Erectile dysfunction

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Summary

ED is a condition where men have trouble getting or keeping an erection.
It can be caused by physical or psychological factors, or a combination of both.
Treatment options include medications, creams, suppositories, and injections.

Erectile dysfunction: essential info
The details
What are my options?
FAQ

Reviewed on August 29, 2025. by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

Next review due on August 29, 2028

Last updated on

What is erectile dysfunction?

Sometimes known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is when a man has persistent problems getting and sustaining an erection. Sometimes, this may be:

difficulty getting hard enough for sex
or not staying hard for long enough for sex to happen.

How long it needs to be happening for it to be medically defined as ED is a subject pretty open to discussion. There’s actually a scale called The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) which gives men an ED ‘score’ based on their erection habits over the previous month.

Normally, a clinician will be able to tell if you need treatment by asking you a few questions about your symptoms and general health.

Who gets ED?

About 50% of men over 40 (so it’s quite common).^[1] But you can get erectile dysfunction at any age.

You’ve probably seen the TV commercials for ED medication. Older men strolling with their partners across a sunset beach. These ads target men in this age group, and it figures. Because as men get older, they’re more likely to develop health problems like high blood pressure or poor circulation. And these conditions can make it harder to get an erection.

But ED affects young men too. As well as the physical side of it, there’s the psychological side. In a new relationship, you may feel pressure to satisfy your partner for example, and this can lead to ED. Or you may be stressed at work, which may also trigger it.

So in fact, the answer to the question “Who gets ED?” is anyone (and in some way or another, at some time, probably everyone).

How common is erectile dysfunction?

It depends who you ask. Some health bodies have suggested that about 50% of men over 40 will develop erectile dysfunction. And a study of the condition in men under 40 estimates that a quarter in this group will get it at some point.^[2]

Unfortunately, the nature of ED means that many men won’t seek help for it. So it could well be more common than we think. But experts reckon that most men will get some form of ED at least once, even if it’s only short-term.

Treated trusted source:

Leslie SW, Sooriyamoorthy T. Erectile Dysfunction. [Updated 2024 Jan 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
Capogrosso, P., Colicchia, M., Ventimiglia, E., Castagna, G., Clementi, M.C., Suardi, N., Castiglione, F., Briganti, A., Cantiello, F., Damiano, R., Montorsi, F. and Salonia, A. (2013). One Patient Out of Four with Newly Diagnosed Erectile Dysfunction Is a Young Man—Worrisome Picture from the Everyday Clinical Practice. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(7), pp.1833–1841.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on August 29, 2025. Next review due on August 29, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Does ED always need treatment?

No. Sometimes making lifestyle adjustments can make it go away. If you drink a lot of alcohol, smoke cigarettes or take recreational drugs, curbing these habits can help with erections.

Being overweight can be a factor in ED too, so eating a healthy diet and exercising more is a good solution as well.

You might get erectile dysfunction if you’re anxious about sex. And talking to someone about it, whether it’s your partner, a friend or a therapist, can make all the difference. If you find that having conversations about it doesn’t help though, medication may be recommended.

How can I get treatment for ED?

You can access treatment for ED in a number of ways.

One way is in person through your family physician – they may talk through your symptoms and experiences with ED with you in an appointment, and then make a recommendation if they think medication is right for you.

You can also consult about ED and get a prescription for medication online. When you do this through Treated, you’ll be asked to complete a few questions on an intake form, which is then reviewed by a clinician. They’ll then recommend options for you based on your answers.

Can you get erectile dysfunction pills over the counter?

In Canada currently, all tablet treatments for erectile dysfunction require a prescription from a physician or healthcare professional. This is so that a clinician can assess your health profile and make sure that treatment is suitable for you before you take it.

Some countries in Europe have treatment options which don’t require a prescription, but still need to be validated by a pharmacist following a short consultation. These aren’t available in Canada at this time.

How we source info.

Erectile dysfunction: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Can smoking cause ED?

Answer:

Several studies have linked smoking with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.^[5] It’s thought that smoking can interfere with the function of nitric oxide in the body, which then impedes ‘vasodilation’ (the widening of blood vessels – an important biological step in the process of getting and maintaining an erection).

Long term, smoking can also cause damage to blood vessels, which again prevents proper circulation (including to the penis).

So if you smoke, and you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, quitting smoking may contribute to the improvement of symptoms.

Can diet cause ED?

Answer:

Yes, it’s thought that a poor diet can at least contribute towards erectile dysfunction, for a range of reasons.

Erections rely on the circulation of blood to the penis. A diet that’s high in saturated fat and cholesterol can be a factor in the build-up of vascular plaque, which can affect this circulation by obstructing blood vessels.^[1]

A poor diet can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, which are also risk factors for erectile dysfunction.^[2][3]

Some studies have also found that eating a healthy diet – for example the Mediterranean diet – may lower the risk of erectile dysfunction.^[4]

Is there a link between erectile dysfunction and alcohol?

Answer:

Drinking too much alcohol can cause temporary ED, or make existing erection problems worse. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that alcohol dulls the senses and desensitises us, meaning the nerve signals that transmit arousal messages in the body don’t work as well. Another more long-term reason is that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can increase blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular diseases that affect blood flow.

Generally, it’s best to limit your alcohol intake if you’re experiencing ED.

Treated trusted source:

Zhu, Q., et al (2023). Association of high LDL concentrations with erectile dysfunction from a Mendelian randomization study. Scientific Reports, [online] 13(1).
Defeudis, G., et al (2021). Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: A melting pot of circumstances and treatments. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, [online] 38(2), p.e3494.
Moon, K.H., Park, S.Y. and Kim, Y.W. (2019). Obesity and Erectile Dysfunction: From Bench to Clinical Implication. The World Journal of Men’s Health, 37(2), p.138.
Bauer, S.R., et al (2020). Association of Diet With Erectile Dysfunction Among Men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. JAMA Network Open, 3(11), p.e2021701.
Kovac, J.R., et al (2014). Effects of cigarette smoking on erectile dysfunction. Andrologia, [online] 47(10), pp.1087–1092.

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