
We Need to Talk About Erectile Dysfunction: 38% of Canadian Men Don't Know You Need a Prescription for ED Medication
Article content
Article content
– This Men's Health Week, Phoenix is addressing misconceptions around erectile dysfunction to raise awareness for treatment and break the social stigma –
Article content
Article content
TORONTO — For Men's Health Week (June 9 to 15), Phoenix, Canada's leading digital health clinic for men, is raising awareness to break the stigma around erectile dysfunction (ED), a medical condition that affects almost half (49.4%) of Canadian men aged 40 to 88.
Article content
ED is a medical condition that prevents the ability to get and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, with a range of potential causes that could each contribute to the condition, including age, medications, injury, and lifestyle. Despite its prevalence, Phoenix's survey of more than 1,500 Canadians found that there is a significant lack of awareness around ED and its treatment, likely contributing to stigma surrounding the condition.
Article content
CANADIANS UNDERESTIMATE THE REACH OF ED
Article content
Despite nearly half of Canadian men over 40 being affected, ED's prevalence is underestimated, driving undue stigma. In fact, almost half of Canadians (45%) think that ED affects less than 40 per cent of men 40+. Twenty-seven per cent of Canadians think it affects less than 30 per cent of men 40+.
Article content
While Canadians underestimate the prevalence of ED in middle-aged and older men, many are also unaware that the condition can also impact younger men. The survey found that 64 per cent of Canadians don't know that men aged 35 and younger can experience ED. That percentage grows as you look at younger men, with 71% of Canadians unaware that men aged 18 to 25 can be affected. This common misconception can contribute to the stigma around experiencing ED as a younger man, making it more difficult for those struggling to seek care.
Article content
'ED is a medical condition that men of all ages can experience. There shouldn't be anything awkward about it, but there is. We're trying to change that,' says Kevin Bache, co-founder and co-CEO of Phoenix. 'While it may feel uncomfortable, men need to understand what the condition entails, and not shy away from being proactive in discussing it with a doctor. The sooner you get started, the better your chances are at finding mental and physical relief.'
Article content
Treatment for ED and its underlying cause can vary greatly depending on a patient's prognosis, however, medication is a common and effective treatment. Despite this fact, Phoenix's survey found 18 per cent of men are unsure if ED is treatable with medication, revealing a lack of awareness that may leave many suffering needlessly.
Article content
The data also highlighted a concerning gap in awareness that ED medication requires a prescription
Article content
. Thirty-eight per cent of men are unsure or don't think they need a prescription to purchase medication, such as Viagra, for ED. However, the lack of awareness is most significant among younger Canadians.
Article content
About three in five
Article content
Gen Z (59%) don't know that you need a prescription for ED medication:
Article content
32 per cent are unsure, and 27 per cent don't think you need a prescription at all.
Article content
It is important that Canadians know that ED medication requires a prescription from a medical professional, as they may otherwise be vulnerable to purchasing unauthorized sexual enhancement products sold over the counter, which Health Canada warns could pose serious health risks.
'It's no surprise that people aren't aware of the prevalence of ED – it just doesn't get talked about enough. But the good news is, there are treatment options, and with more openness and awareness, more people can seek support immediately,' says Gavin Thompson, co-founder and co-CEO of Phoenix. 'We built Phoenix to change that. Our mission is simple: make expert care easy to access – fast, discreet, and doctor-led. We're building a future where men take charge of their health with confidence.'
Article content
WHAT CANADIANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ED
Article content
ED can affect men at any age, but it becomes more common as you get older.
ED is more common than you may think, affecting almost half of Canadian men aged 40 to 88.
Many factors can cause ED, including: low levels of testosterone, nervous dysfunction, blood flow complications, medications, medical conditions, lifestyle factors, obesity, diet, drug abuse, smoking, and emotional or psychological complications.
ED is highly treatable, but the first step is consulting a medical professional. Treatment for erectile dysfunction and its underlying cause can vary greatly, making it important to consult a medical professional to receive a diagnosis and devise an effective treatment strategy.
ED medication requires a prescription from a medical professional.
Article content
Phoenix is currently available in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland. To learn more about Phoenix's ED support, visit https://www.phoenix.ca/treatments/erectile-dysfunction.
Article content
ABOUT PHOENIX
Article content
Phoenix is Canada's leading digital health clinic for men, specializing in three areas of treatment – erectile dysfunction, weight loss, and hair loss. The telehealth platform facilitates access to licensed Canadian physicians, treatment options, and free, discreet shipping of prescription medication from coast to coast. Visit Phoenix.ca to learn more.
