One in Two Men Find it Hard to Get Hard - UK Meds #HardTalk Campaign

According to a new study, one in two men aged between 30 and 39 will either suffer from erectile dysfunction themselves or will know someone that is. 

According to a survey of 1,005 men conducted by UK Meds for Men’s Health Week, 51% of men aged between 30 and 39 (an age group often referred to as millennials) claimed that this was the case, more than any other age group. The age group that came in at second highest were those aged between 40 and 49. This group is made up of older millennials and gen-Xers. Although this is a large number of people, there is still a reluctance to discuss this condition. 

What is the UK Meds #HardTalk campaign?

The UK Meds #HardTalk campaign has been created to get men talking about erectile dysfunction, whether it is currently affecting them, will affect them in the future, or is affecting someone they know. To raise awareness, UK Meds placed two Antony Gormley-inspired male mannequins in Manchester city centre to mark the start of Men’s Health Week. 

The two mannequins had some very distinctive features, with bananas and walnuts being in the place of the male anatomy. One mannequin had a downward, limp-looking banana, whilst the other had a proud, upward-facing banana. 

These mannequins were created to get people talking about erectile dysfunction in an effort to remove the stigma surrounding it. They also garnered the attention of media outlet The Manc, who referred to the mannequins as, “a pair of naked statues (...) with some… unusual details.” The mannequins even made an appearance at the celebrations of treble-winning Manchester City. With this raised attention, it is important that people of all genders start to talk about erectile dysfunction to try and eliminate the stigma surrounding it.

As part of the campaign, members of the public were invited to share their thoughts on ED via a number of questions, in a Vox-Pop style interview format. Real bananas were also handed out for free to passers-by who enquired about the statues. 

What is the stigma surrounding erectile dysfunction?

According to research, just over half of all men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction at some point during their lifetime. Despite the prevalence of this condition, which is projected to affect over 320 million men worldwide by 2025, there is still an unspoken stigma surrounding it. 

Despite the personal nature of the topic, which can affect the sex lives of men in relationships, the majority of men surveyed by UK Meds (67%) would feel more comfortable speaking to a doctor about their condition than their partner. Surprisingly, around 18% of men surveyed said they would be reluctant to talk to a doctor at all. 

Unfortunately, almost all of the men surveyed said that erectile dysfunction would have an impact on their confidence. A knock in confidence is one of the major ‘side effects’ of erectile dysfunction. Men that suffer often feel embarrassed about not being able to perform sexually which can lead to anxiety and depression. In spite of this, some men are still reluctant to discuss treatment options. This is why the UK Meds #HardTalk campaign is so important. 

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (which is often shortened to ED) is a condition characterised by the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED can have both physical and psychological causes. Physical causes may include underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, neurological disorders, or side effects of certain medications. Psychological causes can include stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, or performance anxiety.

What erectile dysfunction treatments can you use?

Fortunately for those that do suffer from erectile dysfunction, there are a number of different medications and treatments that they can use to change their fortunes. There are many different forms of erectile dysfunction medications that sufferers can use including prescription tablets, over-the-counter tablets, creams and ointments, and more. At UK Meds we provide a variety of medications for erectile dysfunctions under all of these categories.

Prescription tablets

• Viagra (branded Sildenafil)

• Sildenafil (generic Viagra)

• Cialis (branded Tadalafil)

• Tadalafil (generic Cialis)

• Levitra (branded Vardenafil)

• Vardenafil (generic Levitra)

• Spedra

Over-the-counter tablets

• Viagra Connect

• Eropid (Sildenafil)

Creams

• Vitaros cream

What are the age generations?

There are a number of different names given to the different generations. According to Care Givers of America, a millennial is a term used to describe people born between 1980 and 1994. A person falls under Generation X (often shortened to gen-X) if they are born between 1965 and 1979. Here is a table that outlines the different generational groups.

Where can I buy erectile dysfunction medications online?

As mentioned, you can purchase a wide range of different erectile dysfunction medications that cover a range of different needs online from UK Meds. Erectile dysfunction medications are also available on subscription, and UK Meds offer some of the biggest cost savings.