Creator: SingleCare
Published: 2021-02-26T13:00:43-05:00

Thirty million men in the United States experience erectile dysfunction (ED). ED often affects men older than 40, but recent ED statistics show it could be increasingly common in younger men. Sexual dysfunction doesn’t just affect sex and intimacy. Men with ED experience twice as many heart attacks and strokes as those without ED, they have an increased risk of developing depression, and ED could cause male infertility.

SingleCare conducted an erectile dysfunction survey of 500 male adults in the U.S. who reportedly have or have had ED. We asked survey-takers about the physical and emotional causes of their condition, if they sought treatment and what type of treatment they tried, how much they spent on treatment, and whether insurance covered it. Here’s what we found.

Summary of findings:

27% don’t know what physically causes their ED.
35% report that stress causes their ED. Anxiety (32%) and depression (27%) are other top emotional causes of ED.
39% never sought treatment for ED.
Medication (63%), supplements (31%), and exercise (28%) were the most popular ED treatments.
64% spend less than $200 per year for ED treatments.
34% pay out of pocket for all ED treatment.
27% were concerned about receiving counterfeit ED medication.
36% did not experience side effects of ED medication.
23% stopped taking ED medication due to ineffectiveness, side effects, or because their ED went away.

27% of respondents don’t know what physically causes their ED

Typically, erectile dysfunction happens when there is limited blood flow to the penis or nerve damage. Many health conditions and medications for these conditions can affect blood flow and nerve health. It’s not surprising that high blood pressure was the most common physical cause of ED reported in our survey. That’s because high blood pressure damages arteries and restricts blood flow. Furthermore, certain blood pressure medications can also decrease penile blood flow. Patients should work with their healthcare provider to find the best blood pressure treatment that won’t affect their sex life.

29% have high blood pressure
27% don’t know the physical causes of their ED
23% have low testosterone
23% reported ED as a side effect of medication
19% are overweight/obese
19% have diabetes
13% have high cholesterol and/or clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
10% have heart disease
9% have prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
7% have COPD
7% reported other physical causes of ED (i.e., diet, age, poor circulation, nerve damage)
6% have spinal cord injuries
5% have bladder problems
4% reported ED as a complication of surgery
3% have renal (kidney) disease or failure

35% of respondents report stress causes their ED

ED can also have mental or emotional causes. Daily stressors, performance anxiety, and depression can contribute to the inability to become or stay aroused. Additionally, substance use (including tobacco products, alcohol) can also cause sexual dysfunction. One study found that males who had three or more alcoholic drinks a day or 10 or more cigarettes a day commonly experienced episodic ED.

35% reported that stress causes their ED
32% have anxiety
27% have depression
27% reported substance use as a cause of ED (includes smoking/tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, and using illicit drugs)
20% have low libido
19% don’t know the emotional causes of their ED
16% have low self-esteem
13% reported relationship problems cause their ED
1% reported other mental causes of ED (i.e., schizophrenia, Peyronie’s disease)
22% reported none of the listed causes

39% of respondents never sought treatment for ED

More than a third of respondents reported that they never sought ED treatment. An additional 26% reportedly waited one or more years to seek ED treatment.

5% immediately sought treatment after experiencing ED
7% sought treatment after one to three months of experiencing ED
10% sought treatment after four to six months of experiencing ED
5% sought treatment after seven to nine months of experiencing ED
9% sought treatment after 10 to 12 months of experiencing ED
11% sought treatment after one to two years of experiencing ED
5% sought treatment after two to three years of experiencing ED
3% sought treatment after three to four years of experiencing ED
6% sought treatment after five or more years of experiencing ED
39% never sought ED treatment

Of those who never sought treatment, 37% reported having episodic ED and 35% believe ED is just a natural part of aging.

37% don’t always experience ED
35% believe ED is just a natural part of aging
27% are not concerned enough about ED to seek treatment
20% did not feel comfortable talking to their healthcare provider about ED treatment
17% cannot afford ED treatment or reported that ED treatment is too expensive
13% believe ED will go away on its own without treatment
12% do not have a desire to have sex or reported that sexual health is not an important quality of life for them
8% have a serious illness/chronic health condition that they need to prioritize above ED
6% reported other reasons (i.e., does not have a sexual partner, it only happened once)
6% did not feel comfortable filling their ED prescription
4% do not have a healthcare provider who I can trust
2% reported their healthcare provider was or seemed unwilling to discuss ED with them

Medication, supplements, and exercise were the most popular ED treatments among respondents

Because there are so many possible causes of ED, there are also many treatment options. ED medication such as Viagra or Cialis is the most common treatment among our survey respondents. Deficiencies can also contribute to impotence, so taking vitamin B3, B9, C, D, and L-arginine may help. Exercise and diet changes can also treat the underlying cause of ED, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity. Newer and more invasive treatment options for ED include stem cell therapy, shockwave therapy, and platelet-rich plasma were only reported by 8% of respondents.

