It is not uncommon for healthy, sexually active men to be unable to be intimate with their partner for more than a few minutes, or at all. Often, a medical examination reveals no physical problems, which only adds to the confusion. Only when you look at the personal habits of affected men, you can see the cause of erectile dysfunction in men: excessive consumption of a lot of porn.
Please note: Erectile dysfunction should always be taken seriously and usually a urologist, be examined. The following tips are not a substitute for professional advice from your health care provider.
Is porn bad for you?
Let’s start by saying that watching porn is not bad or harmful for men per se. However, as with everything in life, excessive consumption can cause problems. This is especially true if you lose control and can no longer refrain from watching porn. So there is no direct correlation.
Is there erectile dysfunction caused by pornography in men?
Essentially, frequent consumption of porn can alter a man’s sexual desire, possibly to the point that he no longer becomes truly aroused by real-life sexual interactions.
Since sexual encounters in real life then fail to provide the necessary satisfaction, affected men often turn to pornography. Unfortunately, however, this only reinforces their inability to be aroused and enjoy sex in real-life situations with people. However, researchers have proven that such erectile dysfunction is not impotence or permanent potency problems and can be treated well.
Watching porn “the right way” – this is how porn stays pleasurable
Porn can help people who are afraid of their sexuality to overcome their insecurities or help them get new inspirations. In addition, porn can improve a couple’s intimacy when they watch it together and with mutual consent.
- If you’re struggling with erectile dysfunction due to porn, it’s not the end of the world – because porn can be quite helpful: it can help people who are afraid of their sexuality overcome those fears and get inspiration to have more fun in bed.
- Watch porn with your partner: Porn can improve a couple’s intimacy if both partners watch the movie together and with mutual consent.
- Therapy: Many men have a negative image of therapy or discussing problems with a trusted person. However, communicating problems is often the best way to solve them. The more feelings you keep inside and don’t process, the more shame spreads. And that only makes your problems worse.
Tips to get your porn use back under control
Researchers* have proven in studies that desensitization from excessive porn consumption can trigger potency disorders. Men then tend to get used to a certain “stimulation level” and need more intense stimulation to feel comparable arousal. The porn then becomes harder and more outlandish. The consequence of this, however, is that the aforementioned “stinkin’ normal relationship sex” just doesn’t turn you on anymore, so you can’t reach or maintain the level of arousal that would be necessary for a sufficient erection. It’s therefore helpful to re-sensitize your senses so that you can enjoy sex and porn completely again.
Here are a few steps that can help men overcome erectile dysfunction and enjoy sex and porn again:
- No to Porn: First, stop watching porn movies completely. Set a goal for 60 days of abstinence.
- Stop masturbating for at least 30 days.
- Find something else to do to fill the time you would normally spend masturbating.
- After 30 days, you can start masturbating again, but limit yourself to two or three times a week and don’t watch porn at first.
- When masturbating, try to focus more on the physical sensations and not recall images from porn (keeping your eyes open can help here).
- After two weeks, change the technique to imitate a more real sexual experience. For example, you can hold your hand still and thrust with your hips.
- In addition, you can take breaks by stopping while you masturbate to make sure you maintain an erection. To do this, stop halfway and take your hand away. Count to 10, take a deep breath, and then continue. If you’re able, you can take it up to 15 and 20.
When you feel ready, try to allow real sexual experience. Focus on your partner and the physical sensations you feel. Take it slow. With time and practice, you can have a healthy, satisfying sex life again and enjoy porn consciously.