A medical professional has raised concerns that excessive consumption of adult films could potentially lead to erectile dysfunction. Dr Alan Mandell, also known as the Motivational Doctor on social media platforms, has expressed his worries about the regular consumption of pornography and frequent masturbation, highlighting that such habits could culminate in erectile dysfunction in the long term.
In a cautionary video posted online, Dr. Mandell explains that continuous exposure to pornography combined with regular masturbation can impair a person’s sexual health. He describes erectile dysfunction as the inability of someone with a penis to achieve or maintain a firm erection during sexual activity. “Too much sexual stimulation is not good. You’re overloading the reward system in your brain that’s causing dopamine, those happy chemicals that are being secreted from the brain. And eventually, you will get desensitized to sexual stimulation,” he says in the video. He suggests that reducing consumption can lead to noticeable improvements, “So when you start cutting out porn and masturbating you will see significant results.”
This viewpoint is supported by other healthcare professionals as well. HealthMatch has acknowledged that erectile dysfunction can be ‘porn-induced’ (PIED) and has mentioned that various studies correlate compulsive use of pornography with a diminished libido and/or erectile dysfunction. The relationship between excessive consumption of pornography and erectile dysfunction is still being explored; however, it’s clear that PIED is influenced more by psychological factors rather than physical ones, with excessive viewing impacting brain function and contributing to erection difficulties.
Experts have noted that heavy consumption of adult films can lead to desensitization towards real-life sexual experiences, meaning the expectations set by pornography do not align with actual sexual interactions. HealthMatch elaborates on this, stating, “Because of the conditioning and desensitization, partnered sex may no longer trigger the sufficient release of dopamine needed for producing and sustaining erections. This is also because pornography is believed to alter the brain’s motivational system.”
The severity of this issue is still under debate among experts, particularly with the growing incidence of erectile dysfunction among younger individuals. While not medically recognized, the potential role of pornography in this trend is considered significant by some researchers. According to Very Well Health, about 40% of erectile dysfunction cases are deemed psychogenic, attributed to psychological rather than physiological factors.
If you’re experiencing difficulties in maintaining an erection, it might be worthwhile to examine your pornography consumption habits and consider seeking advice from a mental health professional or a doctor. For those struggling with PIED, various interventions such as talking therapy, mindfulness techniques, and regular exercise can offer support in reducing adult film content intake.