What Makes Men Switch ED Treatment Formats?
Why are men switching ED medications? A ZipHealth survey reveals what drives the change, why some return to pills, and what matters most.
The traditional erectile dysfunction (ED) pill is getting some competition as men explore new ways to take their medication. Worldwide searches for “sublingual ED” rose 342% over the past year, according to Glimpse, signaling growing curiosity about alternatives that dissolve in the mouth.
To understand what's driving this interest, ZipHealth surveyed 342 American men who currently use ED medication about their experiences with pills, chewables, and dissolvable formats. More than half had switched away from traditional pills, but their experiences revealed that convenience and expectations don't always match reality.
Key takeaways
- Over half of men who use ED medication (55%) have switched away from the pill.
- 7 in 10 men who use ED medication would take a bad-tasting format if it worked faster.
- Nearly 3 in 5 men who use ED medication have taken it without their partner knowing.
- More than 1 in 3 men taking chewable or dissolving ED medication think it works faster just because of its form.
- More than 1 in 4 men who paid more for a “faster” ED treatment say it didn’t deliver.
Why men are switching ED medication formats and switching back
- More than half of men who use ED medication have switched away from the pill.
- Nearly 4 in 5 men who have switched ED medication format (79%) said it was their idea, while 14% said it was a doctor’s recommendation and 4% their partner's recommendation.
- Over half of men who switched away from ED pills (58%) later went back to them. Effectiveness was the top reason (43%), followed by price (19%), availability (13%), mouthfeel or texture (10%), and taste (6%).
- 12% of men who use ED medication don’t know whether their treatment is an FDA-approved product or a compounded formula.
The hidden pressures behind ED medication use
- Half of men who use ED medication say sexual performance ads made them feel they needed medication to meet a partner’s expectations.
- Nearly 6 in 10 men who use ED medication have taken it without their partner knowing.
- Over one-fourth of men who use ED medication and have a partner (26%) say their partner doesn’t know they use it.
- 23% of men who use ED medication have told a partner they were taking something different from what they were actually taking.
- Almost half of the men who use ED medication (47%) have hidden that they were taking it because someone might see them. 40% have rushed taking it, and 21% have skipped a dose for the same reason.
- 31% of men who use ED medication have bought ED medication from a source they weren’t sure was legitimate to avoid seeing a doctor or waiting.
How much are men willing to trade for faster ED treatment?
- 7 in 10 men who use ED medication would take a bad-tasting format if it worked faster.
- 33% of men who use ED medication have taken an extra dose sooner than instructed because the first one did not work as fast as they expected.
- 66% of men who use ED medication have taken it “just in case,” even when they weren’t having trouble getting or keeping an erection.
What the shift away from ED pills reveals
Men's interest in alternative ED medication formats reflected more than a preference for how a treatment is taken. While 55% had switched away from traditional pills, 58% of those who switched eventually returned, most often because of effectiveness. Privacy concerns, performance expectations, and the desire for faster results also shaped how respondents approached their medication. As more formats become available, the most meaningful choice may not be the newest or most convenient option, but the one that offers reliable results, clear information, and confidence in how it's used.
Methodology
Our survey results are based on 342 Americans who currently use ED medication. Topics covered include why they switched away from traditional pills, what they would trade for a faster-acting format, how much more they would pay per dose, whether they have hidden their ED medication from partners or others, and how they view the first FDA-approved dissolvable ED film.
Respondents were distributed across generations and ED medication formats. All respondents identified as men. The generational breakdown included the following: millennials (52%), Gen X (26%), Gen Z (15%), and baby boomers (7%). By current format, 71% use traditional pills, 31% use chewable tablets, 13% use orally dissolving tablets, 7% use sublingual tablets or films, and 5% use dissolvable strips or films. Respondents could select more than one format. The survey was conducted in October of 2026. All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
About ZipHealth
ZipHealth makes it easier to access health care online, offering convenient, discreet treatment options for a range of everyday health concerns. For men exploring ED treatment, ZipHealth provides access to options such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil, helping make sexual health care more accessible from the privacy of home.
Fair use statement
The findings and information in this article may be used for noncommercial purposes only. Anyone sharing or referencing this research must provide proper attribution to ZipHealth, including a link to the original article.