Article content
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Article content
These findings are from a survey conducted by Phoenix from May 20th to May 22nd, 2025, among a representative sample of 1509 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Contacts
Article content
MEDIA
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Globe and Mail
34 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Vaccine stocks muted as investors assess Kennedy's overhaul of key panel
Shares of global vaccine makers were mixed on Tuesday, as investors assessed U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s surprising decision to fire all 17 members of a key expert panel late on Monday. Shares of U.S. vaccine maker Moderna (MRNA-Q) fell 2 per cent while Novavax (NVAX-Q) was down marginally. Merck (MRX-N) and Pfizer (PFE-N) rose between 1.4 per cent and 2 per cent. European shares of AstraZeneca (AZN-Q) closed slightly higher, while BioNTech (BNTX-Q) closed marginally lower. Analysts and investors said that while the unprecedented dismissals of all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) represented a risk for vaccine makers, the weak performance of those stocks in 2025 suggested that Kennedy's skepticism around vaccines was already factored in. Shares of most big drugmakers are down in 2025, compared with a 2-per-cent gain in the S&P 500 index. Since his appointment as health secretary under President Donald Trump, Kennedy has made several changes to reshape the regulation of vaccines, food and medicine. However, firing members of the ACIP remains his most far-reaching move yet. 'For vaccine makers, policy risk has already been cemented into share prices,' Morningstar analyst Karen Anderson said, even though the move was sudden and went against the promises that Kennedy made to Senator Bill Cassidy before his appointment was confirmed. Mr. Kennedy's decision comes less than three weeks before the next panel meeting, where the committee is slated to discuss recommendations for who should receive vaccines for diseases like respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. 'It seems difficult to refill the panel with experts before the June 25th meeting,' said Jeff Jonas, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds. 'But it's clearly going to be more difficult and more expensive to get future vaccines approved, and I'd expect to see less industry focus and effort here,' Jonas added, despite recent positive news such as the limited approval of Novavax's COVID shot and Merck's RSV therapy. Some analysts expressed concerns that the new committee members, who have not been named, might be more sympathetic to Mr. Kennedy's views on vaccines, an idea shared by scientific experts and doctors. Although the makeup of a reconstituted ACIP is yet to be determined, 'new members will likely be sympathetic to at least some of RFK's beliefs regarding alleged dangers of vaccines,' Leerink analyst Daina Graybosch wrote in a note. Ms. Graybosch said that the move could negatively impact approved vaccine recommendations and increase the burden of evidence and costs for future vaccine development. It is unclear when Mr. Kennedy will announce the new members, who the agency said are under consideration, or whether the agenda will follow the meeting description posted on the Federal Register on Monday. Be smart with your money. Get the latest investing insights delivered right to your inbox three times a week, with the Globe Investor newsletter. Sign up today.


CBC
37 minutes ago
- CBC
N.S. government prepares engagement table on gender-based violence
A new engagement group on gender-based violence is intended to bring together subject matter experts, people with lived experience and front-line workers as the Nova Scotia government seeks progress on an issue the legislature declared an epidemic last year. Justice Minister Becky Druhan, who is leading the work, said the approach is based on a similar engagement group used to focus on child care when she was education minister. "It has proven to be a very effective way to ensure that sector and community has real, significant and meaningful input into government work," she said in an interview. Druhan said applications will open soon for up to 25 spots. The group's terms of reference and priorities will be finalized soon and then made public. The minister expects the first meeting to happen in the fall and for subsequent meetings at least once every three months. Bringing together insights and knowledge Although the government appreciates the work the sector is doing, Druhan said officials have also heard feedback that there needs to be a way to "knit together the insights and understanding and knowledge of first voices, of families and survivors and those who work on the front line" with the work the government is doing or planning. During the last meeting of the legislature's standing committee on health, the Liberals put forward a motion to create such a roundtable. A vote had been scheduled for Wednesday's committee meeting. In a news release, the party welcomed Druhan's announcement. "When we listen to the people doing this difficult work every day, and to those directly impacted, we can create better policies that save lives," Liberal MLA Iain Rankin said in the release. "I want to thank the presenters who supported the motion last month. Their insights helped build momentum for this important step. I'm hopeful that this initiative leads to real, coordinated action that helps those who need it most." Despite the Liberal motion, Druhan said the idea of an engagement table was something government officials had previously discussed with people connected to the sector. Must lead to change NDP Leader Claudia Chender said in a statement that the new group would only be successful if it leads to change. "We know what the problems are — and we know what must be done. The recommendations from the Mass Casualty Commission, the Lionel Desmond inquiry, and the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls — all provide us with a path forward. Now we need to do the work." For Chender, stable core funding for organizations that work to address and prevent gender-based violence would be a good first step. After tabling its budget earlier this year, the Progressive Conservatives announced additional funding for transition houses amid concerns there was not enough money being directed at the issue. That new money came after seven women were killed in Nova Scotia in less than five months whose deaths were connected to their male partners.


CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
N.S. reforms for people with disabilities behind schedule but has momentum: province
Vicky Levack, who lives with cerebral palsy, smiles as she adjusts to her new living accommodation in Halifax on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government says its five-year plan to bring about sweeping reforms in housing and care for people with disabilities is behind schedule but gaining momentum. In October 2021, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled that the province was systemically discriminating against people with disabilities. The government was subsequently ordered to make reforms, including to move people out of large institutions and into small homes in the community where they can live independently. However, in a progress report released today the province says only 189 people have left large institutions, a number that is about two-thirds of the goal the government had set for the spring. Scott Armstrong, the minister of social development, says there were delays in finding staff to oversee the transfers to community living, but adds that hiring programs are catching up. The department also says it has succeeded in reducing a wait-list for disabilities services by 293 people, exceeding the plan's original targets. The Disability Rights Coalition — the advocacy group that led the original court case — says the premier's office should be more directly involved in keeping the plan on track. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025. The Canadian Press