Erectile dysfunction, or also known as impotence, can be triggered by factors like tiredness, stress, anxiety, or alcohol use.
According to Mayo Clinic, having this medical issue from time to time does not necessarily cause a problem, but if it is an ongoing issue, it can cause stress, affect self-confidence, and may contribute to relationship problems.
UK Digital health service Superdrug Online Doctor has reported a 13% rise in erectile dysfunction services since May.
Moreover, Google Trends data also shows that online searches for information regarding erectile dysfunction are at its highest for the last 12 months.
The recent sharp increase of the sexual condition has been blamed on increased stress and alcohol consumption during the coronavirus lockdown. But this illness can also be a sign of underlying medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or even hormonal issues.
To address this problem, Superdrug has launched its new erectile dysfunction portfolio, which includes pills, a vasodilator cream, and vacuum penile pump devices.
Stress, Anxiety and Too Much Alcohol Cause Erectile Dysfunction
Superdrug ambassador and GP Zoe Williams said that erectile problems are common. They are usually caused by stress, tiredness, anxiety, or too much drinking of alcohol. She also explained that all these risk factors had been exacerbated due to the recent COVID-19 lockdown.
Additionally, sociologist Sarah Melancon, PhD said that decrease in libido during a global crisis is completely normal. After all, these are stressful times that people are living in, Healthline reports. However, drinking and smoking too much are not ideal coping mechanisms for dealing with the pandemic.
With that, Williams said that Superdrug has now stocked the UK's most extensive erectile dysfunction portfolio that will allow customers to try a range of products that best suits them.
"In most cases, erectile dysfunction is nothing to worry about," Dr Williams said. "But if it persists, then it may be caused by physical or psychological problems, and you should speak to your GP or a Superdrug online doctor about it."
Superdrug Offers New Erectile Dysfunction Portfolio
Among Superdrug's new offerings is an erectile dysfunction cream which has vasodilator to improve blood flow to the male part, and two trial packs each containing three different drugs to relax blood vessels and to act as a vasodilator.
Superdrug explains that the trial kits allow one to try each of the drugs to see which works for them and aimed at first-time users who might be unsure which pill to use.
The firm also offers patients the chance to participate in a telephone consultation with one of their doctors to talk about erectile dysfunction and what steps they need to take for treatment. They believe that it is always better to look into the underlying cause of the condition rather than simply providing treatment for the symptoms as it can be caused by psychological factors 10% to 20% of the time.
Furthermore, Superdrug's erectile dysfunction portfolio also includes medically-approved vacuum penile pump devices to draw blood into the organ and can be used as a tandem with the drug or used independently.
Superdrug healthcare director Michael Henry acknowledges that accessibility and discretion are important factors that patients consider when seeking treatment. These drive the firm to extend its online erectile dysfunction portfolio further to increase its availability to people with the condition.
