Porn and ED

Dear Dr G,

I am a 26-year-old-man who is shameful about my past and hope to get guidance from you for a healthier future.

Since the age of 18, I started getting curious about porn.

Due to easy accessibility of pornographic material, I started watching porn.

In my early 20s, I even watched it while I was at lessons in college. I was lucky I did not get caught.

As I get older, I am increasingly aware that porn and masturbation are bad for me, but I really find it difficult to kick the habit.

Last year, I met my girlfriend and we started dating. As we engage in sexual activities, I began to realise I have porn-induced erectile dysfunction.

As this was happening repeatedly, I confessed to my girlfriend my obsession with porn. She was shocked and urged me to seek professional help.

This week, I wish to put Dr G on the spot about porn addiction.

Can you tell me whether porn-induced phenomenon is real or a myth?

What actually constitute porn addiction, and is there scientific evidence to support porn-induced erectile dysfunction?

Lastly, can anything be done to help someone like me, or am I doomed to the world of porn and erectile dysfunction for the rest of my life?

Please help

Porn-addict

Pornography is described as materials that portray explicit sexual subject matters for the purpose of erotic sexual arousal.

It is used to be in the form of drawings, pictures, paintings, sculptures and postcards for generations until the 1980s.

The easy accessibility of porn was transformed when the first home PC capable of network communication prompted the arrival of online services.

In 2009, the United States porn industry generated up to US$15bil of revenue, which was more than the revenue of professional sports and music combined.

The easy accessible of pornography in the Internet era has raised the question for a new generation of men (and some women) about its impact on “normal” sexual function.

With certain degree of guilt, religious and moral qualms of watching porn, couples are known to face challenges “between the sheets” when it comes to normal sexual encounters.

In addition, when the “normal” actions between the sheets do not match up to the excitement of the “fantasy” world of porn, many men literally failed to rise to the occasion and face sexual dysfunction of weakened erection.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) among younger men is a complex issue.

Although for some men, there may be some element of physical factor causing the ED, most would agree that psychology plays a more prominent role.

Numerous researches have been conducted on porn-induced ED, some studies have demonstrated the link, and others actually suggest porn can paradoxically help men facing problems of ED.

A 2016 publication gathering a few case studies had revealed pornography desensitises sexual response in men, as hardcore sex decreases the satisfaction of “normal” sex.

The study highlights that porn can potentially induce a self-conscious body image issue, triggering anxiety during sex.

The proposed theory behind porn-induced sexual dysfunction is based on the need to progressively increase sexual stimulation to feel arouse, and such desire may change the way the brain react to arousal.

The result of the desensitisation can potentially cause a man failing to achieve arousal with a real life partner.

On the other hand, other researchers actually revealed how pornography can paradoxically help men facing ED.

A 2015 laboratory-based study found that viewing porn had greater sexual responsiveness to a real-life partner.

The proposed theory provided was porn may prime the brain and body for sex, hence improving the interests in the bedroom.

However, the article highlighted the degree of “porn consumption” is key, as low and moderate usage may have positive effect, but high utilisation may still have the potential to cause harm.

The Roman playwright of the old Latin period, Plautus once quoted: “Nothing more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt.”

A healthy man may feel guilty of watching “excessive” porn and may struggle with ED due to the feeling of wrongdoing, which can eventually become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

When Dr G is put on the spot about porn and ED, his response is: “Nothing is more wretched between the sheets than the man with the guilt of excessive indulgence in porn. The big question on how and when to draw the line of ‘excessiveness’ is the real proof in the pudding!”