MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

What's Happening Upstairs Can Affect Your Downstairs

What's Happening Upstairs Can Affect Your Downstairs

The Lowdown On Getting Erectile Dysfunction

The Lowdown On Getting Erectile Dysfunction

Some People Are Actually More Turned On By Food Than Sex, Study Finds

Some People Are Actually More Turned On By Food Than Sex, Study Finds

Study Finds Link Between Footy Players Who Cop Head Knocks And Erectile Dysfunction

Study Finds Link Between Footy Players Who Cop Head Knocks And Erectile Dysfunction

{headline}

{headline}

Four Surprising Things That Can Cause Trouble in the Bedroom

Four Surprising Things That Can Cause Trouble in the Bedroom

The Popular Pastime That Could Help Deal With Erectile Dysfunction

The Popular Pastime That Could Help Deal With Erectile Dysfunction

PSA: Poor Oral Hygiene Can Lead To Erectile Dysfunction & Infertility

PSA: Poor Oral Hygiene Can Lead To Erectile Dysfunction & Infertility

{headline}

{headline}

Man Injects Stem Cells Directly Into His Penis To Make It Bigger

Man Injects Stem Cells Directly Into His Penis To Make It Bigger

The Invisible Health Condition Behind Everything From Heart Disease To Erectile Dysfunction

The Invisible Health Condition Behind Everything From Heart Disease To Erectile Dysfunction

How to Diagnose Your Erectile Dysfunction Without Setting Foot In a Doctor's Office

How to Diagnose Your Erectile Dysfunction Without Setting Foot In a Doctor's Office

Your Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction More Than Triples If You Have This Health Condition

Your Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction More Than Triples If You Have This Health Condition

Here's How Your Pet Could Give You Erectile Dysfunction

Here's How Your Pet Could Give You Erectile Dysfunction

Urologists Say This May Be the Cure for Erectile Dysfunction

Urologists Say This May Be the Cure for Erectile Dysfunction

7 Surprising Signs Erectile Dysfunction Might Be In Your Future

7 Surprising Signs Erectile Dysfunction Might Be In Your Future

  1. Home
  2. Erectile Dysfunction

Can Watching Too Much Porn Give You Erectile Dysfunction?

We spoke to two experts about the scary possibility - by Gavin Evans
  • 20 Jan 2018
Can Watching Too Much Porn Give You Erectile Dysfunction?

Yesterday, Buzzfeed News published a story called This Is How Therapists Treat Young Men With "Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction." The article shared the stories of two men who claim that their addiction to pornography rendered them unable to achieve an erection.

These anecdotes were paired with the quotes of the sexologists and therapists who supported their claim by citing "porn-inducted erectile dysfunction" as the culprit, or “the inability to get or maintain an erection during sexual activity because of a high exposure to pornography.”Sounds pretty scary, right?

Most men watch porn, so the thought of missing out on a lifetime of potential sex because you watched too many X-rated movies would, understandably, be a pretty terrifying prospect.

But this isn't the first time we've heard of the "porn causes erectile dysfunction" claim. In fact, preliminary research presented at the American Urological Association's most recent annual meeting presented that very idea—and as it turns out, that wasn't as clearcut as some news outlets made it out to be, either.

We were a bit hesitant to pin the experiences of just two men on the entirety of guys who watch porn, so we talked to two sex researchers with Ph.D.s to get more details on whether your X-rated habit can cause serious problems with your sex life.

The verdict? There's no scientific evidence that supports the idea of "porn-induced erectile dysfunction."

“There are three laboratory studies that have shown sex film viewing is unrelated to erectile functioning,” said Nicole Prause, Ph.D., founder of Liberos, a sex research and biotechnology company in Los Angeles.

“No study has ever linked the two. The therapists are literally manufacturing the idea that these are connected in their patients,” she says.

In fact, the problem may come down to the act of masturbation, rather than watching porn.

“In my clinical experience I do not find porn to be a direct cause of [erectile disorder, premature ejaculation, and delayed ejaculation]” explains Ian Kerner, Ph.D., a licensed psychotherapist and sexuality counselor. 

A more likely direct cause might be an idiosyncratic masturbatory style, meaning you masturbate with a type of pressure and friction that is not easy to replicate during sex, so you might have trouble getting hard or reaching orgasm with your partner. "This would be a masturbation issue, not a porn issue, and is somewhat easily resolved,” Kerner says.

So when you watch porn—and consistently reach orgasm through a specific type of masturbation—you might actually get conditioned to a specific type of stimulus, Tobias Kohler, M.D., recently told Men's Health. That means when you go to get it on with your partner, you may not be recreating that specific type of stimulus, which can cause issues in bed. 

Granted, porn can give you unrealistic expectations about sex, which in turn leads to anxiety, says Kerner. Echoing Prause, he explains that “anxiety and boredom are the root issues, but porn often gets blamed.”

“I have not seen any good studies to show that porn somehow rewires the male brain to lead to sexual dysfunction,” he emphasizes.

If you do feel like watching porn is interfering with your ability to perform in bed, and you're truly bothered by that, check in with your urologist to make sure an underlying medical condition—like diabetes, heart problems, or even a specific type of medication—isn't to blame. Talking to a sex therapist can also help. For some guys, especially those who feel porn interferes with their morals, porn can have negative effects.

Bottom line: Watching porn affects every guy differently—but more concrete research needs to be done before it can be linked to erectile dysfunction. Until then, take the time to read up on how porn actually affects your sex life.

This article was originally published by Men's Health.

  • Sex
  • Erectile Dysfunction

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

What's Happening Upstairs Can Affect Your Downstairs

What's Happening Upstairs Can Affect Your Downstairs

The Lowdown On Getting Erectile Dysfunction

The Lowdown On Getting Erectile Dysfunction

Some People Are Actually More Turned On By Food Than Sex, Study Finds

Some People Are Actually More Turned On By Food Than Sex, Study Finds

Study Finds Link Between Footy Players Who Cop Head Knocks And Erectile Dysfunction

Study Finds Link Between Footy Players Who Cop Head Knocks And Erectile Dysfunction

{headline}

{headline}

Four Surprising Things That Can Cause Trouble in the Bedroom

Four Surprising Things That Can Cause Trouble in the Bedroom

The Popular Pastime That Could Help Deal With Erectile Dysfunction

The Popular Pastime That Could Help Deal With Erectile Dysfunction

PSA: Poor Oral Hygiene Can Lead To Erectile Dysfunction & Infertility

PSA: Poor Oral Hygiene Can Lead To Erectile Dysfunction & Infertility

{headline}

{headline}

Man Injects Stem Cells Directly Into His Penis To Make It Bigger

Man Injects Stem Cells Directly Into His Penis To Make It Bigger

The Invisible Health Condition Behind Everything From Heart Disease To Erectile Dysfunction

The Invisible Health Condition Behind Everything From Heart Disease To Erectile Dysfunction

How to Diagnose Your Erectile Dysfunction Without Setting Foot In a Doctor's Office

How to Diagnose Your Erectile Dysfunction Without Setting Foot In a Doctor's Office

Your Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction More Than Triples If You Have This Health Condition

Your Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction More Than Triples If You Have This Health Condition

Here's How Your Pet Could Give You Erectile Dysfunction

Here's How Your Pet Could Give You Erectile Dysfunction

Urologists Say This May Be the Cure for Erectile Dysfunction

Urologists Say This May Be the Cure for Erectile Dysfunction

7 Surprising Signs Erectile Dysfunction Might Be In Your Future

7 Surprising Signs Erectile Dysfunction Might Be In Your Future

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now