle changes can improve erectile dysfunction naturally
How healthy eating can help manage erectile dysfunction.
ED in your twenties
A third of men in their twenties experience erectile difficulties. We often hear of erectile dysfunction in older men, however, it’s often perceived as somewhat more of a taboo subject in younger men, but if you're experiencing difficulties it’s best to get it checked out early, so we really need to normalise the conversation.
Are you paying too much for your medication?
If you’re using a medicine subscription service for erectile dysfunction medicines you might be paying too much for your medication!
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Frequently asked questions about ED
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex when you want to. It is very common and usually results from a combination of factors, including blood flow, nerves, hormones, stress, or lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol.
Clinically, we view ED as a symptom rather than a single disease. It can be a helpful early warning sign for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular issues. While you can certainly research general information on your own, any treatment should follow a proper clinical assessment to ensure we are addressing the root cause, not just the symptom.
How is ED commonly treated?
In 1998 the first oral treatment for ED was licensed: Viagra® (sildenafil), a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor often called the ‘little blue pill’. It was a major step forward for many men who had previously relied on injections or vacuum devices. Since then, other PDE-5 tablets have become available, and as patents have expired, generic versions (for example sildenafil and tadalafil) are widely prescribed.
For many people, first-line treatment is an oral tablet when it is safe to prescribe. Tablets are often well tolerated and effective in a large proportion of cases.4
If standard tablets are not the right fit for you, there are numerous other effective paths to explore. Modern medicine offers a variety of options tailored to your lifestyle and health needs:
- Lifestyle Optimization: Small, targeted changes to diet and exercise can significantly improve vascular health and natural function.
- Topical Gels: Fast-acting, locally applied gels are now a popular alternative to pills, often working within minutes with fewer systemic side effects.
- Vacuum Devices: A reliable, drug-free mechanical option that remains a “gold standard” for many men.
- Specialist Procedures: This includes modern shockwave therapy (to encourage blood vessel growth), urethral applications, or self-administered injections.
- Surgical Solutions: For persistent or organic ED, penile implants offer a long-term, highly successful solution.
- Psychological Support: Counselling or CBT can be transformative, especially when stress or “the cycle of worry” plays a part in the physical response.
How do ED medicines work?
All PDE-5 inhibitors work in broadly the same way. These include Viagra, sildenafil, Cialis, tadalafil, Levitra, vardenafil, and Spedra.
When you are aroused, tissues release nitric oxide (NO), which raises levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). That helps relax smooth muscle and increase blood flow into the penis. Another enzyme, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5), breaks down cGMP. PDE-5 inhibitor tablets block PDE5 so that, when you are sexually aroused, cGMP levels can stay higher for longer, which supports erection. They do not cause an erection without arousal, do not increase sexual desire on their own, and do not replace assessment of underlying causes of ED.
Is ED medication effective?
Oral ED medications help many people: published evidence often cites response in a large majority of men in selected trials,4 but real-world results vary. Tablets do not work for everyone and are not suitable if certain health problems or medicines are present. They can also cause side effects. If you have side effects, think your medication is not working, or think it is too strong, contact the clinical team so your treatment and dose can be reviewed.
What are alternative treatments for ED?
Oral tablets are not the only approach. Depending on the cause and your general health, a clinician might discuss lifestyle measures (exercise, weight management, smoking cessation, moderating alcohol), vacuum erection devices, urethral or intracavernosal drugs, testosterone treatment only when appropriate, or psychological therapies. Surgical implants are reserved for specific situations. Every option has risks and benefits that should be explained before you agree to a plan.
Why do I need to know my blood pressure to get an ED prescription?
ED tablets affect blood vessels and can be unsafe with very high or very low blood pressure, certain heart conditions, or when taken with some other drugs (for example nitrates). A reading from the last six months helps a prescriber judge whether tablets are likely to be safe. If you do not know your blood pressure, you can usually have it checked free or at low cost at a pharmacy, GP practice, or well-being event.
