Erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to get or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED is often associated with middle-aged and older men.

 A growing number of young and healthy Internet pornography users are complaining of delayed ejaculation, inability to be turned on by real partners, and sluggish erections.

Although in many men, the problem of erectile dysfunction may be similar, the causes are not. There are numerous reasons for the development of this issue, some physical and others psychological. 

The Two significant contributors to Erectile dysfunction are Porn and performance anxiety. They are always confused about each other. Let’s get clarity on what caused your  Erectile Dysfunction, Porn, or Performance Anxiety?

Porn induced Erectile dysfunction

Pornography is being widespread around the world nowadays and it is easily available to everyone. Pornography creates unrealistic expectations about your spouse and sexual behavior. Pornography has been shown to weaken commitment in marriages because it creates an utterly false impression of what a normal body looks like and what sexual behavior is really about. The sexual relationship is meant to be a mutually satisfying expression of each partner’s love for the other. In contrast, porn is about self-gratification and often involves dominating or mistreating the other person.

Recent studies have shown that porn addiction suggests that the loss of libido and performance occurs because heavy users are numbing their brain’s normal response to pleasure. Years of overriding the natural limits of libido with intense stimulation desensitize the user’s response to a neurochemical called dopamine. The running hypothesis is that the type of porn watched may become more explicit over time and partner-sex may not lead to the same level of arousal as the pornographic material does.

For men with porn-induced erectile dysfunction, the weak link is not the penis, but rather the desensitized dopamine system in the brain.

In the last decade or so, addiction researchers have discovered that too much dopamine stimulation has a paradoxical effect. The brain decreases its ability to respond to dopamine signals (desensitization). This occurs with all addictions, both chemical and natural. In some porn users, the response to dopamine is dropping so low that they can’t achieve an erection without constant hits of dopamine via the Internet.

Porn addiction can lead to performance anxiety due to very unreal expectations from porn

So, if you are not attaining the erection and are not sexually aroused even after seeing your partner seducing and you are more into porn then your Erectile Dysfunction is porn-induced.

ED due to Performance anxiety

Sexual performance anxiety is one of the most common sexual issues. In fact, during sexual intercourse, the pressure and tension that may arise frequently stem from an underlying desire to please your partner. It may also be a product of poor body confidence problems. Both of which are real concerns. 

It is only after this stress turns into anxiety that there might be sexual dysfunction. This can impact the success of an individual, and consequently his sex life. Even in physically stable men who have historically had no sexual performance problems, performance anxiety may occur. Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual condition caused by performance anxiety in men.

Sexual Anxiety is an extreme sense of fear that goes beyond what a person should feel in a particular situation, which in this case is sex. Bear in mind that the body responds as you get nervous, as though you are at immediate risk, even though you are not. As a result, adrenalin and cortisol are produced and released by the body. There are stress-related hormones that in your body elicit a fight-or-flight reaction.

These hormones elevate your blood pressure and heart rate and increase your energy, so you can flee dangerous situations. They also halt many bodily functions. When it comes to sex, adrenaline and cortisol cause your muscles to tense and your heart to beat rapidly. And, in some cases, it reduces blood flow to your penis. This can lead to a loss of erection or difficulty achieving an erection.

The causes of performance anxiety that leads to ED can be poor self-image, lack of previous sexual experience, relationship problems with your partner.

Conclusion

The causes of erectile dysfunction can be anything, you will be able to know it only if you consult a physician or a urologist.

Most men hesitate to consult a doctor but consulting a doctor relieves you from erectile dysfunction and helps you in enjoying your sexual life.

If you are hesitating to go to a hospital directly, online clinics like “The ED Clinic” who are specialized in treating erectile dysfunction are offering free consultations with licensed physicians which you can try at the comfort of sitting at home.