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With the vast majority of men watching porn, it begs the question, can porn cause erectile dysfunction? Is porn induced ED a serious issue?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get or maintain an erection. For some men the condition is temporary while for others it can be a permanent health problem. Men can suffer from ED for many reasons, including poor physical health, depression, and performance anxiety. For some, pornography could be the underlying culprit.
Do you find yourself often wondering “does porn cause ED?” If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about a possible link between the two.
The Impacts of Porn on Erectile Dysfunction
Watching sex flicks can be helpful for some men, especially those who are anxious or feeling apprehensive. When watched with a significant other, couples may find that porn actually improves intimacy. However, as with everything in life, porn must be watched in moderation.
According to research presented at the July 2020 European Association of Urology (EAU) Virtual Congress, men who watch pornography too often are at an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction.
A study involving over 3200 men found that the average participant watched porn for 69 minutes a week. When researchers compared the amount of porn watched when compared with instances of erectile dysfunction, the numbers showed that men under the age of 35 watched 300 minutes of porn each week, with 30% of them experiencing ED.
This is compared to the 10% of men who experienced porn induced ED after watching porn for less than 30 minutes each week.
However, this doesn’t mean that all men who watch porn will experience ED. What this study did find is a potential link between excessive porn watching and impacted performance in the bedroom.
Porn Impacts Sexual Appetite
While there is still much to learn about whether or not porn is a definite cause of erectile dysfunction, one thing that many experts do agree on is that porn impacts sexual appetite. This can make it harder to achieve or maintain an erection. It may also impact one’s ability to reach climax with their sexual partner and may be a contributing factor for why millennials are having less sex than previous generations.
Because there’s such a wide variety of adult material available, men often find videos that allow them to unleash their true desires and sexual fetishes. Seeing one’s wildest fantasies play out on video can have a negative impact on their own sexual performance.
When your fantasies are delivered to you through pornography, you’re less likely to open up to your partner about what really turns you on.
Having indirectly experienced one’s ultimate desires can make it harder to get aroused, especially when these acts aren’t involved in real life intimacy. In turn, your sexual partner may feel unattractive and rejected. And in turn you’re left hiding a secret.
Porn May Also Impact Self-Image
Porn may also create unrealistic expectations of what a sexual experience should look like. It may also cause you to set unrealistic expectations for what your partner should look like. You may even expect your partner to do certain things after viewing porn.
Some men may even feel a sense of shame, knowing that they aren’t living up the standards and hype that they seen portrayed in pornography. Men often compare themselves to men in porn, which can lead to feelings of insecurity and a lack of self-confidence. These feelings alone increase the risk of erectile dysfunction due to porn.
This is why it’s important to separate fantasy from reality. Everyone should know that porn isn’t real life. Watching several scenes at once, or watching porn compulsively, creates a lot of mental stimulation that simply doesn’t happen in day-to-day sexual encounters.
Desensitization to Pornographic Media
Compulsive porn watching may also cause men to become desensitized to stimulation. Think about when you were a teenager and needed nothing more than a lingerie catalog to get you excited. But as men gain experience and view more explicit media, it’s easy to become numb.
Porn-induced erectile dysfunction isn’t caused by a blood flow problem or an issue with a low libido. While ED may be rooted in low testosterone levels, this isn’t always the case. In many scenarios, men must watch more porn, or more extreme porn, in order to achieve the same level of arousal that’s needed to get an erection.
Do You Think Porn is Causing Your ED?
If you believe that porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) is putting a damper on your ability to get or maintain an erection, one of the best things you can do is to simply take a break. Commit to not watching porn for at least 60 days. This way you can focus less on visual cues and more so on sensations that arouse you.
Other tips for getting back to a healthy level of sexual performance and vitality include:
- Exploring your sexuality and sensuality
- Focus on sensations instead of recalling pornographic scenes and images
- Share your desires with your partner
Some men may even want to work with a medical professional to help break their porn addiction. If you feel inadequate in the bedroom or if you’re simply lacking confidence in your abilities, a trained professional can help. Boosting your confidence is the only way to keep yourself from retreating to watching porn.
What To Do About Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction (PIED)
There are numerous causes of ED that need to be considered. While there are studies that show a potential link to erectile dysfunction and porn, there are studies that have come to the opposite conclusion. What’s most important here is to take a step back and to take a look at your sexual health.
If you find that you’re watching more porn than usual, and if you find that doing so has made it harder to get aroused, porn could be the cause of your ED. The compulsive viewing or pornographic material can have several negative impacts, including a lowered self-confidence, unrealistic expectations, and the dependence on visuals to get aroused.
The good news is that ED caused by porn is a problem that’s quite easy to fix. Stop watching porn, explore your sexuality, and be open with your partners! You’ll find it quite amazing how quickly things can go back to normal without the overload of pornographic imagery in your head.
If you’re having issues with erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE), call the team at Premier Men’s Medical Center now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are Orlando’s leading men’s clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, low testosterone therapy, and much more.