63% took ED medication
31% took vitamins, dietary supplements, or herbal remedies for ED
28% exercised to help their ED
20% use testosterone replacement
20% made diet changes to help their ED
13% used meditation
12% participated in talk therapy and/or couples therapy
11% used ED devices (i.e., rings, vacuum pumps, etc.)
9% used prostate massage
7% used acupuncture
4% reported other ED treatments (i.e., changes in medication, injectable drugs)
3% received stem cell therapy
3% used platelet-rich plasma
2% used penile implants
2% used shockwave therapy

64% of respondents spend less than $200 per year for ED treatments

While 17% of respondents reportedly did not seek ED treatment because of its cost, most respondents who did seek treatment paid $200 or less per year (or $17 or less per month) for ED treatment. To maximize savings, those interested in taking ED medication should request a generic drug (sildenafil, tadalafil, etc.), as insurance is more likely to cover generic drugs, and they’re always more affordable than brand names even if you’re paying out of pocket.

19% spent $0 per year on ED treatment
11% spent $1-$50 per year on ED treatment
20% spent $51-$100 per year on ED treatment
14% spent $101-$200 per year on ED treatment
8% spent $201-$300 per year on ED treatment
7% spent $301-$400 per year on ED treatment
7% spent $401-$500 per year on ED treatment
8% spent $501-$750 per year on ED treatment
2% spent $751-$1,000 per year on ED treatment
3% spent $1,001-$2,500 per year on ED treatment
1% spent $2,501-$5,000 per year on ED treatment
Less than 1% spent more than $5,000 per year on ED treatment

34% of respondents pay out of pocket for all ED treatment

Insurance coverage of ED medication and other treatments is hit or miss. It depends on the patient’s insurance plan and deductible. Half of the respondents (53%) who used ED treatment reported that their insurance covered at least some of the cost. Other ways to save on ED treatment include prescription discount cards, mail-order pharmacies, and government programs like the VA or Medicaid.

34% paid out of pocket for all ED treatment
26% reported their insurance partially covered ED treatment
14% used a prescription discount card to get a discount on ED medications
13% reported insurance completely covered ED treatment
10% ordered ED treatment through a mail-order pharmacy
9% reported Medicare completely covered ED treatment
8% used an online U.S. pharmacy to receive more affordable ED medications
5% used an international pharmacy/mail order to receive more affordable ED medications
5% reported Medicare partially covered ED treatment
3% reported other types of payment for ED treatment (i.e., VA, Medicaid)
2% traveled out of state to receive more affordable ED treatments
11% reported none of the listed options

27% of respondents were concerned about receiving a counterfeit ED medication

Although it’s often cheaper, it can be dangerous to purchase medication online or from an international pharmacy. These customers risk receiving counterfeit medication, which can be ineffective and sometimes unsafe to take. Unfortunately, ED drugs are among the most common counterfeit drugs in the world.

Of the survey respondents who had taken ED medications:

29% were reportedly concerned about receiving counterfeit ED medication.
- 10% bought from a local pharmacy
- 9% bought from an online pharmacy
- 6% bought from a mail-order pharmacy
- 3% traveled internationally to purchase
- 1% bought from another source
71% were reportedly not concerned about receiving counterfeit ED medication.
- 52% bought from a local pharmacy
- 11% bought from an online pharmacy
- 5% bought from a mail-order pharmacy
- 2% traveled internationally to purchase
- 1% bought from another source

36% of respondents did not experience side effects of ED medication

The most common side effects of ED medication among our survey takers were consistent with those listed on the FDA website (see Viagra and Cialis side effects). These include headache, upset stomach, back and muscle pain, flushing, and stuffy nose. Still, severe side effects such as vision loss, hearing loss, cardiovascular events, and persistent erections were reported by 40% of respondents.

36% did not experience any side effects
25% had a headache
20% felt dizzy or lightheaded
18% experienced flushing
18% had a stuffy or runny nose
10% had back or muscle pain
10% had an upset stomach or nausea
8% experienced vision loss or changes in one or both eyes, including blurry vision
8% had an erection that lasts longer than four hours (priapism)
7% had hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
6% had a heart attack
5% had an irregular heartbeat
3% had a stroke
3% had an allergic reaction (rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling)
2% reported other side effects (i.e., weakness, anxiety, cramps)

23% of respondents stopped taking ED medication

Side effects are certainly a contributing factor for those who never seek ED treatment and those who stop using ED medication. Our ED survey showed that most people (47%) who take ED medication have been taking it for three years or less. Some ED drugs can be taken every day, while others are only taken as needed. Talk to your healthcare provider about which ED treatment is best for you and how to take it safely and effectively.

71% of respondents currently take ED medication and have been taking it for:
- Six months (11%)
- One year (16%)
- Two years (12%)
- Three years (8%)
- Four years (5%)
- Five years (6%)
- Six years (2%)
- Seven years (1%)
- Eight years (4%)
- Nine years (<1%)
- Ten years or longer (6%)
23% of respondents stopped taking ED medication because …
- Their ED went away (8%)
- ED medication was ineffective (8%)
- ED medication side effects (7%)
None of the above – 6%

Our methodology

SingleCare conducted this erectile dysfunction survey online through AYTM on Nov. 28, 2020. This ED survey data includes 500 U.S. males ages 18+ who reportedly have or have had erectile dysfunction.