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Home / Erectile Dysfunction / Can porn lead to erectile dysfunction?

Can porn lead to erectile dysfunction?

Porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) and how to overcome it

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common health condition that affects men who cannot achieve or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse.

ED is more common in older men, typically over 40. However, there has been an increase in new ED cases from younger men.

The pornhub logo on a laptop

There may be a link between these new cases and pornography - something called porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED).

Read on to learn more about PIED, and how it might affect you.

What is porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED)?

PIED is a psychological type of erectile dysfunction.

It can happen when watching porn (especially in excess) affects a man’s ability to engage in real-life sex.

By constantly using pornography as a turn-on, you are creating sexual expectations which are not found in the real world.

So if you frequently watch porn to achieve an erection, you might struggle to become aroused during real-life sex with a partner.

How does watching porn cause ED?

There are several ways watching porn can lead to problems in the bedroom:

Insecurity

If you watch porn, you might start to compare yourself to the people in the videos. Their bodies look perfect, but the truth is it’s not real. They use special lighting and angles to make themselves look better than they really are.

This can make you feel insecure about your body in the bedroom, which could lead to anxiety and erectile dysfunction.

Unrealistic expectations

Pornography also shows women in a way that is not real. This can make you think that sex will be very different from what it actually is.

In porn, women are shown with unrealistic bodies. This is often because they have had surgery to make themselves look different, usually by making their breasts bigger or enhancing their curves in some way.

Often they are hairless from the neck down, and frequently demonstrate unrealistic sexual acts.

This image of women is not accurate. It does not show what real-life women or sex look like.

If you watch a lot of porn, you might start to think that sex should be like videos in porn. This can make it hard to get aroused when you are with a real partner and can lead to being unsatisfied.

Your ‘turn-ons’ can change

There are many types of porn, which you can easily access on any electronic device.

When you watch different types of porn, you might start to like different things. For example, you might go from only watching softcore porn to more extreme, hardcore pornography.

An 18+ age limit sign

You may also find that over time, the things that used to turn you on no longer work.

If you watch pornography that is extreme, you might not get aroused when you try to have sex in real life. This can cause problems getting an erection.

Has PIED been proven?

Porn-induced erectile dysfunction is a recently discovered concept.

However, statistics taken from two surveys suggest that porn can negatively affect a man’s sex drive:

A study Trusted source National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Government Source Biomedical Research and Literature Go to source done on males (aged between 16-18) showed that out of those who watched porn, 16% had a lower sex drive

But for those who didn’t watch porn at all, 0% had a lower sex drive


In another study Trusted source PubMed Government Source Database of Biomedical Research Go to source , out of the men who preferred having sex with their partner (over the use of pornography), only 22% reported experiencing ED

But out of the men who preferred watching pornography over sex, a much higher 78% reported experiencing ED

So, is porn bad for you?

If watching porn can cause ED, does that mean it’s bad for you?

The truth is that porn affects everyone differently, so there is no right or wrong answer.

Some people like to watch porn because it helps them learn about sex and explore their sexual fantasies. Some couples find that watching pornography together can actually help make their relationship better.

Watching porn can be good or bad. It depends on how often you watch it. In general, the more porn you watch, the higher your chances of ED.

Porn addiction

If you watch porn multiple times a day, or in inappropriate places such as at work, you might have a porn addiction. As with any form of addiction, this is a problem that should be addressed.

A paper silhouette watching a television on a pink background

It can be very difficult to stop watching porn. With the internet, pornography is always just one click away.

If you want to limit your porn intake, here are some helpful tips:

  1. Actively try to stop - the first step is testing your self-control. Try distracting yourself whenever the idea of porn crosses your mind; go for a walk or a run, or try masturbating without your phone to hand.
  2. Block pornographic sites on your computer - or instead, you can change your computer settings to block any adult websites.
  3. Talk to a trained professional - talking through your porn habits with a sex therapist might make it easier for you to break the cycle.
  4. Consider porn addiction rehab - rehab offers you a safe space away from your regular life, which may help you overcome your addiction.

Ways to naturally improve your sex life

If you think watching porn has damaged your sex life, there are several ways to beat ED which may help you out in the bedroom.

You can start by limiting how much porn you watch, connecting with your partner, or trying yoga to relax before sex.

A close-up of a couple holding hands

Some foods are also known to effectively reduce erectile dysfunction.

Doing more exercise can also improve your sex drive.

ED treatments

If you’re looking to overcome PIED, the first step you should take is cutting down on pornography.

However, there are certain treatments available to help you maintain an erection in the short term:

  1. Viagra
  2. Cialis
  3. Levitra
  4. Spedra

If you want to take medication for erectile dysfunction, pay a visit to your local GP. Alternatively, you could purchase any of the above from euroClinix.

Simply complete the online consultation form which will be assessed by one of our UK doctors. If approved, your ED medication will be sent discreetly to your door with free next-day delivery.

Looking for ED treatment?

Find out more here

Main takeaways

Porn can give you a false idea of what is normal. It can make you think that you need to look or act a certain way to be attractive.

It can also change what you like sexually, making it hard to get excited about real-life sex.

If you think porn is damaging your sex life, try to cut it out completely. Focus on reconnecting with a partner, and remind yourself what the reality of sex is.

You can also take erectile dysfunction medication to help in the bedroom.

If you cut out porn for a long time and have found no changes in your ED, consult a doctor for advice.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Caroline Fontana Written by our editorial team Last reviewed 16-01-2024
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