The Complete Guide to ED Treatment in Hong Kong

At a glance

Erectile dysfunction (不舉, or 陽痿) affects an estimated one in three men over 40 worldwide.

It isn’t simply a part of getting older. ED often signals an underlying heart or metabolic condition that’s worth catching early. First-line medicines work for most men, and an online consult means you can get a prescription without visiting a clinic.

1What is erectile dysfunction?

ED is when you persistently can’t get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfying sex. Most men have an off night now and then. It becomes a medical concern when it keeps happening and it bothers you.

An erection is about blood flow. Arousal releases nitric oxide in the penis, which relaxes smooth muscle and lets blood in. Anything that disrupts that, like damaged blood vessels, nerve injury, hormones or stress, can play a part.

That’s why ED is so often linked to heart health, and why the medicines that treat it work the way they do.

2How common is ED in Hong Kong?

More common than most people assume. International data suggests ED affects around 30–50% of men aged 40 to 70. Hong Kong-specific studies are limited, but neighbouring East Asian populations show similar patterns.

An ageing population, high rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, and an intense work culture all add to the risk here.

3Causes: body, mind and lifestyle

ED rarely has one cause. Most cases are a mix.

Physical causes

• Heart disease and narrowed arteries, the most common physical cause.
• Diabetes, which damages blood vessels and nerves. Men with diabetes are 2–3 times more likely to have ED.
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Low testosterone, which can lower drive and erections.
• Nerve conditions, like spinal injury or nerve damage after prostate surgery.
• Some medicines, including beta-blockers, some diuretics and SSRIs.

Psychological causes

• Performance anxiety, where fear of it happening again makes it happen again.
• Stress and long hours.
• Depression and anxiety, and some of their treatments.
• Relationship difficulties.

A sign it’s more mind than body: morning erections are still there, and it depends on the situation.

Lifestyle

• Smoking, which raises the risk significantly.
• Weight and inactivity. In one trial, diet and exercise improved erections in men with obesity.
• Heavy drinking, which affects nerves and testosterone.
• Poor sleep.

4Types of ED

• Organic: a physical cause, most often blood flow. More common with age.
• Psychogenic: no physical cause; stress, anxiety or low mood. More common under 40.
• Mixed: the most common in practice. A bit of both.
• Drug-induced: a side effect of another medicine. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor.

5ED medicines compared

PDE5 inhibitors are the first-line treatment for ED worldwide. They help the natural response to arousal, so they only work when you’re aroused. They don’t cause erections on their own.

• Sildenafil (Viagra®): works in 30–60 minutes and lasts around 4–6 hours. The longest track record, and the most affordable as a generic. Best on an empty stomach or after a light meal.
• Tadalafil (Cialis®): works in 30–60 minutes and lasts up to 36 hours, hence “the weekend pill”. Food barely affects it, and a 5 mg daily dose means there’s nothing to time.

Compare our ED treatments side by side →

6Online consults in Hong Kong

ED suits an online consult: a doctor can assess it from your history and symptoms, and you skip the waiting room.

1. 1Answer a health questionnaire. A few minutes, privately.
2. 2Talk to a doctor. By text or video.
3. 3Get a prescription, if it’s right for you.
4. 4Discreet delivery, free, in as little as 4 hours.

Some things need an in-person check, like chest pain, a recent heart problem or a sudden change. Your doctor will tell you if that’s the case.

7What ED treatment costs

Indicative ranges in Hong Kong, which vary by provider:

• Private clinic consult: HK$500–1,500.
• Online consult: HK$0–500. Ours is from $200.
• Generic sildenafil: HK$30–80 a tablet.
• Generic tadalafil: HK$40–100 a tablet.
• Brand-name Viagra® or Cialis®: HK$80–180 a tablet.

8Lifestyle changes that help

• Move more. Regular exercise supports blood flow.
• Quit smoking.
• Manage your weight.
• Drink less.
• Deal with stress. Sleep, boundaries on work, and someone to talk to.

9When to see a doctor

If it keeps happening and it bothers you, that’s reason enough. Tell your doctor how long it’s been going on, any health conditions and medicines, and whether morning erections are still there.

10Questions

References include Yafi FA et al., Nat Rev Dis Primers 2016; Esposito K et al., JAMA 2004; Hatzimouratidis K, Eur Urol 2007. This article is for general information only and isn’t medical advice. Treatment outcomes vary. Always follow your prescribing doctor’s instructions.