3 Big Myths About ED Pills You Need to Stop Believing

More than 1 in 4 Australian men aged 18–64 have experienced erectile dysfunction (ED), and over half report at least one sexual difficulty in a year.

That’s not just blokes in their 60s. It includes tradies in their 20s, dads in their 30s, professionals in their 40s – and probably a few of your mates who’d never admit it at Friday knock‑offs.

Yet even though ED is incredibly common, most men still deal with it in the same way:

• Quietly Google “Viagra” at midnight
• Hope the problem fixes itself
• Feel more anxious next time things don’t work

We see this pattern all the time in our telehealth consultations at NextClinic. As an Australian online clinic that helps men with ED treatment in Australia every day, we hear the same fears and the same erectile dysfunction myths on repeat.

So in this article, we’re going to tackle three of the biggest ones – the myths that stop men from getting safe, effective help:

1. “ED pills are only for old men.”
2. “Viagra gives you an instant, automatic erection that fixes everything.”
3. “ED pills are dangerous, addictive, and will wreck my natural erections.”

We’ll break down:

• The real Viagra facts and sildenafil misconceptions
• How ED pills actually work (and when they don’t)
• What safe, evidence‑based ED treatment in Australia looks like
• How services like ours fit into the picture without the awkward waiting room

This is general information for Australian residents, not personal medical advice. But by the end, you’ll be better equipped to decide if it’s time to speak with your GP or one of our online doctors – and to do it without shame.

Quick refresher: what do ED pills actually do?

Before we bust the myths, it helps to know what we’re talking about.

Most commonly used “ED pills” are in a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. In Australia, the main ones are:

• Sildenafil – best known as Viagra®
• Tadalafil – best known as Cialis®
• Vardenafil
• Avanafil (Spedra®)

They all work in a similar way:

• When you’re sexually aroused, your body releases nitric oxide in the penis.
• Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels so more blood can flow in.
• PDE5 inhibitors boost and prolong this natural process, making it easier to get and keep an erection.

Crucially:

• They do not create sexual desire.
• They do not cause an automatic erection – you still need sexual stimulation.
• They do not protect against STIs or pregnancy.
• They are symptom treatments, not a “cure” for all causes of ED.

In Australia, these medicines are Schedule 4 (prescription‑only). You legally need a prescription from a doctor, whether you visit a GP in person or use a reputable telehealth service.

If you’d like a deeper dive into how the different pills compare, we’ve broken it down in:

• Our guide [“Tadalafil vs Sildenafil: Which Suits Your Weekend Best?”](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/tadalafil-vs-sildenafil-which-suits-your-weekend-best)
• Our overview [“ED Medications: Your Complete Guide to Treatment Options”](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/ed-medications-your-complete-guide-to-treatment-options)

For now, let’s clear up the biggest myths about these medicines.

Myth 1: “ED pills are only for old men”

If you picture ED pills as something your grandad keeps hidden in his sock drawer, you’re not alone. Advertising and jokes often frame erectile dysfunction as an “old man’s problem”.

The reality: ED affects men of all ages – including young Aussies

Australian data tell a very different story:

• The national Ten to Men study found that 26% of Australian men aged 18–64 reported erectile dysfunction.
• Another large Australian survey found that 54% of men aged 18–55 had at least one sexual difficulty over a 12‑month period.
• A Healthy Male review of young men (18–25) reported ED in about 30% of participants (most cases mild).

In other words: ED is more common in older men, but it’s absolutely not rare in your 20s or 30s.

Younger men are often dealing with a slightly different mix of factors:

• Performance anxiety (“What if it happens again?”)
• Stress and burnout – work, study, money worries
• Porn‑related expectations about what sex “should” look like
• Mental health issues like depression or anxiety
• Sometimes early physical issues – high blood pressure, weight, smoking, heavy drinking

That doesn’t mean every 25‑year‑old with a bad night needs medication. But it does mean:

"If ED is happening often enough to worry you, you’re not “too young” to get it checked out."

So when do ED pills make sense for younger men?

For many younger men, a doctor might first focus on:

• Stress and mental health
• Alcohol, smoking, drugs
• Relationship dynamics
• Sleep, exercise, and weight

But if:

• The problem has been going on for a while
• It happens in different situations (not just once after a huge night)
• You’ve worked on lifestyle/mental health and it’s still an issue

…then a trial of ED medication – alongside addressing the root causes – can be very reasonable.

