Criminals exploit ‘stigma and embarrassment’ to sell fake erectile dysfunction drugs | Men’s health
Men have been warned against illegally buying erectile dysfunction pills online after almost 20 million pills – enough to fill two double-decker buses – were seized over the past five years.
The “stigma and embarrassment” around erectile dysfunction is being “exploited by criminals”, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Between 2021 and 2025, the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, working closely with Border Force to intercept shipments, seized around 19.5 million doses of erectile dysfunction drugs, the equivalent of a single dose for three in four adult men in the UK. Most of the pills seized contained no active ingredients, the wrong dose, hidden medications or toxic ingredients, the MHRA said.
Erectile dysfunction drugs remain one of the most frequently seized illegally marketed drugs in the UK, with annual seizures more than doubling since 2022.
“Stigma and embarrassment are being exploited by criminals who sell fake medicines which can seriously harm your health,” said Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit. “These seizures show the scale of the illegal market for erectile dysfunction drugs in the UK – and the risks people are taking without realizing it. »
Alongside large seizures, the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit said it had stepped up action against online sellers. Working with internet service providers, the regulator said it disrupted more than 1,500 websites and social media accounts illegally selling medical products to the public in 2025 and removed more than 1,200 social media posts.
“Any medicine not authorized for sale in the UK may be dangerous or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what it contains or the negative health effects it may have,” Morling said. “These pills may appear genuine, but many of them are potentially dangerous.
“I am incredibly pleased that we have taken almost 20 million doses of unauthorized erectile dysfunction drugs off the streets, including 4.4 million last year alone, in what was a record year of total seizures for the MHRA. Each of these products was potentially dangerous to the public.”
Erectile dysfunction is a very common condition, affecting around half of men aged 40 to 70. Research suggests two in five men avoid seeing a doctor, with some turning to unregulated online sellers.
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, president of the Royal College of GPs, said: “We strongly advise patients not to buy prescription medicines, including erectile dysfunction treatments, from unregulated online sources. Ultimately, they don’t know what they are buying – or how it may interact with any other medicines they are taking – and this can be dangerous.”
Unapproved erectile dysfunction medications can be especially dangerous for people with heart disease or high blood pressure, or those taking other medications, and they can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and dangerous low blood pressure.
Tzortziou Brown said GPs were trained to have sensitive and confidential conversations on the subject – and did so frequently. “Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be a warning sign of other underlying health problems, including heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure. So, by trying to resolve it without seeing a doctor, people risk missing these problems,” she said.
The MHRA advises avoiding buying medicines on social media or unfamiliar websites and visiting the #FakeMeds website for information on how to obtain medicines online safely. It is also possible to check whether online pharmacies based in Great Britain are registered on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) website. The advice is to speak to a GP or pharmacist about safe and effective treatment options.
