Pornography Habit Is Linked to Erectile Dysfunction, Research Suggests

Survey says more then 50 percent with erectile dysfunction problems during partnered sex don’t have a problem when watching porn.

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According to the survey, 45 percent of young men with a porn addiction have erectile dysfunction.

Everyday Health

Watching sex films can sometimes be helpful: “It can help people who are anxious about their sexuality get past their apprehensions. Also, if watched together under mutually agreeable conditions, it can improve a couple’s intimacy,” says Barbara D. Bartlik, MD, psychiatrist and sex therapist with Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. However, according to new research presented July 16, 2020, at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Virtual Congress, too much pornography watching can lead to trouble: It is linked to increased cases of erectile dysfunction (ED), when males have trouble getting and maintaining an erection.

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The More Porn Watched, the Higher the Percentage of ED

The study was a result of a survey of 3,267 men who answered 118 questions about sexual habits, such as masturbation, how often they watch porn, and sexual activity with partners. The research team found that on average porn watching for all participants was about 69 minutes per week.

When they compared that amount of pornography watched with experiences of ED, they found that of those below age 35 who watched 300 minutes per week, 30 percent had ED compared with 10 percent in those who watched less than 30 minutes. In the 35 to 45 age group that watched 300 minutes per week, 40 percent had ED. However, in general only 5 percent of participants were watching 300 minutes or more.

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Surprising Results About Younger Men and ED

“We saw a negative trend line between the time they were watching and the erectile function with partnered sex. Sixty-five percent found sex with a partner more exciting [than] watching pornography. The correlation was the strongest in the younger age group, below 35. Indeed, in the group below 35 we saw more ED then we expected, about 23 percent,” Gunter De Win, MD, PhD, lead author, from the department of urology at the University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital-UZA in Belgium, wrote in an email message.

Porn Addiction May Be Related to Bigger Increases in ED

The team also checked the association between ED and porn addiction, and found a much stronger connection. (There is some disagreement among addiction experts whether pornography can be called a true addiction, but most agree that too much has negative consequences.)

The research team defined porn addiction among their participants by using a specific validated cyber porn addiction score which consist of eleven questions. In the group below age 35, with a high porn addiction score, 45 percent had ED. Dr. De Win also pointed out that it is important to note that in the group under age 24 about 12 percent already had a high porn addiction score.

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More Men Reported Dissatisfaction With Partnered Sex Because of Porn Watching

More then 50 percent with ED problems during partnered sex don’t have a problem when watching porn. This is an important finding,” wrote De Win. The same is true for those with ejaculation problems during partnered sex. Quality of sex life with their partner was lower if they watched more then 300 minutes, but this finding is stronger if there is a high addiction score.

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A Desensitization to Pornographic Media?

The connection between porn watching and arousal is a problem of becoming numb and desensitized to stimulation and need to keep upping the ante. Many young boys only need a Victoria’s Secret catalog to get excited, but then as they gain experience, it takes a lot more than that.

“Porn-induced ED is not caused by a low libido or an organic problem in the blood vessels or nerves of the penis. Twenty percent under age 35 say they need to watch more and more, or more extreme porn to get the same level of arousal to get an erection. And in those who feel they need to watch more to get the same level of arousal to get an erection [they] also watch more and have a higher addiction score,” wrote De Win, who was assisted by Tim Jacobs, MD, also of the University of Antwerp.

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If You or Your Partner Has a Porn Problem, There Is Help

It is not easy to break the cycle, but it can be done, says Dr. Bartlik, who is also coeditor of the academic book Integrative Sexual Health:

  • Stop watching porn. Stop for a few days or weeks to see what happens. See if your feelings about being sexual with your partner start to improve. “Also, a lot of single guys get so connected and addicted to their porn, that they don't want to bother trying to meet anybody. If they deprive themselves of the porn maybe they can start to be interested in paying attention to someone else,” says Bartlik.
  • Install porn blocking software on your computer. Set a difficult password and hide it somewhere that takes effort to find.
  • Think about all the reasons why you shouldn't, and write it down to read over. It makes you less interested in your partner or finding a partner. It hurts your relationship; it can put you in jeopardy at work if you get caught. Your children can find out that you’ve been watching.
  • Find a trained sex therapist. You can find one at American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Bartlik explains, “Some people with this problem feel very inadequate sexually. Maybe they're not confident about their sexual prowess with a partner so it’s easier to just retreat into the computer. They need to improve their confidence with some kind of therapy.”
  • Seek help at a rehab center If the problem is extreme, you can find qualified facilities at The Addiction Center.

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