This is something we see at NextClinic all the time: younger men using a low‑dose pill as a confidence “bridge” while they work on lifestyle, alcohol or anxiety.

The real takeaway

• ED is common at every adult age, not just after 60.
• You’re not “too young” to talk to a doctor, but you might need more than pills alone.
• A good ED plan looks at the whole picture – mind, body, and relationship – not just your prescription.

If you’re curious what a proper assessment looks like, our ED information page walks through it step‑by‑step: [ED Treatment Online | NextClinic Australia](https://nextclinic.com.au/mens-health/erectile-dysfunction)

Myth 2: “Viagra gives you an instant, porn‑star erection that fixes everything”

This is probably the most persistent of all erectile dysfunction myths.

You take a little blue pill, and 15 minutes later you’ve got a rock‑hard erection that lasts all night, no matter what else is going on… right?

Not quite.

Viagra facts: what sildenafil can and can’t do

Based on Australian and international guidance, here’s what sildenafil (Viagra) actually does:

• Timing
  • Usually starts working in 30–60 minutes
  • Lasts up to around 4 hours (meaning a window in which erections are easier, not a 4‑hour erection)
• Conditions
  • Works best if taken on an empty or light stomach – a big, fatty pub meal can slow it down and blunt the effect
  • Requires sexual arousal and stimulation to work at all
• Limits
  • It doesn’t increase sexual desire
  • It doesn’t fix severe nerve damage, very low testosterone, or major relationship issues on its own
  • It doesn’t permanently cure ED; it works when it’s in your system

So if you take it after a heavy dinner, or when you’re exhausted and stressed, or while you’re anxiously waiting to see if an erection magically appears with no foreplay… it might seem like it “does nothing”.

That’s not because the medicine is fake or useless – it’s because the expectation is off.

Why ED pills sometimes “don’t work” (and what to do about it)

When men tell a doctor that “Viagra doesn’t work”, the problem is often:

• Wrong dose (too low)
• Wrong timing (taking it and trying to have sex 5 minutes later)
• Wrong conditions (full stomach, heavy drinking)
• No real stimulation (just sitting there waiting for magic)
• Underlying health issue that needs more work (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes, severe anxiety)

Australian GP guidance actually recommends that men try a PDE5 inhibitor several times, at an appropriate dose and under the right conditions, before deciding it has “failed”.

That’s something we talk through a lot in telehealth consults:

• What dose did you use?
• How did you take it – with food, alcohol, what timing?
• Were you actually turned on and stimulated?
• What else is going on with your health?

ED pills are one part of the puzzle – not the whole picture

Even when pills work brilliantly, the best ED outcomes usually also involve:

• Heart health checks – because ED can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease
• Lifestyle changes – more movement, better sleep, less smoking, more balanced drinking
• Mental health support – especially for long‑standing anxiety or stress
• Honest conversations with partners – which often reduce pressure and improve arousal

If you want help matching a medicine to your lifestyle (weekend trips vs occasional date nights vs long‑term relationships), our post [“Tadalafil vs Sildenafil: Which Suits Your Weekend Best?”](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/tadalafil-vs-sildenafil-which-suits-your-weekend-best) breaks down real‑world scenarios in detail.

For a big‑picture overview of treatment, including non‑pill options, check out [“ED Medications: Your Complete Guide to Treatment Options”](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/ed-medications-your-complete-guide-to-treatment-options).

Myth 3: “ED pills are dangerous, addictive, or will wreck my natural erections”

Many men are quietly worried that if they start ED medication:

• Their body will “forget” how to get an erection naturally
• They’ll become dependent or addicted
• The pills are dangerous in themselves – especially if they’re younger

There are real safety considerations with ED medicines, but they’re probably not the ones you’ve heard about.

First: ED pills have a strong safety record when prescribed properly

Australian clinical guidance and major international reviews consistently describe PDE5 inhibitors as first‑line, generally safe treatments for most men with ED, when used under medical supervision.

Key points:

• They’ve been used worldwide for decades in millions of patients.
• Serious side effects are rare.
• Most side effects (headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion) are mild and short‑lived, and stop when you stop the medicine.
• They are not known to cause permanent damage to the penis or erectile tissue when used at normal doses.

