Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction
Today we’re talking about porn induced erectile dysfunction and how to ensure that your porn consumption habits don't affect your real life functioning.
What is porn-induced erectile dysfunction (ED)?
So this actually isn’t a straightforward question because it’s not well defined in the literature and it is still an area that requires research. In its most basic form, it’s erectile dysfunction that is related to maladaptive pornography use. It’s not clear if it is caused by excessive consumption of pornography, excessive masturbation or changes in arousal patterns or preferences.
Additionally, there can also be psychological factors such as performance anxiety, existing mental health symptoms or medical conditions that may underlie the sexual health difficulty. Typically, when someone wants to discuss if their porn use has affected their sexual health, it is often in the context of partnered sex. It’s because they feel that their partnered sex life has been impacted and they don’t seem to find that same difficulty when consuming pornography.
Source: Deon Black, Unsplash
If porn is a re-enactment of sex, how can watching simulated sex be more engaging than actual sex?
There are a few ways that pornography can be “more” engaging than partnered sex.
The first is accessibility. You can jump online at anytime to consume pornography and masturbate. Just the sheer convenience of online pornography means you have more opportunities to engage in sexual self pleasure.
The second is that pornography is a supernormal stimulus that allows us to engage in our fantasies. Pornographic fantasies aren’t constrained by reality or negotiating with a partner about preferences and boundaries. It also allows you to explore categories that you may feel too embarrassed, or ashamed, or inappropriate to introduce into the existing relationship.
The third is control, you are able to increase the intensity or heighten the arousal of your experience by switching videos, browsing endless videos and discovering new experiences. I also think for some individuals, partnered sex may create some emotional difficulties such as anxiety, image issues or past traumas which is why some may prefer solo-sex via pornography than working through those issues with their partner.
How does one get from enjoying porn, to getting ED?
This is where it gets contentious because pornography use doesn’t necessarily produce erectile dysfunction on its own. The majority of pornography users don’t experience chronic erectile dysfunction issues or have a problem with pornography.
Erectile Dysfunction can be related to other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and mental health disorders. This is why it’s important to have a good relationship with your GP or sexual health physician.
With this in mind, a potential route from porn consumption to ED can involve a combination of the following:
Gradual changes to arousal patterns and preferences. Where changes can accumulate and you find partnered sex less psychologically arousing, desirable or stimulating.
Idiosyncratic and unique adaptations to masturbation, i.e. you could be masturbating in a way that may involve excessive intensity or pressure or become adapted to a specific method that makes partnered intercourse under-stimulating.
Negative emotions caused by expectations or anxiety during partnered sex. Sometimes you may find yourself in your head and not connected with your partner during your intimate moments leading to impaired sexual functioning.
Excessive masturbation prior to partnered sex and the timing of the refractory period (the time after orgasm in which you cannot get sexually aroused). For some, the timing of partnered sex clashes with their own physiological characteristics of porn consumption.
Is there a correlation between porn-induced E.D and porn addiction?
One is not necessarily a symptom of the other.
There are many cases where a person can have a problematic patterns with pornography but have no issues with their sexual health and functioning. For example, problematic patterns caused by excessive use often come up as impacts on quality of life. i.e. being late to work or class and procrastination because they were up all night consuming pornography. However their sexual health and relationships are unaffected.
Others may experience porn-related erectile dysfunction but their use isn’t what they consider “excessive or problematic”. It may be related to anxiety or shame and not necessarily a particular “addiction”. However, it is possible that one can exacerbate the other.
If you use porn to manage or escape negative emotions, you may get stuck in a vicious cycle. We call it experiential avoidance. Using porn as a crutch to escape negative emotions such as stress or anxiety can often lead to worse feelings such as shame, hopelessness, unproductivity and more anxiety. The porn consumption pattern may affect sexual functioning during partnered sex and create additional negative feelings which leads to further consumption. A vicious cycle.
It is worth noting that pornography addiction isn’t specifically defined in either DSM-5 or ICD-11 which are diagnostic manual of mental disorders used by professionals in my field. There are similar diagnoses such as hypersexual disorders, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder or fetish disorders but it is worth highlighting that online pornography addiction is still an area of research.
What are red flags that consumers should watch out for so that their consumption habits do not take the form of porn-induced E.D?
5 things to look out for to ensure that your pornography consumption does not lead to E.D are:
Subtle changes in psychological and physiological arousal patterns (such as changes in interests or sexual functioning)
Changes in arousal towards partnered sex
Changes in stimulation preferences and difficulties with partnered sex
Failed attempts to regulate pornography or masturbation
Pornography or masturbation patterns that produce negative emotions or distress
What should I do if I suffer from porn-induced E.D?
If you think that you are affected by porn-induced Erectile dysfunction. Some early strategies to try are to:
A proactive mentality to gently reducing or limiting your use
To be more mindful about the frequency and intensity of your use
The consideration to masturbate without visual aids
Planning for pornography-free days.
I hope this shed some light on a less discussed sexual issue that affect more people than you think.