Working well with your healthcare team

A good relationship with your doctor can make a big difference to the success of your treatment and to your general health and wellbeing. If you can communicate honestly and openly, he or she will be better able to prescribe treatment and care that's best for you.

An important part of this is knowing what you need to tell your doctor, and being clear about the questions you may want to ask.

If you feel a bit embarrassed about talking to a doctor about ED, you won't be the first. But doctors are qualified professionals and deal with issues of men's health and sexual health all the time. The thing to remember is that if you do find it embarrassing, you will only feel that way for a short period of time. An active sex-life, however, is something that can last you the rest of your life.

No one is judging you

Judges wear gowns, sit in courtrooms and bang gavels. Doctors write prescriptions, sit in surgeries and help people. They are two completely different professions.

Your doctor is not going to be judging you at all. If you have ED, it's your doctor's job to help you, and that is all that they will be interested in doing. And absolutely everything you say to them will be confidential.

If you don't feel comfortable talking to your usual doctor about erectile dysfunction for personal reasons, then you should arrange to see another one. Your sexual confidence is too important to be held back because you don't have a good relationship with your current doctor.

The conversation

When you have the conversation with your doctor, it's a good idea to make the erection problem the subject of your whole appointment. It needs both you and your doctor's full attention. You might find it tempting to mention it as an afterthought when you've been discussing something else. But it's better to schedule an appointment to talk about ED specifically, as it can take time for the doctor to carry out a full evaluation and discuss your treatment options with you.

Your doctor is not a mind reader

It will help you get the best from your doctor if you tell them clearly about your problem. Unless you tell your doctor exactly what's wrong, it will be very difficult for them to help you.

What your doctor should know

There are a number of key things you should let your doctor know, including:

Try not to talk about what you think the problem is - talk instead about your symptoms and what is actually happening. Leave the diagnosis to your doctor.
Don't forget to mention symptoms that you might consider to be commonplace, like headaches or sleeping difficulties. Such symptoms could signal an underlying health problem.
When your symptoms started and when they happen.
If you have other health concerns, even if you don't think they're related, such as problems with your vision.
The truth. Don't try to hide facts if you feel embarrassed about your condition or if you are a heavy smoker or drinker. Hiding this information could affect and even hinder your treatment and care.
How the condition is making you feel emotionally.

Questions you might be asked

Here are some of the signs and symptoms your doctor may ask you about in order to determine what's causing your ED and what's the best treatment for you:

Are you taking any medication?
As far as you know, do you have any other medical conditions?
Are you feeling depressed or stressed?
Do you have nerve damage?
Do you sometimes have an erection on waking but have problems when you're trying to have sex?
How much do you drink?
Do you smoke cigarettes, or use recreational drugs?
How is your relationship with your partner?
Do you feel embarrassed by sex?
Do you have a poor self image?

Prepare for your appointment

Before you talk to your doctor, it might help if you are prepared for what they may ask you - and what tests they may carry out. Well, initially your doctor may carry out similar questionnaires/tests to those on this website. This will help them determine the degree of erectile dysfunction and can help them come to a diagnosis. They may then try to find out the causes of your erection problem by carrying out a general health check. This may include questions about your medical history and sex life, a physical examination, a blood pressure check, a blood test and a urine sample.

Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor may then discuss the potential treatment options with you.

Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions if you're not sure about any of your doctor's recommendations. If you feel there's a lot to remember, you may find it helps to take notes while talking with your doctor.

Make sure you understand all you want to know about your condition, and know why certain treatment options have been suggested by your GP. You could also consider asking:

Where you can go to get more information about ED. There may be useful websites or patient support groups.
What happens next and in the future? For example, should you return for regular check-ups? Or will another healthcare professional be responsible for monitoring your condition?
Are there lifestyle changes you could make to help improve your condition, such as changing your eating habits or giving up smoking?
If you're not sure about your diagnosis and/or the treatment prescribed and think a second opinion might help, don't be worried about asking for one. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a specialist or another GP in the practice. A second opinion can help ensure that your treatment and care are successful.

It's important not to think you are wasting your doctor's time if you have lots of questions and concerns. Your health is important, so if you do feel that you need more time with the doctor you could always ask whether a double appointment is available.

Take your partner

It might be a good idea to take your partner when you go and visit your doctor. A bit of moral support can make talking about your sexual health feel a little less intimidating. But more than that, an erection problem is something that affects your partner too - men's health is not always about men alone. So it makes sense that you are both involved.

Role of the pharmacist

If you and your doctor decide you should receive medication for your ED, you may find that the healthcare professional you have the most contact with is your local pharmacist.

It's good to remember that your pharmacist is more than just someone who sells you your medication. A pharmacist is an expert on how medicines work and interact, and can advise you about any safety concerns - especially important if you're taking more than one medicine at the same time.

Read more about how your pharmacist can help you (PDF)

As part of the service to make sure your medications are right for you and that you're getting the best from them, your pharmacist can offer you a free Medicines Use Review (MUR). Find out more about the Medicines Use Review (PDF).

Navigate the NHS

Understanding how the NHS works - and what NHS services are available in your area - can help you to get the most out of your interactions with healthcare professionals. This will enable you to manage your condition better and live your life in the best possible health.

See our guide to finding your way around the NHS (PDF)

Health tips