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What Is Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get and maintain an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual performance. It affect millions of people worldwide.

ED has many causes. Some experts believe one cause is the excessive consumption of pornography. This is referred to as porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED).

Although PIED is currently not a recognised medical condition, the term has recently gained popularity and is being researched.

For example:

It’s thought that internet pornography, in particular, is partially responsible for the increasing rates of sexual dysfunction (which includes ED), especially in men under the age of 40.

One study discovered that having ED is associated with having a preference for pornography and masturbation. This study also concluded that the rates of ED were higher in participants who preferred or chose pornography over having real-life sex with their partner.

Unlike some other causes of ED, PIED is psychological rather than physical. So, it’s likely that excessive viewing of pornography contributes to erection difficulties by impacting the brain.

Pornography may alter their threshold for sexual arousal, making it harder to be aroused in real life before sex. This is because pornography is thought to act as a supernormal stimulus that’s more potent than sex.

Pornography has this potential because of:

  • Its limitless novelty
  • The ability to seamlessly transition to more extreme material
  • The video format

Because of this conditioning and altering of the threshold, real-life partnered sex may no longer meet a man’s conditioned expectations.

What are the symptoms of porn-induced erectile dysfunction?

Some symptoms of PIED are similar to those of general ED.

Potential symptoms of PIED include:

  • Difficulty getting an erection at any time
  • The ability to get an erection but having difficulty maintaining it for the duration of sex
  • The ability to get an erection sometimes but not whenever actual sex is desired
  • Low self-esteem and depression related to erection difficulties
  • Reduced sexual desire or sexual arousal; in PIED, this may mean:
  • Greater sexual excitement using porn than when with a partner
  • No longer feeling aroused during real-life sexual experiences
  • Need to watch more extreme material to achieve the same level of arousal