For step-by-step help with pharmacy checks, choosing a validated home monitor,6 and taking readings correctly, see our guide: How to test your blood pressure at home.
Can you get ED treatment over the counter?
Some products, such as Viagra Connect (50 mg sildenafil), can be supplied from a pharmacy after a consultation with a pharmacist. Other strengths and medicines still need a prescription. Online services such as PrivateDoc use a questionnaire and prescriber review so supply stays clinically appropriate and interactions can be checked.
What else can I do to try to improve ED symptoms?
General health measures often support erectile function alongside tablets or while other causes are explored. Overweight and obesity are linked to a higher chance of ED in population studies,8 so gradual weight loss through balanced eating and regular activity is sensible rather than crash diets. Reducing ultra-processed foods, excess sugar, and excess saturated fat, while increasing vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, is a practical pattern many people can sustain.
Smoking and heavy alcohol use are also associated with ED.9 Cutting down or stopping can help. Stress, poor sleep, and low mood can contribute too: routine sleep, physical activity, and talking therapies or counselling may help when mood or anxiety is part of the picture.
How does PrivateDoc assess suitability for ED treatment?
You complete a structured online consultation covering your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and any medicines you take (including over-the-counter and herbal products). A UK prescriber reviews your answers, applies national prescribing guidance, and decides whether ED medication is appropriate, which product and dose may be suitable, and whether we need an up-to-date blood pressure reading or other checks first. You will be advised if we cannot prescribe and what to do next.
How does my order arrive?
Medicines are sent in plain, discreet outer packaging via DPD or Royal Mail so your order is not obviously identifiable. When a prescription is approved before the advertised cut-off, many orders ship the same working day. You receive tracking details where the carrier supports them so you can follow delivery to your address.
The MHRA has reported UK enforcement seizures of illegal erectile dysfunction medicines on the scale of around 20 million pills.1
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates medicines in the UK, has warned that buying ED tablets from unknown websites or social media can mean falsified or unlicensed products with unpredictable strength, no active ingredient, or harmful contaminants.
Erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age2, affecting around half of men over 40 in some surveys.2 It is not only an older adult issue: a substantial minority of men seeking help for ED are under 40.3
Our genuine ED medication is prescribed by a team of doctors who analyse our patients’ needs on a case-by-case basis, for the extra personal touch. It is quick, discreet, and it works. There are no unnecessary subscriptions and fast delivery is standard, for peace of mind when it matters most.
The expert team leading our online clinics
PrivateDoc is happy to introduce you to some of our leading UK licensed clinicians who support patients with erectile dysfunction enquiries and treatment, where clinically appropriate.
Dr Ruchira Karunadasa
MB BS - GP Chief Medical Director GMC Number: 6054459
Adeel Arshad
MPharm, PIP - Pharmacist Lead Clinician GPhC Number: 2070294
Caroline Marshall
BSc (hons) Head of OperationsQuality care when you need it most
Two and a half million men around the UK may have some sort of sexual dysfunction at any one time7
Clinical authorship and medical review
References
- MHRA (GOV.UK): 20 million illegal erectile dysfunction pills seized as MHRA warns against risky online buys
- https://www.baus.org.uk/patients/conditions/3/erectile_dysfunction_impotence/
- Capogrosso, P., et al. One patient out of four with newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction is a young man–worrisome picture from the everyday clinical practice. J Sex Med, 2013. 10: 1833. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23651423
- https://uroweb.org/guideline/male-sexual-dysfunction/
- https://patient.info/mens-health/erectile-dysfunction-impotence
- https://bihsoc.org/bp-monitors/for-home-use/
- https://www.bpas.org/more-services-information/erectile-dysfunction/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21911624
- NHS: Erectile dysfunction (impotence) – causes (includes smoking and alcohol among factors that can contribute)
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