I won’t pretend this will be the most fun article you have ever read. It requires digging through studies and statistics. I believe the best way to arrive at the truth is to give pornography a truth serum and see what we learn. Without a doubt, the journey may be a little dry but the destination is lush!! will be armed with the knowledge to share and help people who have no idea they need help. As a result, We will be prepared for a healthy Love and relationship.
Pornography as a Moral Question
Here we will end our three-stop, sweeping journey through pornography; We will look at numerous studies and the perceived impact. But, before you begin to imagine me sitting in my living room with bars on the windows trying to keep the evil outside world from disturbing my sterile life, let me dispel such thoughts. I suffer no delusions that life would be better if we returned to 1946. Life may have been slower, but human hearts were still the same. Truly, we have never had a time in history we didn’t want to get what we wanted.
The position I am pushing is not to hide porn by making it illegal. I hope to provide ample reasons why we would be healthier and happier if we did not buy it, view it, or support it. In spite of that, my real goal is to give pornography a truth serum so a reader can decide if porn is worth the risk. To shed light on this, I will use facts to show we should warn the young and protect them from porn until they fully grasp the damage it can cause.
The Truthful Study of Pornography
First, we covered a personal perspective of loss due to pornography: What Pornography Stole from Me. Next, in general terms, we handled some of the issues resulting from regular porn usage: Harmless or Toxic? Now let’s explore a few of the hundreds of studies conducted on the broad subject. Let’s see what we can learn from them. After all, in today’s modern culture, science is king. With this in mind, we will stick to peer-reviewed studies.
Initially, we need to touch on the question of pornography being addictive. There is still no agreement on this. Clearly, if pornography is addictive, it elevates it to less of a lifestyle choice to where it could be considered dangerous. Addiction, by its very nature, is regarded as a biologically compulsory action. Habits affect our lives and well-being. Considering our limitations in terms of time and interest, I will quote the 2016 landmark paper that significantly contributed to the study of Neurological changes to the brain due to addiction. Koob and Volkow chronicled four significant brain changes induced by addiction and published the New England Journal of Medicine(1). Neurobiologic Advances from the Brain Disease Model of Addiction (2016). (2) The study describes the brain changes resulting from both drug and behavior addictions. In the very first paragraph, the authors acknowledge that sex addiction exists:
“We conclude that neuroscience continues to support the brain disease model of addiction. Neuroscience research in this area not only offers new opportunities for the prevention and treatment of substance addictions and related behavioral addictions (e.g., to food, sex, and gambling)….”
The Dark Truth of Porn Addiction
If sex addiction exists, we should step back and remember that despite the adverse effects of pornography, there is a compulsion to return to it. This is a vital step of giving pornography truth serum. When most people light up the first cigarette, they understand the risks. Do you think the 10-year-old in his bedroom can understand what he is risking when he hovers over entry-level pornography connected to his social media apps? I argue they do not, and either does most parents. Our concern must rise to a higher level once we understand the habit is tougher to beat than to prevent.
Let’s look at a few studies on how pornography is linked to sex addiction and sexual problems. These issues include lower arousal rates to sexual stimuli and overall sexual satisfaction. We will touch on a few that demonstrate pornography CAUSES these issues. I will provide the link to Your Brain on Porn’s very detailed list of all of these studies and hundreds more along with links to the journals they are published in. (3)
The Honest Truth of Porn and ED
We need only begin at the beginning, is pornography to blame for the record levels of Erectile Dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, decreased sexual satisfaction, and diminished libido during partnered sex in men under 40? (4) Why are we suspicious that pornography is affecting these vital areas of male sexual function? Before 2006 (the advent of streaming pornography), the reported rate of Erectile Dysfunction was 2%-5% in men under 40, with the 2016 numbers coming in at 14%-35%, representing a 1000% increase in Youthful ED. Low libido numbers are between 13%-37% in the post-porn era. Also, Your Brain on Porn does a great job of breaking the data into two groups. One Group covers the 24 studies linking porn to sexual problems and decreased arousal. The second Group covers the 55 studies linking porn usage to lower relationship and sexual satisfaction.
Yes, you read it correctly. Not only does viewing porn affect your ability to perform sexually, but it affects how you relate to and feel about your partner. (5)
How Pornography Defeats the Young
In the first group of studies where we look at the sexual fallout, a French psychiatrist studied 35 men who were porn users and developed ED. His treatment was to stop the masturbation habit that was attached to cyber-pornography. The result was that 19/35 had the dysfunction regress to the point they could once again enjoy satisfactory sexual activity. Removing pornography caused the dysfunction to go away or lessen. (6)
Another study showed that “4 young men who had utilized pornography since adolescence and habituated to masturbation and who also had increasing exposure to sadism, masochism, zoophilia, etc. had become anorgasmic”(7). Surprisingly, a six-week break from pornography, sexual desire increased for all subjects. Within eight months, one subject was finally able to experience sex with a partner. In short, for the first time in his life. Additionally, the other issues showed improvement as well. (7)
Progression of Pornography
Another very interesting study focused on a composite subject(one representing several young men. These men were being treated with similar history and symptom profile). As the study stated, “the subject had escalated into harder material, as is often the case”(emphasis mine). The paper goes on to show that ejaculation delay issues are not uncommon in such instances. Once identified the subjects were prescribed treatment, in this case, it was simple: 10 weeks no pornography. The result was clear-cut, 10 weeks later the problems were resolved to the relief of the subjects. (8) In the final analysis, giving pornography truth serum is reveals that sex improves without porn.
A study showing the link between a lack of satisfaction with real sex when cybersex becomes a regular habit. Recently, The American Urological Association did a survey in 2017 that showed a link between Porn and sexual dysfunction.
