Premature ejaculation is the most commonly reported male sexual dysfunction. . It affects roughly 25% to 30% of men at some point in their life. So, people usually wonder about does porn cause premature ejaculation?
There is no research to conclude that porn causes PE on its own.
However, the psychological factors such as shame and guilt associated with porn influence sexual performance. Factors such as anxiety, stress, and depression associated with compulsive porn use might also be a co-occurring factor in premature ejaculation.
What Is the Connection Between Porn and Sexual Performance?
There is no definitive link between porn and negative outcomes in real-life sexual performance. Researchers have noted that the frequency of porn use does not affect erectile function or sexual satisfaction.
However, people often report in internet forums small studies about porn-induced erectile issues and how porn has reduced their desire for real-life sex. Certain masturbatory habits associated with porn, such as rushing the climax or constantly seeking new content, can lower the interest in partnered sex.
Can Watching Porn Lead to Premature Ejaculation?
Before we look at, does porn cause premature ejaculation? And the connection between porn and premature ejaculation lets us understand the different types of PE.
What is Premature Ejaculation?
Clinically, premature ejaculation refers to ejaculating too quickly after penetration without any voluntary control. For lifelong cases, premature ejaculation happens within one minute. In the case of acquired cases, it happens within three minutes of penetration.
Men with premature ejaculation are unable to delay ejaculation during most or all of vaginal penetration. The negative sexual experiences of premature ejaculation cause frustration, distress, and performance anxiety. Eventually, the men might avoid sexual intimacy altogether due to anxiety about PE.
The 4 main types of premature ejaculation are –
| Sl No. | Type of PE | Associated Factors |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lifelong (Primary) PE | Primarily genetic and neurobiological. Psychological trauma or early conditioning of quick masturbation habits. |
| 02 | Acquired (Secondary) PE | Psychological issues, lifestyle factors, and physical conditions. |
| 03 | Variable PE | No psychological causes |
| 04 | Subjective PE (SPE) | Self-perception of rapid ejaculation despite normal ejaculation time. |
Now to the key question – does porn cause premature ejaculation?
A common theory about does porn causes pe is that watching porn too frequently might train the body to climax too quickly. However, there is no solid research on the definitive effect of porn on premature ejaculation.
Limited Research and Need for Further Research
So far, the research on does porn cause pe has not been conclusive. In fact, there have been studies in which researchers found no difference in porn habits of men with PE and without PE. So, we need further research to understand the extent of the influence of porn on premature ejaculation.
Self-Perceived Addiction
Individuals who self-reported as addicted to porn have a higher incidence of sexual dysfunction issues. So, feelings of guilt, anxiety, or low control about porn consumption might result in premature ejaculation in such men.
Correlations, Not Causation
The medical evidence regarding does porn cause premature ejaculation is mostly observational. So, the connections between porn and premature ejaculation are correlational, not causational.
Underlying Issues and Conditions
Acquired PE is often the result of psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, stress, and relationship issues. Physical conditions such as prostatitis, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes also co-exist with PE. Treating issues such as depression has been effective in addressing premature ejaculation.
Psychological Factors Related to Porn and Premature Ejaculation
The worry about sexual performance can cause issues such as premature ejaculation or erectile challenges. Psychological factors such as anxiety and shame create a cycle of sexual dysfunction.
Premature ejaculation itself causes embarrassment and anxiety about future sexual performance. It can make the individual spiral further into anxiety and get stuck feeling inadequate.
1. Performance anxiety
Anxiety about sexual performance can raise adrel=naline levels, which can speed up ejaculation.
Anxiety can also make it harder to achieve and maintain an erection during sex. If a person is anxious about pleasing their partner, it increases the anxiety and the difficulty of sexual performance.
2. Guilt and shame
In the case of porn and premature ejaculation guilt and shame related to porn can result in premature ejaculation.
If an individual believes that porn is ‘dirty’ or ‘bad,’ it can cause distress and internal conflict. As a result, he may become tense or distracted during sex and climax too quickly.
How to reduce porn consumption?
Now that you know the answer to Does porn cause premature ejaculation? Here are ways to reduce porn consumption –
- Therapy and Counseling – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help to identify your triggers and build healthy coping mechanisms. A weekly practice of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been shown to reduce porn consumption by 85%.
