Erectile dysfunction isn’t always just about performance in the bedroom. It can be your body’s way of signalling that something deeper is going on. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or low testosterone often show up first as ED.

A blood test helps uncover these hidden causes by checking key markers like cholesterol, blood sugar, and hormones. Instead of guessing, you’ll have clear answers that can guide the right treatment and protect your sex life.

Each blood test is easy to use, even if you’ve never used a home blood test kit before.

It only takes a small amount of preparation to successfully collect a blood sample and all the equipment you need to do so is included in the kit.

A summary of how to use the tests:

• Wash your hands in warm water for 4 minutes and then dry them.

• Use the lancet provided to prick your finger and collect a blood sample.

• Post your sample to our accredited partner laboratory using the prepaid envelope included with your test.

Full instructions are provided with your test, which you should read thoroughly before use to ensure the best results.

To learn more about how to take a blood test at home, click here.

Yes. Even if your ED improves with treatment, the test may flag other risks like prediabetes, high cholesterol, or vitamin D deficiency. Catching these early means you can take action before they become bigger problems.

Your results will give you clear insights into potential causes of ED and your wider health. From there, you can make informed choices, whether that’s starting treatment, adjusting lifestyle habits, or following up with your GP for further checks.

You can expect to experience stronger, longer-lasting erections. However, this won’t be instantaneous. Each ED treatment takes a certain amount of time to take effect, so you should take this into account when you’re planning to have sex.

Sildenafil 50mg

Time to take effect: 1 hour

Lasts for up to: 4 hours

Tadalafil 10mg

Time to take effect: 30 minutes

Lasts for up to: 36 hours

Tadalafil Daily 2.5mg

Time to take effect: 3-5 days

Lasts for up to: Continuous effect

Viagra Connect 50mg

Time to take effect: 1 hour

Lasts for up to: 4 hours

ED tablets do not alter your libido or sexual desire. You’ll still need to be sexually aroused for them to take effect.

ED medications can also be taken with or without food. However, if you take them with a heavy meal, you may delay their effects by about an hour (with the exception of Tadalafil Daily).

A clinician will determine which treatment is most safe and effective for you. They’ll take into account your lifestyle, medical history, and preferences. Although all the erectile dysfunction tablets we offer encourage stronger erections, each ED treatment works in a slightly different way. This allows our clinicians to find a treatment that suits you best.

Sildenafil and Viagra Connect: If you can plan when you have sex, sildenafil or Viagra Connect may be the best erectile dysfunction treatment options for you as these can be taken on an as-and-when basis. They both take around one hour to kick in and can last for up to four hours.

Tadalafil: Tadalafil takes about 30 minutes to kick in and lasts for up to 36 hours. This is ideal if you prefer having a more flexible ED treatment that allows you to experience harder erections for a longer period of time (for example, over the course of a weekend).

Tadalafil Daily: If you tend to have spontaneous sex, Tadalafil Daily keeps you topped up with a steady level of tadalafil in your system every day so you can get erections whenever you need them. It takes three to five days to take effect, but once it does, its effects are continuous.

Erectile dysfunction tablets are typically safe to use both in the short term and long term.

The results of a study looking at men using sildenafil over the course of four years suggest that it’s safe and effective when used over a prolonged period of time.⁷

Likewise, another study involving 1173 men with ED concluded that tadalafil was “safe and well tolerated” when used for the duration of the study, which lasted for two years.⁸

In general, if you find yourself taking sildenafil (or any other ED treatment) for a prolonged period of time, it’s worth looking at the underlying causes with the help of our clinicians. A blood test can help diagnose the root cause and determine any lifestyle changes that could solve your ED for good.

While most men will not experience any unwanted side effects from ED medications, there are some commonly reported ones to be aware of. These include:⁶

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Feeling faint

• Nasal congestion/stuffiness

• Feeling hot or flushed, including facial flushing

• Nausea

• Indigestion

• Visual changes (including colour changes, sensitivity to light and blurred vision)

A complete list of possible side effects is available in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) enclosed with all the ED medications we prescribe. You should always read it carefully before taking your ED treatment for the first time.