Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports

Abstract

Traditional factors that once explained men’s sexual difficulties appear insufficient to account for the sharp rise in erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, decreased sexual satisfaction, and diminished libido during partnered sex in men under 40. This review (1) considers data from multiple domains, e.g., clinical, biological (addiction/urology), psychological (sexual conditioning), sociological; and (2) presents a series of clinical reports, all with the aim of proposing a possible direction for future research of this phenomenon. Alterations to the brain's motivational system are explored as a possible etiology underlying pornography-related sexual dysfunctions. This review also considers evidence that Internet pornography’s unique properties (limitless novelty, potential for easy escalation to more extreme material, video format, etc.) may be potent enough to condition sexual arousal to aspects of Internet pornography use that do not readily transition to real-life partners, such that sex with desired partners may not register as meeting expectations and arousal declines. Clinical reports suggest that terminating Internet pornography use is sometimes sufficient to reverse negative effects, underscoring the need for extensive investigation using methodologies that have subjects remove the variable of Internet pornography use. In the interim, a simple diagnostic protocol for assessing patients with porn-induced sexual dysfunction is put forth.

Eliminate Chronic Internet Pornography Use to Reveal Its Effects

“…Many report increased desire to be in a relationship, more pleasure from intimacy, and a very different, more human, perception of potential mates. It is likely that these benefits, like the initial symptoms, are the result of neuroplastic changes (Park et al, 2016). Some 4,000 recovery self-reports gathered from online recovery forums can be viewed at www.yourbrainonporn.com (Your Brain on Porn, 2016).…”

“…However, since 2010, six studies have found ED rates of 27%-33% in young men, a 1000% increase in the last 15 years (Park et al, 2016).…”

“…A 2016 review of the literature related to pornography-induced sexual problems involving US Navy doctors included three clinical reports of men who developed porn-induced sexual dysfunctions (Park et al, 2016). Two of the three men healed their sexual dysfunctions by eliminating porn use.…”

The Risks Young People Face as Porn Consumers

“…Historically, levels of impotence among young men have been 2% to 5% (Park et al, 2016). A range of recent studies are finding that 27% to 33% of young men age 18-40 years are having erectile difficulties and low libido rates with a real partner (Bronner & Ben-Zion, 2014;Klucken, Wehrum-Osinsky, Schweckendiek, Kruse, & Stark, 2016;Kühn & Gallinat, 2014;Mialon, Berchtold, Michaud, Gmel, & Suris, 2012;Pizzol, Bertoldo, & Foresta, 2015;Sutton, Stratton, Pytyck, Kolla, & Cantor, 2015), though not with internet pornography (Landripet & Štulhofer, 2015).…”

“…Essentially, they have conditioned their brains to respond to images on a screen and not to real partners. For most young men, this problem can be treated by discontinuing their use of pornography (Pacha, 2016;Park et al, 2016;Porto 2016).…”