- Support Groups & Accountability – Support communities such as faith-based 12-step programs and online support communities help people to find sponsors and accountability partners to support recovery from porn addiction.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation – Mindfulness meditation helps to manage porn urges and regulate compulsive porn-watching behaviors. Yoga and deep-breathing exercises may also help to control sexual responses.
- Digital Tools – Porn blockers and filters help to remove the temptation and easy access to porn. These tools help to redirect pornographic urges and create a pause for the individual to prevent getting overtaken by urges.
- Lifestyle Changes – Replacing porn with healthy habits minimizes the risk of relapse. Regular exercising, socializing, and hobbies minimize idle time and keep you more emotionally fulfilled.
How To Treat Premature Ejaculation?
Considering the connection between porn and premature ejaculation, quitting porn would be one of the ways to treat Premature Ejaculation. But, each man is different – so depending on the individual circumstances, a combination of treatments might be needed for effective resolution of Premature Ejaculation.
Here are the different approaches to treating Premature Ejaculation –
1. Moderate running
Regular aerobic exercise such as Yoga and HIIT helps to improve cardiovascular health, stress management, and sexual performance.
Exercises such as moderate running can increase sympathetic nervous system activity and help to enhance sexual arousal. Moderate physical activity is as effective as some drug treatments in delaying ejaculation.
2. Behavior techniques
Behavioral therapies are shown to be an effective way to manage Premature Ejaculation.
Conscious control and practice of stop-start and squeeze techniques might help to delay ejaculation.
Practicing delaying ejaculation by pausing on the verge of climax and squeezing the penis head helps to improve ejaculatory control.
3. Pelvic floor exercise
Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle therapy is an effective treatment option for addressing Premature ejaculation.
Strengthening pelvic floor muscles with exercises such as Kegels can improve ejaculatory control. Even in men with lifelong Premature Ejaculation, pelvic floor training helped to extend the ejaculation time up to 146 seconds.
4. Therapy and counseling
Research has shown that CBT can improve ejaculatory latency and sexual satisfaction to treat premature ejaculation.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling can help to address performance anxiety and relationship issues. Talking to a sex therapist can help to manage shame or guilt, which can affect sexual performance.
5. Yoga and Mindfulness
Yoga and mindfulness practices help to improve ejaculatory control by reducing stress and improving body awareness.
Mindfulness-based interventions have been an effective treatment for premature Ejaculation and other sexual dysfunctions.
6. Deep Breathing Techniques
Slow and deep breathing techniques can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and relieve performance anxiety.
Breathing practices such as breath control help to improve ejaculatory control. Slowing down the breathing to 6–8 breaths per minute before and during sex helps to ease the anxiety and give better control.
7. Medication
Pharmacological treatments to address neurotransmitter levels or nerve sensitivity can help delay ejaculation.
SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (commonly used to treat depression) are useful for the treatment of Premature Ejaculation. Regularly taking opioid analgesics such as Tramadol might help to address Premature Ejaculation challenges.
8. Topical anesthetics
lidocaine or prilocaine creams and sprays can help to reduce penile sensitivity and improve ejaculatory control.
These topical anesthetics numb the penis and help to delay ejaculation by 1 to 7 minutes while maintaining the erection. But, care should be taken about proper dose and technique as the anaesthetics might reduce the sensation in the partner also.
How can BlockP help?
Quitting porn is challenging when it is conveniently available on your phone. Your risk of relapse will also increase as you are frequently exposed to triggering content on social media, Apps, and websites.
BlockP is the best free porn blocker to filter pornography on your digital devices. It keeps you safe and reinforces healthy digital habits to support recovery from porn addiction.
- BlockP’s AI filters explicit content (images, text, or video) in real-time. So, you don’t have to stress about accidental exposure to your porn triggers.
- It lets you block adult websites and also set custom filters for content that is personally triggering for you.
- BlockP is enabled with password protection to prevent uninstalling and unblocking in moments of temptation.
- BlockP routes your internet traffic through a VPN to block access to porn material. It also sets ‘safe search’ as the default feature to ensure protection from explicit content.
- The porn blocker filters adult content even in incognito mode and from social media Apps on your phone.
- When you try to access adult content, BlockP redirects you with motivational quotes. Its focus mode and meditation features help to minimize distractions.
- The online support community of BlockP helps you find non-judgemental support and practical strategies through porn addiction recovery.