Are they risk‑free? No. But very few common medicines are.

Which brings us to the actual safety issues.

When ED pills are dangerous

The biggest risks with ED medication come from:

1. Taking them when your heart can’t handle sex
   • If you have very unstable heart disease or have been told sex itself is risky, pills that make sex easier can indirectly be dangerous.
   • This is why GPs (or our telehealth doctors) ask about chest pain, breathlessness, and recent heart events before prescribing.
2. Mixing them with certain medicines
   • The big one: nitrates for chest pain (GTN spray, nitroglycerin tablets, isosorbide mononitrate, and recreational “poppers”).
   • Combining nitrates with PDE5 inhibitors can cause a sudden, dangerous drop in blood pressure.
3. Buying unregulated pills online or “herbal” sex boosters

This is a huge issue. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has repeatedly found “natural” or overseas‑branded sex pills that secretly contain prescription‑strength sildenafil or tadalafil – without any label, dosing information, or safety checks.

A few real examples from TGA safety alerts:

• Products like “Australia tablets” and “H.R.D. Tablets” were found to contain undeclared sildenafil and/or tadalafil.
• These products had not been assessed for safety or quality.
• The TGA warns they can interact with other medicines (especially nitrates) and may pose serious health risks.

In short: the sketchy “herbal booster” you buy from an overseas website or a random online marketplace can contain:

• Unknown doses of powerful ED drugs
• Possibly contaminated or poorly manufactured ingredients
• No proper safety information or doctor oversight

That’s where ED pills become genuinely risky.

Are ED pills addictive or bad for “natural” erections?

Biologically, PDE5 inhibitors are not addictive in the way drugs like nicotine or opioids are:

• They don’t create a chemical “craving” or withdrawal syndrome.
• You can stop them, and they’re out of your system in a day or two (a bit longer for tadalafil).

However, men can develop a psychological reliance – feeling they “must” take the pill every time to perform. That’s not a chemical addiction, but more about confidence and anxiety.

The good news:

• Many men find that early success with medication breaks the anxiety spiral.
• Once they’ve had a run of good experiences, some are able to reduce dose, switch to occasional use, or even stop – especially if they’ve also improved underlying factors (fitness, alcohol, stress, relationship tension).

If your ED is due to ongoing physical problems (e.g. long‑term diabetes or nerve damage), you may need ongoing medication. That doesn’t mean your body is “ruined” by the pills – it means the condition causing ED is still there, and the pill is helping you work around it, much like glasses help you see.

How to use ED pills safely in Australia

If you’re considering ED medication, these are the safety basics:

• See a doctor first – in person or via reputable telehealth. Be honest about:
  • Heart history
  • Other medications (especially nitrates and blood pressure tablets)
  • Alcohol, drugs, and supplements
• Use prescription‑only meds from an Australian pharmacy, not mystery pills from overseas sites.
• Follow dosing instructions – more is not always better and can increase side effects.
• Seek urgent help if you get:
  • Chest pain
  • A painful erection lasting more than 4 hours
  • Sudden loss of vision or hearing

At NextClinic, all ED scripts are issued by Australian‑registered doctors who follow evidence‑based guidelines and TGA rules. We either:

• Arrange discreet home delivery from partner pharmacies, or
• Send you an eScript so you can fill it at your local chemist

More detail on how that works is on our [ED Medication Online](https://nextclinic.com.au/mens-health/erectile-dysfunction) page.

Beyond pills: your erections are a health signal, not just a “performance score”

One of the most important – and least discussed – truths about ED is this:

"Your erections are often an early barometer of your overall health."

Australian and international research now treats persistent ED as a potential early marker of cardiovascular disease – sometimes appearing years before chest pain or breathlessness.

Common underlying contributors include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes or pre‑diabetes
• Obesity and low physical activity
• Smoking and heavy alcohol use
• Depression and anxiety
• Certain prescription medications

The silver lining? Many of the same steps that protect your heart also support better erections:

• Quit smoking or vaping nicotine
• Move your body daily – even a 30‑minute brisk walk is a great start
• Keep alcohol within national guidelines (no more than 10 standard drinks a week, and no more than 4 on any one day).
• Sleep enough and manage stress
• Talk openly with your partner instead of suffering in silence

If you suspect alcohol is part of the problem, our post [“Can One Night of Drinking Cause ED?”](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/can-one-night-of-drinking-cause-ed) goes deep on “whiskey dick”, long‑term drinking and erections, and what to do next.

