Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction – Myth or Reality?

Porn websites are probably the most growing internet resources in the world. This business is very profitable, according to statistics, Americans spend about $10 billion annually on porn videos. Some people have actually become addicted to watching hot videos. But can porn cause erectile dysfunction (impotence)?

Why is Porn Popular?

There is ‘Coolidge effect’, a biological phenomenon, which means that men exhibit a higher sexual interest in new partners. That is why some married males have mistresses or use the services of prostitutes. In addition, due to this effect, porn is gaining more and more popularity. A man looks for videos and images with new women and when he sees a new naked lady, he gets more pleasure. Thanks to the Internet, he sees dozens of women in minutes, more than his ancestor could have seen in a lifetime.

The popularity of pornography is over the top. About 86 to 98% of men regularly watch adult content. For women, this figure is 56 to 84% (and the numbers are gradually growing).

In addition, young people are actively interested in pornography, since inexperience in the sexual sphere pushes them to search for information which, in their opinion, can help with sex education.

Pornography and the So-Called Sexual Anorexia

About two decades ago, Italian scientists suggested that watching porn at a teenage age can cause so-called sexual anorexia, that is, a fading desire to have a real romantic relationship. Since then, the rumor that porn causes erectile dysfunction has spread widely. But many scientists do not agree with this.

There are even studies according to which men who watch porn show better sexual arousal, however this thesis needs additional anecdotal confirmation. But experts agree that watching nasty videos can adversely affect sexual appetite.

For example, an avid porn lover may experience problems with achieving an erection or ejaculation when it comes to sex with a woman (he may just need additional incentives).

Can Erectile Dysfunction be Caused by Watching Porn Videos?

When a man sees an erotic image, the hormone dopamine begins to be produced in the brain. It causes a feeling of pleasure, a desire to learn and work. Online porn gives one the opportunity to see many naked women in a short period of time, as a result of which the brain is oversaturated and gets used to this state of affairs.

With regular viewing of adult videos, the brain is rebuilt and the mechanism of the strongest sexual arousal starts not after contact with a partner, but in the following circumstances:

• He is alone, sitting in front of his computer or laptop (or watching videos via mobile phone).
• He watches a video with a naked woman or a couple in love (heterosexual or lesbian).
• He constantly/sporadically clicks to open new videos.
• He should be able to enter a new search query to receive a new porn video. Most sites provide this feature.

Over the years, a man gets used to porn and masturbation and accordingly weans off the traditional ‘natural sex’. Relations with a partner provide for a different scenario, mutual touch, communication, foreplay are important here. Pheromones and smells are also of great importance.

A constant increase in dopamine levels causes the accumulation of the FosB protein, which in turn leads to changes in the brain. At first, it becomes difficult for a man to enjoy sex and other familiar things. Further, porn can become one of the main or even the main source of pleasure for him. Watching ‘hardcore’ videos leads to a pronounced desensitizing effect.

If you encounter such a problem, do not despair, it is reversible. Scientists say that stopping viewing pornographic materials leads to a return of the brain to its previous state (i.e. rollback). This was confirmed by studies in which people voluntarily refused video 18+. According to the American neuroscientist Gary Wilson(follow), many men refuse porn because of a decrease in erection. With porn-induced erectile dysfunction, even Viagra can be powerless, because this medication affects the physiological processes in the penis, while pornography affects the mental processes in the brain.

The Bottom Line

If watching porn becomes a constant substitute for sexual life and it becomes difficult for a man to get an erection during live communication and intimacy with a partner, this is an alarming signal. On the other hand, porn acts as a tool of sexual detente for men who do not have a permanent sexual partner. In addition, the vast majority of young people who watch porn (and statistics show that almost all guys watch it), are able to find a partner then and have a healthy family and sex life.

According to Healthline, it is unlikely that porn alone can lead to impotence (in the absence of other factors, such as guilt about sex or psychogenic problems). Devil is not so black as he is painted, but the risk of developing porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) indeed exists. It should be noted that this disorder is psychological in nature and not physiological, so it requires appropriate treatment, it is usually enough to stop abusing porn.

You might be interested in best sex positions for erectile dysfunction.

*Consulting with a licensed healthcare professional in your own country is always recommended before considering purchasing medications online.