Effective ED Treatment. Private. Convenient. Trusted.
Doctor-prescribed ED medication delivered discreetly to your door.
Physicians
Private
Delivery
ED3 Max Dissolvable ED Pills
Long-lasting results up to 36 hours.
- Up to 36 Hour Window
- Improved Confidence
- Works When You Need It
Sildenafil 25mg
Proven effective treatment.
- Starts Working in 30–60 Min
- Effective, As Needed
- Trusted & Reliable
ED4 Chew Gum
Low daily dose for continuous readiness.
- Taken Once Daily
- Continuous Readiness
- Improves Confidence
Some recent studies suggest that an addiction to hard-core pornography could make it more difficult for men to become sufficiently stimulated for normal sex with their usual partners. Such erection problems are not really organic but largely psychological in origin.
For young men trying to connect with a sexual partner, watching too much pornography may lead to the inability to perform. At least, that’s what some of the latest studies show.
This post discusses recent research as well as some of the anecdotal data indicating that men who watch a lot of porn may have trouble with actual sexual performance.
If this is indeed the case, it may indicate a variant of erectile dysfunction that is more heavily influenced by psychological factors than the typical erection problems that many men face.
How much porn is too much? How can a man tell if he has a problem? How can men and their doctors determine whether typical erectile dysfunction or the psychological effects of too much porn consumption cause male impotence? Do drugs like Viagra help men with porn-induced male impotence?
Common Causes of ED
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and sustain an erection suitable for intercourse. The New York Post reports that one-half of all the men aged 40 to 70 will struggle with the disorder at some point in their lives. WebMD says some of the contributing factors that can lead to erectile dysfunction include:
- circulatory diseases
- depression and anxiety
- diabetes
- heart disease
- hormonal issues
- kidney disease
- nerve disorders
- obesity
- prescription drugs
- prostate enlargement
- smoking
- surgery
Healthline suggests erectile dysfunction can be caused by psychological, emotional, or physical disorders – or a combination of all three. ED itself can cause depression, low self-esteem, and stress. And, ironically, ED can also be caused by depression.
But over the past few years, a number of studies have also linked impotence to the use and consumption of pornography. Some of the scientific literature has included:
- “Masturbation and Pornography Use Among Coupled Heterosexual Men With Decreased Sexual Desire: How Many Roles of Masturbation?”
- “Internet-Based Brief Sex Therapy for Heterosexual Men with Sexual Dysfunctions: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial”
- “The Assessment and Treatment of Adult Heterosexual Men with Self-Perceived Problematic Pornography Use: A Review”
These studies have increasingly defined a new clinical and cultural term called “self-perceived pornography addiction” (SPPA). While there are no formal disorders defined in clinical manuals, increasingly researchers appear to believe that this is a real disorder that leads ultimately to the male’s inability to perform with a living sexual partner.
What Does the Science Say?
In a May 2017 article posted at BGR.com, a writer reported on a study of 300 men being treated for erectile dysfunction in a San Diego urology clinic. The men answered a survey about their sexual activity, and a preponderance of those surveyed indicated that they watched an “excessive” amount of pornography. The study seems to suggest a correlation between ED and porn.
A 2016 review of nine studies sought to quantify the real relationship between the rise in internet pornography and an increase in male impotence over the past decade. Particularly striking was the fact that male impotence has increased significantly in men under 40 – a population traditionally not plagued by this disorder.
The literature review noted that prior to the widespread access to internet porn sites, there were fairly consistent rates of male impotence, typically around 2 percent in men under 40 years old. However, a global study tracking 2,737 sexually active men in Europe found that impotence had risen to 13 percent in men ages 40-80 and between 14 and 28 percent in men ages 18-40. A 2014 study of active duty male military personnel found erectile dysfunction rates of 33.2 percent. Again, in 2015, another study on men with a mean age of 36 found increased levels of ED along with “a low desire for partnered sex” was a common observation in clinical practice among men seeking help for their excessive sexual behavior, who frequently ‘use pornography and masturbate.’”
The study then sought to correlate the increase in male impotence by reviewing other causal factors. For example, has smoking increased in conjunction with ED? In fact, many of the other factors tied to impotence did not seem to increase at a corresponding rate with impotence.
