Beyond the Symptoms: Understanding Erectile Dysfunction in Practice
Course code: A162Course summary
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common presentation in primary care and may be associated with significant physical and psychological health concerns, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This practical half-day virtual course, delivered live via Zoom, will equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and confidence to assess, investigate and manage erectile dysfunction in primary care, while communicating sensitively about sexual health.
Who should attend?
This live virtual course is designed for UK primary care healthcare professionals involved in the assessment and management of adult patients, including:
- Nurse Practitioners and Practice Nurses
- Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs)
- Physician Associates
- Pharmacists working in primary care
- Other clinicians involved in men’s health consultations
Important notes
This course runs from 09:30am- 1:00pm and is delivered virtually on Zoom.
Cost
| Course duration | Course CPD | Full price (incl VAT) per person |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 day(s) | 3.5 hour(s) | £99 |
Discounts
| Dates | Block size | Block discount |
|---|---|---|
| 25/11/2026 | 4 | 10% |
| 10/03/2027 | 4 | 10% |
| 09/06/2027 | 4 | 10% |
Dates / venues
| Location - venue | Dates | No. of people |
|---|
Aims / objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define erectile dysfunction and understand its epidemiology and prevalence in primary care
- Identify the physical, psychological and lifestyle-related causes of erectile dysfunction
- Undertake a structured assessment of erectile dysfunction, including focused history taking, examination and appropriate investigations
- Recognise erectile dysfunction as a potential marker of wider health concerns, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes
- Understand first-line and second-line treatment options, including lifestyle measures, pharmacological management and referral pathways
- Manage erectile dysfunction in the context of common comorbidities and concurrent medications
- Communicate sensitively and professionally with patients about sexual health concerns
Course programme
Understanding Erectile Dysfunction
- Definition and classification of erectile dysfunction
- Epidemiology and prevalence
- The impact of ED on quality of life and wellbeing
- Erectile dysfunction as a marker of wider health risk
Causes and Contributing Factors
- Physical causes of ED
- Psychological contributors including anxiety, depression and relationship factors
- Lifestyle influences (smoking, alcohol, obesity and inactivity)
- Medication-related erectile dysfunction
Assessment in Primary Care
- Conducting a structured sexual and medical history
- Identifying red flags and underlying pathology
- Focused examination in primary care
- Appropriate investigations and screening
- Considering cardiovascular and metabolic risk
Management of Erectile Dysfunction
- Lifestyle modification and risk reduction
- First-line pharmacological management
- Second-line treatment options and specialist referral
- Managing treatment expectations and adherence
Erectile Dysfunction and Comorbidities
- Diabetes and erectile dysfunction
- Cardiovascular disease and ED risk assessment
- Hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Medication reviews and optimisation
Communication and Consultation Skills
- Approaching conversations about sexual health sensitively
- Managing embarrassment, stigma and patient concerns
- Shared decision-making and patient-centred care
- Supporting patients and partners where appropriate
Led by
TBA
Participant Voices!
PV- (Physicians Associate) "An excellent and very practical course. It gave me much more confidence in discussing erectile dysfunction with patients and reminded me to think beyond the presenting symptom to wider cardiovascular and metabolic risk.”
KR-(Advanced Nurse Practitioner) “Really engaging and clinically relevant. I particularly valued the guidance on sensitive communication and how to manage what can often feel like awkward consultations more confidently.”
HY- (Practice Nurse) “A comprehensive overview with clear, evidence-based advice that I can immediately apply in practice. The sections on treatment options and medication reviews were especially useful.”
AN- (Advanced Nurse Practitioner) “One of the most useful men’s health courses I’ve attended. It highlighted the importance of ED as a marker of underlying disease and has definitely changed how I assess patients in clinic.”
How practical is this course for day-to-day consultations in primary care?
This course is highly practical and designed to support healthcare professionals in confidently assessing and managing erectile dysfunction in routine consultations. It focuses on structured assessment, evidence-based treatment options, identifying wider health risks, and improving confidence in sensitive conversations with patients.
Will the course cover how erectile dysfunction links to wider health conditions?
Yes. Erectile dysfunction is often an early indicator of broader health concerns. The course explores the relationship between ED and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome, helping clinicians identify opportunities for earlier intervention and risk reduction.
Does the course address the psychological and relationship aspects of erectile dysfunction?
Absolutely. Erectile dysfunction is often multifactorial. The course examines psychological contributors including anxiety, depression and relationship factors, while also exploring how to approach sensitive discussions, reduce stigma and support patients holistically.
I sometimes find conversations about sexual health difficult to initiate — will this course help?
Yes. A key focus of the course is communication and consultation skills. Participants will explore practical ways to approach conversations about erectile dysfunction sensitively, manage embarrassment or stigma, and involve patients in shared decision-making to improve outcomes.