The effect of pornography use on male sexual function remains a subject of controversy.
A number of recent studies indicate that the incidence of erectile dysfunction among younger men — those under 40 — has risen in recent years.
Among the various hypotheses put forward to explain this phenomenon is one that suggests excessive pornography use is responsible, at least in part. Other medical professionals disagree.
A strong case for the theory that porn addiction is a key factor in the rise of ED in men under 40 was made in a study published in the August 2016 issue of “Behavioral Sciences.” The work of researchers associated with the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Diego, the study concluded: “Traditional factors that once explained sexual difficulties in men appear insufficient to account for the sharp rise in sexual dysfunctions and low sexual desire in men under 40.”
Screening Tool Recommended
Given the findings of their study, the Navy researchers suggest a screening tool that medical professionals might use to indicate a diagnosis of pornography-induced erectile dysfunction or PIED. The researchers recommend that young men presenting with ED symptoms be asked if they can get and keep a satisfactory erection when masturbating without watching internet pornography. Those who cannot but can easily achieve those goals while watching pornography should be considered as possibly suffering from PIED.
While casual observers might think that PIED is a result of excessive masturbation fueled by a pornography addiction, most medical professionals point the finger at porn’s desensitizing effects on frequent users. In and of itself, masturbation is a healthy exercise for the penis and unlikely to “wear out” your equipment. However, the progressively harder-core content of the pornography men are watching makes it more difficult for them to get aroused by the comparatively paler turn-ons of real life.
Desensitization Process Explained
In an interview with MensJournal.com, psychologist Elizabeth Waterman explains how excessive porn watching can gradually make it more difficult for men, even young men, to become aroused under less stimulating circumstances. When a man begins watching porn, dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward response, floods the brain.
“Over time, the receptors that were once very sensitive become less sensitive,” says Waterman, “and normal physical intimacy does not produce enough dopamine to stimulate the dopamine receptors.” The more graphic porn a young man watches, the harder it becomes for him to achieve an erection without a similar level of stimulation. As a result, these porn-addicted young men find it difficult, if not impossible, to achieve and sustain an erection and to enjoy less hard-core sexual contact with a partner.
Performance Anxiety Might Follow
Waterman of Morningside Recovery Center in Newport, California, says PIED can lead to performance anxiety issues, shattering a young man’s self-confidence and undermining healthy relationships.
Not all medical experts subscribe to the theory that porn addiction leads to erectile dysfunction and other forms of male sexual dysfunction.
Earlier studies have suggested that the culprit is not excessive porn use among younger men but rather unhealthy lifestyle decisions, such as smoking, substance abuse, and excessive alcohol consumption.
While these bad habits are not exclusive to young men, they are generally much more common among the young, the demographic that is now reporting higher levels of ED than were typical historically.
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