The American Psychological Association points out that the earliest research into sex and the effect of pornography came from Kinsey Institute research in 2007. In that study, researchers determined that pornography did potentially lessen libido in men. It suggested that high exposure to porn increased the need to consume more “kinky” material to become aroused.
Matthew Christman, M.D., a staff urologist with the San Diego Naval Medical Center, conducted the study. He suggested that impotence caused by excessive pornography is actually rooted in the same pleasure centers that are stimulated with drug abuse. Christman was quoted in a UPI article stating:
Sexual behavior activates the same ‘reward system’ circuitry in the brain as addictive drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines, which can result in self-reinforcing activity, or recurrent behaviors.
Christman suggested that excessive porn watching builds up a tolerance for these images, which simply makes these men less likely to be interested in “normal” or regular sexual activity.
Too, the Christman study surmised that pornography could be setting up young men with unrealistic expectations of what real sex entails. The UPI quoted Joseph Alukal, M.D., of New York University as saying, “They believe they’re supposed to be able to do what goes on in these movies, and when they can’t, it causes a great deal of anxiety.”
Anxiety, of course, is yet another cause of impotence in men.
Not Everyone Concurs
There are always two sides to every story, and Vice author Kris Taylor disputes these studies as taking a leap of faith between two unrelated issues – porn and ED. Calling it “hysteria,” the writer suggests the literature does not support the link; citing research from 2015 called, “Is Pornography Use Associated with Sexual Difficulties and Dysfunctions Among Younger Heterosexual Men?” the author points out that the study concluded that “contrary to raising public concerns, pornography does not seem to be a significant risk factor for younger men’s desire, erectile, or orgasmic difficulties.”
David Ley in Psychology Today mirrored the same sentiment and suggested the published research is too anecdotal to be accurate and that more research certainly needs to be done.
In fact, Taylor’s article noted that the “traditional” causes of erectile dysfunction haven’t changed, from depression to medication, diabetes, and heart disease. Nevertheless, Taylor points out one undeniable fact: one in every four men under 40 will seek treatment this year for ED. No matter what the cause, what treatments are available for the man suffering from erectile dysfunction?
Viagra and Porn-Induced ED?
“If the underlying condition leading to impotence cannot be corrected, or if impotence problems persist, medication can help certain men achieve erection sufficient for sexual intercourse as well as maintain erection after penetration.”
MedicineNet.com
An article entitled, “Your Brain on Porn” suggests that treatments for erectile dysfunction like Viagra and Cialis will not root out the underlying causes of what they call “porn-induced impotence.”
Dealing with the psychological ramifications of any addiction can be difficult, but let’s look at how these oral medications can help with the physical problem of erectile dysfunction.
The Mayo Clinic says Viagra and similar medications work by “enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a natural chemical your body produces that relaxes muscles in the penis.”
This allows the blood to flow more freely to that organ, allowing men to become erect with sexual stimulation. There are several oral medications in addition to Viagra currently prescribed for erectile dysfunction, and they all work slightly differently based on their chemical makeup. For example:
- Viagra works for about four or five hours. It should be taken on an empty stomach about an hour before sex.
- Levitra lasts about six hours and also should be taken an hour before sex.
- Cialis as needed (as distinct from daily-dose Cialis) works for a longer period of time – up to 36 hours — and can be taken one to two hours before sexual activity.
- Stendra can be taken just 15 to 30 minutes before sex and can last up to six hours.
These medications are all FDA-approved and work by enhancing the normal male response to sexual stimulation.
All of these medications can be extremely effective at combating erectile dysfunction, but the Mayo Clinic cautions that these oral medications may not be safe if:
- The user is taking nitrate medications for chest pain.
- The person has low or high blood pressure.
- The user has severe liver or kidney disease.
So, while the jury may still be out on the true links between erectile dysfunction and pornography, one thing is clear: men suffering from erectile dysfunction have medications like Viagra to help combat the disorder.
If the convenience of ordering your ED drugs online appeals to you, consider taking your business to longtime online facilitator eDrugstore.com. Based in Tempe, Arizona, eDrugstore stocks a full range of ED medications, including both brand-name and generic products. To learn more, pay a visit to eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook