Dr. Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT

For males, porn-induced erectile dysfunction, sometimes referred to as PIED, is among the most common consequences of porn addiction. Research suggests that erectile dysfunction (ED) and other forms of male sexual dysfunction like delayed ejaculation (DE), and anorgasmia (the inability to reach orgasm) occur in anywhere from 17% to 58% of all male sex/porn addicts. Moreover, the more porn one uses, the more likely sexual dysfunction is.

Simply stated, growing numbers of physically healthy men, including men in their sexual prime, are suffering from sexual dysfunction – typically with real-world partners rather than with porn – and their dysfunction is directly related to their abuse of online pornography. And this issue is not entirely due to the frequency of masturbation and orgasm outside a primary relationship (i.e., the need for a sexual refractory period in which males “reload,” so to speak). In reality, the problem is increasingly related to the fact that when a man spends most of his sexual life masturbating to online porn – endless images of sexy, exciting, constantly changing partners and experiences – he is, over time, likely to find a real-world partner less sexually stimulating than the endless variety of visuals he finds online. Basically, digital pornography creates an emotional and psychological disconnection that manifests physically as sexual dysfunction with real-world partners.

In their paper, Evaluation and Treatment of Sex Addiction, Kenneth Rosenberg, Patrick Carnes, and Suzanne O’Connor state the matter rather clearly, writing, “Sex addiction patients are generally not good at sex. They function poorly in the bedroom. Sex addicts feverishly pursue their dysfunctional sexual behaviors yet generally have sexual difficulties with intimate partners…. Premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction [and] anorgasmia … are common.” And this is most apparent when sex addicts are hooked primarily on pornography.

Possible signs of porn-induced male sexual dysfunction include:

• A man is able to achieve erections and orgasms with pornography, but he struggles with one or both when he’s with a real-world partner.
• A man is able to have sex and achieve orgasm with real-world partners, but reaching orgasm takes a long time and his partners complain that he seems disengaged.
• A man is able to maintain an erection with real-world partners, but he can only achieve orgasm by replaying porn clips in his mind.
• A man increasingly prefers pornography to real-world sex, finding it more intense and more engaging.

Thanks to heavy porn use, growing numbers of men are suffering from sexual dysfunction, be it ED, DE, or anorgasmia. Even worse, male sexual dysfunction affects not just men but their romantic partners. After all, if a guy can’t get it up, keep it up, and reach orgasm, then his partner’s sexual pleasure is also likely to be diminished.

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If you or a loved one are struggling with sex or porn addiction, Seeking Integrity can help. In addition to residential rehab at our sex and porn addiction treatment center, we offer low-cost online workgroups for male sex addicts and male porn addicts new to recovery. Click HERE for information on our Sex Addiction Workgroup. Click HERE for information on our Porn Addiction workgroup.