Did you know that watching an excessive amount of porn can be a cause of erectile dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sex. Healthy and sexually active men are finding that they are struggling in the bedroom and have a low libido but when they visit the doctors there is nothing physically wrong. Therefore, it has emerged that excessive consumption of pornography may be why healthy and even young men are more frequently experiencing ED. In this blog, we will be discussing what porn-induced ED is, the evidence surrounding it, whether or not porn is bad and if it is possible to reverse it.
What is Porn-Induced ED? 🍆
Porn-induced ED is when a man frequently consumes pornography for sexual stimulation. This can lead to a change in sexual appetite and behaviour, resulting in no arousal from real-life sexual interactions. Although ED is commonly caused by health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and smoking, it can also be due to psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and depression among others.
This is where porn-induced ED comes from as it is linked to psychological factors due to the culmination of unrealistic expectations from watching pornography. More specifically, watching an excessive amount of porn and even the type of porn may alter an individual’s view on sex and in reality, when they have sexual encounters, their partner may not be able to fulfil their desires. This, therefore, leads to no erection arising from such situations. Additionally, this type of phenomenon is becoming more prevalent in younger men, as it is believed that they have full access to any type of pornography whenever they want it.
Evidence of Porn-Induced ED 💻
In 2002, a study by the International Journal of Impotence Research found that approximately 2% of men under the age of 40 suffered from ED. However, these days the prevalence of ED amongst younger men has increased drastically from this 2%. This is evident in a study in 2013 on Italian men, where it found that one in four men under the age of 40 suffered from ED. Similarly, another study on Swiss men in 2012 found that 30% of men between the ages of 18-24 suffered from ED, highlighting a dramatic increase in ED amongst younger men from the early 2000s.
This rise in ED amongst younger men is thought to be correlated to the increase and availability of internet porn sites. The reason for this is due to the easy access and the type and variety of porn now available, as it has caused individuals to think differently about sex and has further contributed to changing sexual appetites . A small study in 2014 confirmed this theory when they found that men who compulsively consumed pornography struggled more in the bedroom.
Furthermore, a study by JAMA Psychiatry found that years of pornography usage was associated with a decrease in gray matter in certain areas of the brain, which is mainly linked to reward sensitivity. They also found reduced responsiveness to erotic photographs in individuals who consumed a high amount of porn. These findings highlight the link between consuming large amounts of pornography, an increase in internet porn and an increase in ED numbers.
So Is Porn Bad? 👎👍
Despite this, there is no way to say that porn is definitively bad or good. But it can, unfortunately, have damaging effects. One of the main problems with porn is that it can lead to porn or sexual addiction. This is usually due to the large consumption of porn and the ease of accessibility. The prevalence of porn addiction is around 3-6% and it can affect a person’s relationships, daily life and even the ability to function.
On the positive side, however, porn, if used reasonably, can have multiple benefits. This includes helping to relieve stress, figuring out what your dislikes and likes are and can even aid couples in making intercourse more exciting. Therefore, it is hard to say whether or not porn consumption is a harmful or healthy activity for an individual as it is dependent on the amount of consumption and the individual.
How to Reverse It? 🔄
Although it may be difficult to treat porn-induced ED, it is possible but it may take some time. One of the first steps in trying to reverse porn-induced ED is to try and stop watching porn for a set period of time. As it is a psychological cause, seeing a therapist may also be a helpful tool. This is because a therapist can work through the root cause with you and help you with your excessive porn consumption. Additionally, speaking to your doctor can also help, as they may prescribe you medications such as Cialis or Viagra to help treat your ED in the meantime.
