Men in the UK have been warned against buying illegal erectile dysfunction (ED) pills online after nearly 20 million pills were seized in the last five years. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said criminals exploit the "stigma and embarrassment" around ED to sell fake medicines that can harm health. Between 2021 and 2025, the MHRA's criminal enforcement unit, working with Border Force, intercepted about 19.5 million doses—enough to give nearly three in every four adult men in the UK a dose. Many pills had no active ingredient, the wrong dose, hidden drugs, or toxic substances. Erectile dysfunction medicines are among the most seized illegal drugs in the UK, with yearly seizures more than doubling since 2022. Andy Morling, head of MHRA’s criminal enforcement, said: "Stigma and embarrassment are being exploited by criminals selling fake medicines that can seriously harm your health." The MHRA also disrupted over 1,500 websites and social media accounts selling fake medical products in 2025 and removed more than 1,200 social media posts. Morling added, "These pills may look genuine but many are potentially dangerous. I’m incredibly pleased we’ve taken almost 20m doses off the streets, including 4.4m last year alone." ED affects about half of men aged 40 to 70, but many avoid doctors, turning to unregulated online sellers. Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, warned: "We would strongly advise against patients buying any prescription medication from unregulated online sources. They do not know what they are buying or how it may interact with other medicines." She noted ED can signal other serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. The MHRA advises people to avoid buying medicines from social media or unknown sites. They recommend using the #FakeMeds website and checking registered pharmacies on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s site. Always consult a GP or pharmacist for safe and effective ED treatments.