“Young men who prefer pornography to real-world sexual encounters might find themselves caught in a trap. They are unable to perform sexually with other people when the opportunity presents itself, a new study reports. Indeed, porn-addicted men are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction and are less likely to be satisfied with sexual intercourse.”
The Sad Truth of Youthful ED
“The rates of organic causes of erectile dysfunction in this age cohort are extremely low. The increase in erectile dysfunction that we have seen over time for this group needs to be explained,” Christman said. To clarify, He continues, “We believe that pornography use may be one piece to that puzzle”.(9)
Furthermore, the last of the studies we can use is giving pornography truth serum will touch on a study in Italy. In the end, it is disturbing to see the effects of porn on such young and healthy subjects. It should be noted, These were high school seniors.
“The most interesting finding is that 16% of those who consume porn more than once a week report abnormally low sexual desire compared with 0% in non-consumers (and 6% for those who consume less than once a week).”
Another interesting finding was the escalation of dysfunction with the amount of pornography viewed. Sadly, even at these young ages, there is a direct link between porn usage and dysfunction. In fact, dysfunction appears to worsen as the habit increases.
“21.9% define it as habitual, 10% report that it reduces sexual interest towards potential real-life partners, and the remaining, 9.1% report a kind of addiction. In addition, 19% of overall pornography consumers report an abnormal sexual response, while the percentage rose to 25.1% among regular consumers.” (10)
Pornography is Damaging the Young
There are many, many more studies, but we can see the pattern. As a result of regular porn usage, its escalation, and isolation are wreaking havoc on the young who are growing up using it. It is certainly causing damage to anyone caught in its grasp. Consequently, It is not discriminatory. Any age, race, or religion is vulnerable to the effects of sexual dysfunction. In the end, the physical effects are not difficult to connect to porn usage. The volume of evidence is easily accessible, but what does porn do to the users’ relationships?
“As of 2018, there are over 55 studies linking porn usage to poorer sexual and relationship satisfaction.” (11) A Meta-Analysis from 2017. Overall, the analysis showed “pornography consumption was associated with lower interpersonal satisfaction outcomes in cross-sectional surveys, longitudinal surveys, and experiments. Additionally, the association between pornography consumption showed reduced interpersonal satisfaction outcomes. For example, an analysis by sex indicted significant results for men only” (12). Another study from 2017 showed that the usage of pornography by a woman’s partner was “significantly associated with less relational, sexual, and body satisfaction. Specifically, the association for self-satisfaction was also negative, perceiving male partners as more frequent consumers of pornography was significantly associated with less relational and sexual satisfaction.” (13).
Pornography and Self Image
As a rule, If a man loves his female partner, these numbers should force him to consider the cost of his porn habit. In fact, he harms the sexual aspects of the relationship and is damaging the way his partner looks at herself; and the two as a couple. In a word, giving pornography truth serum means porn degrades relationships.
Truth of Pornography and Break-Ups
Not surprisingly, using pornography increases the chances your romantic relationships will suffer a break-up. Namely, a 2017 Study that tracked couples from 2006 forward showed that couples where one or more viewed pornography(in ANY amount) were TWICE as likely to report a romantic break up than the group who doesn’t view pornography. Absolutely, stop and look at that. If you want to keep your relationship healthy, this is a statistic that should speak to you. (14)
Obviously, the damage of porn to love and relationship is a vast subject. For this reason, we haven’t touched on the studies showing the increase in aggressive or violent tendencies of those who view porn. Or comparisons to those who do not. However, the decrease in desire and attractiveness experienced for the partner of the porn user is a well-documented fact. Studies that touch on the decline of empathy and relatedness in both sexual and non-sexual relationships of the porn viewer is also well documented. Clearly, The evidence is black and white, the impact of porn on the viewer and the people who love them is harmful, and not all of the damage is reversible.
Importantly, If you love someone and lose them to pornography, there are no guarantees you can fix that or the damage caused. Notably, If you need more reasons to step back from porn, or step up and be a voice that informs others about its devastation, follow these links, and you will uncover a trail of studies that will keep you busy for as long as you want to keep learning.
Healthy Love Stays Away From Porn
In the end, by giving pornography truth serum, we can confidently summarize our finding: if you love your partner or want to love a partner in the future, STAY AWAY FROM PORN. Truly, you will be less likely to harm, mistreat, cheat on, objectify, control, take for granted, lose the desire for, break up with, etc., if you do not view pornography. Accordingly, people who reject pornography are more likely to enjoy relationships on every level. To illustrate, The list of physical and mental harm is long. Not everything on that list can be corrected once lost. Finally, choose well because it is better to Love Well or Not at All.
Finally, thank you for joining me on this journey! This lap is both a little uncomfortable and statistic rich! Unquestionably, it is more fun to learn with a community, thanks for staying with me!
With this in mind, will be moving on to Rethinking aspects of healthy love and relationship. Including, providing resources for parents to help guide kids to avoid abuse. Most importantly, we hope to spare hearts together!
(2) N Engl J Med 2016; 374:363-371 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1511480
(4)Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports
(6) Male Masturbation and Sexual Dysfunctions English Version-and-sexual-dysfunctions-2016
(7) unusual masturbatory practice and Ed
(8)Study on Treatment of Delayed Ejaculation
(9)Link between porn and sexual dysfunction
(10)Adolescents and Porn: A New Era of Sexuality
(11)Links Between Porn Usage and Less Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction
(12)Meta-Analysis of Porn Consumption and Satisfaction
This needed to be said.
Means a lot to have your support!