Is Porn Guilty? – How to Understand the Complicated Causes of ED
Does pornography cause erectile dysfunction?
Porn is often part of conversations when a man is struggling with ED . While it can certainly play a part, there isn’t exactly a “black and white” answer when it comes to the connection.
For the most part, there isn’t much scientific evidence that directly links pornography to erectile dysfunction. But, that doesn’t mean it can’t contribute to the problem.
The biggest problem with porn is that it can skew our ideas of what a healthy sexual relationship really is. As a result, men who frequently watch porn on the internet may have a harder time “performing” in a real-world scenario.
Is Pornography the Only Culprit?
We’ll talk a bit more about some of the other possible causes of ED in the next section. First, it’s important to understand that porn can affect your ability to perform sexually.
It doesn’t matter how attracted you are to your partner. It doesn’t even matter if you’re in your sexual prime. The problem with ED as it relates to porn is it isn’t necessarily a physical issue.
Most of the time, when men view porn, they don’t have the same dysfunction that they do with a partner. This tells us that the connection to watching porn is an emotional and psychological issue.
Again, it’s easy to skew your thoughts about healthy sexual habits when you’re watching pornography that is scripted. The people are flawless, there are fantasy situations, etc.
Unfortunately, watching pornography and then being unable to have an erection during sex can damage your relationship.
It can cause personal anxiety and low self-esteem as well. You may also find that it hurts your partner’s feelings and affects their esteem.
What Are the Other Common Causes of ED?
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by either physical or psychological problems. Sometimes, it’s a mixture of both. The physical issues may require medical attention.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
Certain medications, tobacco use, or alcohol consumption can also contribute to ED. If you feel one of these physical problems is causing your erectile dysfunction, talk to your doctor about treating the condition itself. As a result, the “side effects” of the condition will start to fade away.
The psychological problems that typically cause ED are often more complicated. They include things like depression, anxiety, or excessive stress. Thankfully, these are also often treatable or manageable with the right help.
How to Manage Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction isn’t just a condition that affects older men anymore. Even young men in their sexual peak are dealing with it for a variety of reasons. Porn is a large contributor to this problem.
If you have a physical condition that is contributing to your ED, see a doctor for help. But what if it’s a psychological condition? Or, what if pornography is impacting your self-esteem, causing a low sex drive?
In these cases, counseling or therapy can really make a difference. Limiting how much porn you actually watch is a great place to start.
For some men, though, that isn’t easy. Working with a counselor can help you to kick the porn habit. More importantly, it can help you obtain more knowledge about healthy sexual habits can effectively reverse the effects of ED.
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That’s the good news! When a psychological issue or pornography is contributing to your ED, it can usually be helped.
If you’re struggling with ED and you feel it’s due to porn, or another psychological issue, feel free to contact me. Together, we can work on the issues you’re facing and learn how to develop healthy sexual habits.
