Men who feel guilty about their use of pornography may struggle with ED due to this guilt. This supposed link between erectile dysfunction and pornography has fueled a lucrative industry, despite there being little scientific evidence to support the link. Yet the term is common on Internet forums and other non-clinical sources, and may even be used in treatment. However, the research supporting the positive effects of pornography is limited and preliminary, similarly to studies that focus on the harm of pornography use.Ī 2014 article emphasizes that scientific research rarely discusses so-called “pornography addiction,” or its suggested role in ED. This suggests that pornography might help prime the brain or body for sex, potentially improving intercourse with a partner. Some other studies suggest that pornography might actually help with erectile dysfunction, especially when ED is due to psychological or relationship concerns.Ī 2015 study found that men who reported more time spent viewing pornography had greater sexual responsiveness to a partner in a laboratory setting. The authors of the study argue that their data does not support public health concerns about pornography, and does not suggest that pornography plays a role in erectile dysfunction. This undermines the notion that excessive use of pornography is desensitizing. Just one of the two studies found a link, and that link was weak.Īdditionally, only men who engaged in “moderate” use of Internet pornography reported more ED than those engaged in “high” or “low” use. The link in that study, however, was very modest. This suggests that, even when pornography is one possible factor behind a case of erectile dysfunction, it is unlikely to be the only factor.Ī 2015 analysis of two large, cross-sectional studies also points to a link between pornography use and ED. Other studies that find a link between pornography and erectile dysfunction uncover only a weak connection. Wilson’s campaign against pornography raises questions of bias. The lead author of this study, Gary Wilson, is the founder of an organization called Your Brain on Porn. The use of sex toys might desensitize nerves in the penis, making it more difficult to get an erection because the nerves require more physical stimulation. The use of pornography might change the way the brain reacts to arousal, making a man less likely to feel aroused by a real-life partner.
Men who view pornography may need to progressively increase sexual stimulation to feel and remain aroused. A 2016 article argues that more young men are seeking help for ED, and that this could be due to the desensitizing effects of so-called “hardcore” pornography.ĭrawing upon case studies and a review of previous research, the article argues that pornography may decrease men’s satisfaction with their own bodies, triggering anxiety during sex. Research in support of the link between pornography and erectile dysfunction argues that porn can desensitize sexual response. This potentially makes their research more biased than a laboratory study from a neutral party.
Some proponents of the notion, such as this highly subjective blog from anti-pornography advocacy group Fight the New Drug, believe that pornography is immoral. Porn-induced erectile dysfunction is a controversial theory for explaining sexual problems. For many men, ED does not have a single, identifiable cause. Relationships, body image, and similar factors can also play a role in causing erectile dysfunction. Share on Pinterest People sometimes link pornography to erectile dysfunction, but it is a complex condition with a range of causes.
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