Porn Induced ED: How Does It Happen?

Porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) refers to a form of psychological ED where excessive consumption of sexual stimuli is thought to lead to desensitization and difficulty maintaining an erection.

Porn addiction and many other pornography-related conditions are controversial topics today. While we know that viewing pornography for sexual satisfaction is not inherently bad or harmful, it might have the potential to contribute to sexual problems, especially when it is a frequent habit. 

Is there such a thing as porn-induced ED, according to experts, though? And can it be treated or cured? The answers to those questions, as well as more on the symptoms, causes, and research associated with porn-induced ED, are below.

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sex.

Porn-induced erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sex due to excessive consumption of pornography.

While research has shown that frequent use of pornography may decrease sexual satisfaction, there is little to no evidence that porn could cause ED.

There are many other more plausible risk factors and potential causes for erectile dysfunction, many of which are related to age. In fact, It is estimated that by the time a man is in his 40s, he has about a 40 percent chance of having some form of ED, and this prevalence increases about 10 percent per decade thereafter.

ED is not as common in men under the age of 40. One 2017 study showed that ED affects just 8 percent of men aged 20 to 29 years and 11 percent among those aged 30–39 years.

But it’s worth noting that when ED does occur in young men, it’s likely due to psychological causes like sexual performance anxiety, depression, and, according to some experts, porn addiction.

Can porn cause erectile dysfunction? Not necessarily, but it’s not entirely out of the question. 

Porn-induced ED may be related to low self-esteem and unrealistic expectations for a sexual partner and sexual experiences in the real world.

Over the last few decades, there’s been a sharp rise in the incidence rate of sexual dysfunction — including erectile dysfunction — amongst men under the age of forty.

One possible explanation for this rise is that the stigma surrounding ED is starting to go away, leading more men to feel comfortable discussing the topic with a healthcare provider (and subsequently getting a diagnosis).

Other potential reasons mentioned in the 2017 study linked above include low testosterone, obesity, and poor cardiovascular health.

Another possibility, some researchers believe, could be the widespread availability of Internet porn.

The Porn Addiction-ED Connection

To understand the relationship between porn and ED, think about the availability of pornography 30 or 40 years ago compared to the availability of porn today. 

Accessing porn a generation or two ago meant purchasing a magazine, ordering a videotape, or stumbling across a few copies of Playboy left in the attic or inside someone’s nightstand. 

Today, things are different. With the push of a button, people have access to a virtually limitless amount of porn through online tube sites and other platforms, which offer endless novelty and a level of sexual stimulation that our brains historically aren’t used to.

Though some experts believe the porn addiction model is flawed, this 2016 review with clinical reports shows that there’s a correlation between the rise in ED amongst younger men and the development of popular “porn tube” sites.

Correlation doesn’t always mean causation, but there are some ways porn and ED may be connected.

Porn Can Alter Your Perception of Sex

Internet pornography usage may contribute to sexual functioning issues because it can alter your perception of sex and even change your sexual appetite to the degree that you no longer become aroused during real-life sexual experiences. 

The theory is that easier access to porn — and especially a diverse, extensive variety of images and videos — has changed the way many people think about sex, leading to different tastes and expectations from regular sexual intercourse.

It’s a theory that seems to be backed up by some scientific evidence. 

In a small study published in the journal PLoS One, 11 out of 19 participants described as having compulsive sexual behavior noted that they had experienced diminished sex drive or erectile function in physical relationships with women as a result of excessive use of sexually explicit materials.

In short, watching excessive amounts of pornography may cause a form of ED that’s psychological in nature rather than physical, at least for those with compulsive sexual behavior. 

The same 2016 review mentioned above found that some studies correlated porn use with a preference for masturbation with porn versus partnered sex.

Because real sexual encounters are often unlike what we see on the internet, some men actually wind up preferring pornography. Unfortunately, this only reinforces your inability to achieve sexual arousal in real-life situations, and that, too, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Porn Can Impact Your Reward System

A 2014 study found that people who used pornography for several years had less gray matter in brain areas involved in the reward system, which includes dopamine. Dopamine is a brain chemical that plays a big role in feeling pleasure and motivation. These findings show that for people who watch a lot of porn, the brain's reward system can get overstimulated, causing it to become less responsive over time. This means that the brain might need more stimulation (like more porn) to get the same "feel-good" effect, which could be linked to the changes in brain structure.

The researchers stated it’s also possible that less gray matter can be a precondition rather than a consequence of watching porn, i.e., that these individuals may need more external stimulation to experience pleasure and might therefore experience pornography consumption as more rewarding.

Beyond porn usage, psychological and mental health issues like depression, generalized anxiety, performance anxiety, and chronic stress may also play a role in sexual dysfunction. Read more on the link between pornography and depression in our guide.

Some strongly believe porn addiction is damaging, which led to the creation of the NoFap Reddit community. Unless it interferes with your daily life, though, there is no evidence that regular use of porn is damaging to your sexual health or overall health.

If the erectile dysfunction-porn connection worries you, there are steps you can take to address your concerns.

Talk to Someone

First, consider talking to a therapist, urologist, or other healthcare provider. Many men have a negative opinion of therapy, but sometimes, talking through your sexual health issues is the best way to resolve them. 

If you’re able to be open and honest with your therapist and with yourself about excessive use of porn or possible pornography addiction, you may be able to break through some of the mental blocks that are keeping you from having satisfactory sexual experiences in real life.

Consider a Porn Fast

The next step in overcoming this problem may be to engage in a fast from pornography. Doing so may even reverse sexual dysfunction. Recovery times may vary from individual to individual, and if you’ve been watching porn for a long time, a mental health professional may advise a longer break.

Rule Out Other Causes of ED

Lastly, make sure that you rule out other causes of ED, including medical conditions like atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, nerve damage, and more.

If you’re still having trouble getting or maintaining an erection, you may want to consider medication as a treatment option. Prescription ED treatments include:

• Cialis^®

• Tadalafil (generic Cialis)

• Viagra^®

• Sildenafil (generic Viagra)

• Vardenafil (generic Levitra)

• Stendra

• Hims Hard Mints (chewable ED medications containing similar ingredients to Viagra and Cialis)

However, if the problem is that you’re just not aroused because real-life sex isn’t getting you excited enough, these medications likely won’t work. They don’t improve your libido or make you aroused, but they do make it easier to get and maintain an erection when you are aroused.

We don’t know nearly enough yet about the short and long-term effects of porn consumption, but what we do know — and what any sex therapist will tell you — is that moderation won’t hurt. 

If you feel like your sex life is showing the side effects of too much porn, consider reaching out for support. They may tell you a lot of the same things we have:

• Porn can be part of a healthy sex life. Pornography use, as well as masturbation, the use of sex toys, and many other sexual behaviors, are normal and healthy parts of life in moderation.

• Too much pornography can create problems. Excessive porn use can contribute to low self-esteem and unrealistic expectations about real-life sex.

• Help is available if you want to improve your erections. Prescription medication, therapy, and healthy lifestyle changes are all options to improve your erections and overall sex life.

Have questions? If you’re struggling with sexual difficulties that you think are related to porn consumption, get advice from a healthcare professional today.