What ED treatment in Australia actually looks like

Whether you see a local GP or use an online service like ours, a proper ED assessment should feel more like a whole‑health check‑up than a quick script.

Typically, a clinician will:

1. Take a medical and sexual history
   • When did the problem start?
   • Is it situational (only with one partner, or only after drinking) or consistent?
   • How are your morning erections?
   • What medications and supplements are you taking?
2. Review heart and metabolic risks
   • Blood pressure, weight, waist measurement
   • Diabetes risk, cholesterol, family history
3. Check for psychological factors
   • Stress, anxiety, mood, trauma, relationship context
4. Order sensible blood tests where needed
   • Often includes blood sugar, cholesterol, and sometimes a morning testosterone level
5. Discuss treatment options
   • Lifestyle and mental health changes
   • ED medications (which one, what dose, timing)
   • When injections, pumps, or specialist referral might be appropriate

At NextClinic, we do this via a confidential online questionnaire plus a phone consult with an Australian‑registered practitioner. You can learn more about the process – and our different plans – on our [ED Treatment Online](https://nextclinic.com.au/mens-health/erectile-dysfunction) page.

If you’re a partner reading this

ED is rarely “just” one person’s problem. It can affect:

• Both partners’ confidence
• How connected you feel
• Willingness to be intimate at all

If your partner is struggling with ED:

• Try to separate their erections from your attractiveness – ED is often about blood flow, hormones or anxiety, not desire.
• Let them know you’d be supportive of them seeing a doctor.
• Emphasise that sex can still be enjoyable in many ways while they sort it out.
• Consider attending part of a consult (if they’re comfortable) to ask questions and understand the plan.

A supportive partner can make a huge difference to both treatment success and mental wellbeing.

Bringing it all together: 3 myths, 3 truths

Let’s recap the key points.

Myth 1: “ED pills are only for old men”

Truth: ED is common across the life span – including in younger men. Medication can be appropriate at many ages, but it should be part of a broader look at physical and mental health.

Myth 2: “Viagra gives you an instant, automatic erection that fixes everything”

Truth: ED pills help your body respond to sexual arousal; they don’t create it. They need the right dose, timing and conditions, and they work best alongside lifestyle and psychological support.

Myth 3: “ED pills are dangerous, addictive, or will wreck my natural erections”

Truth: Prescribed ED medicines have a strong safety record when used correctly. The biggest dangers come from unregulated pills, mixing with nitrates, and ignoring underlying health problems – not from the medicines themselves.

Your next step: choose one action this week

Information is useful – but change happens when you do something with it.

This week, pick one of these actions:

• Book a consult – with your GP or through our online ED service – if ED has been bothering you for more than a few weeks.
• Have a real chat with your partner about what’s been happening and how you’re feeling.
• Tidy up one lifestyle factor – for example, stick within the alcohol guidelines for a week, or walk briskly for 30 minutes most days.
• Stop taking mystery “herbal” sex pills and talk to a doctor about proper, prescription ED medication instead.
• Read one deeper resource:
  • Our [ED Medications guide](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/ed-medications-your-complete-guide-to-treatment-options), or
  • [Can One Night of Drinking Cause ED?](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/can-one-night-of-drinking-cause-ed) if alcohol is part of the picture.

We’d love to hear from you:

Which myth did you secretly believe – and what’s the one change you’re going to try this week?

Share your thoughts or experience in the comments. Your story might be exactly what another Aussie bloke needs to see to finally reach out for help.

References

• The health of men in Australia - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
• Erectile dysfunction medicines | healthdirect
• Sildenafil (Viagra) | healthdirect
• Health and lifestyle factors associated with sexual difficulties in men – results from a study of Australian men aged 18 to 55 years | BMC Public Health | Full Text
• Sexual dysfunctions among young men: prevalence and associated factors | Healthy Male
• RACGP - Much more than prescribing a pill – Assessment and treatment of erectile dysfunction by the general practitioner
• H.R.D. Tablets | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Alcohol | NHMRC

FAQs