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Can Watching Too Much Porn Leave You Limp?

NSFW viewing doesn’t cause ED, according to new study.

man on computer in bed

Porn gets a bad rap for a lot of things: giving men unrealistic ideas about sex, objectifying women, and the fallacy that all handymen/plumbers/TV repairmen have a lush head of hair on their head (but nowhere else on their ripped bodies).

But new research has found one thing it isn’t guilty of: causing erectile dysfunction (ED).

A recent study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research found no correlation between porn use, erectile dysfunction, and sexual satisfaction (1).

Researchers asked 3,586 men intimate details about their sex lives—including how much porn they watch and if they ever experienced premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.

Per their findings, there’s no need to cancel your PornHub subscription.

Men who watched porn were no more likely to suffer from ED than those who didn’t consume X-rated content. Watching porn also didn’t affect relationship or sexual satisfaction among the surveyed men.

Instead, the research found what we already know: erectile dysfunction was more likely to strike older men, men with a history of anxiety and depression, men who had less frequent sex or put a low value on sex, and men who expressed dissatisfaction with their sex life or relationships.

“Findings of this study reiterate the relevance of long-known risk factors such as age, anxiety, and relationship satisfaction for understanding impaired erectile functioning during partnered sex, but they do not support the notion that pornography use is widely associated with poorer erectile functioning or increased ED severity during partnered sex,” researchers say.

The study backs up previous research that there’s no scientific evidence that “porn-induced erectile dysfunction” (an idea made famous by a 2015 Buzzfeed article) is legit (2,3).

That said, this research did find that heavy porn use and frequent masturbation may lower sexual performance and decrease sexual satisfaction in some men.

This may be because you have an idiosyncratic masturbatory style—using a pressure, speed, and friction during solo sessions that’s not easy to replicate during partner sex—so watch your technique if you regularly rub one out in front of your laptop.

About the author

Austin Letorney is a writer who covers health, entertainment, lifestyle, and fitness.