Erectile dysfunction or erectile disorder – often shortened to ED – is one of the most common problems that psychosexual (sex) therapist work with.

Erectile dysfunction is when you can’t get or maintain an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse or other satisfying sexual activities.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), erectile dysfunction is a common medical problem affecting approximately 15% of men/people with penises each year. Over 150 million men worldwide were estimated to have been affected by erectile dysfunction in 1995, and this is projected to rise to 320 million by 2025.

ED affects men and non-binary folk, both young and old, single or partnered. Sufferers often experience distress and embarrassment, meaning they’re often reluctant to seek professional help and will suffer in silence for too long before doing so.

Psychosexual therapists like those in our team are specially trained to support clients with sexual problems like erectile dysfunction. We will do everything we can to ensure you can talk openly and in a non-judgemental setting to get you on the path to recovery and a more satisfying sex life as soon as possible.

There can be both physical and psychological causes of ED and it’s important to consider both when seeking support.

Our Psychosexual Therapists take a comprehensive history in the first session, and usually recommend a GP appointment to consider any medical or hormonal factors. Indeed, erectile dysfunction can be an indicator of more serious underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and hormonal imbalances. So it’s a really good idea to discuss your symptoms with a doctor.

Another thing we (and probably your GP too) will ask about is morning erections. If you regularly have these it’s normally a sign that the erectile dysfunction is psychological rather than medical in nature, and this is where the expertise of sex therapist is helpful.

The good news is that there are many ways to treat ED, and most people will experience an improvement after starting therapy. Our therapists favour a ‘biopsychosocial’ approach to understanding the causes of erectile dysfunction. This basically means we look at your life as a whole. As well as possible physical causes, we’ll look at any emotional, cultural, cognitive and lifestyle factors, and how these might be contributing to it. In many cases the root cause of erectile dysfunction is psychological, rather than physical.

There are, of course, medications like Viagra and Cilias, which improve the strength and duration of erections, and they are extremely helpful. Sometimes the best results are achieved when medication is used in combination with support from a Psychosexual Therapist. And the good news is that Viagra and other similar drugs (PDE-5 inhibitors) can be prescribed by a doctor or pharmacist as a generic medication – meaning they’re much more affordable than they were a few years ago.

If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, please don’t suffer in silence any longer.