A doctor has warned of the dangers of a condition known as PIED, or porn-induced erectile dysfunction, which is said to be the cause for two thirds of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction in the UK.
PIED is caused when excessive pornography consumption leads to a desensitisation in sexual arousal, making it more difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.
It comes after Strictly star and presenter Ore Oduba opened up about his crippling 30-year porn addiction which he said had completely 'destroyed' him.
The admission, on Paul Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, revealed how Oduba's desire for pornographic content began at the age of nine, when a friend's older brother showed him adult material, sparking a wider conversation of the dangers of children and young people being able to access porn.
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Yesterday, 3 November, the UK government exclusively shared plans with LADbible to launch a major crackdown on violence in the porn industry.
And, now it seems that excessive access to porn is having an alarming effect on people's bedroom activities as men up and down the country struggle with libido and sexual performance as a result.
A recent study by MedExpress found that 82 percent of men in the UK consume porn, with a third of British men revealing they'd first accessed adult content before the age of 15. Meanwhile, more than half of men said they believed porn had negatively impacted their relationships.
Two thirds (64 percent) said they believed porn had caused them to experience erectile dysfunction, while 14 percent said it was the main reason they'd suffered from ED.
More than half confessed to hiding their porn habits from their partner, while a third admitted sex with a partner felt less exciting because of watching pornography.
Worryingly, 62 percent of men said their mental health had suffered because of the content they had consumed, with many admitting feelings of shame, guilt and addiction, as well as lower self-esteem and concentration.
And while you might assume porn remains behind closed doors, a surprisingly high number of participants admitted watching porn in public places.
Seventeen percent of men have watched porn at work, 14 percent have watched it in public bathrooms and 5 percent have watched adult content on public transport.
“The number of Brits consuming porn in public is alarming due to the nature of consumption. Watching porn in public suggests that it is moving beyond casual pleasure and entertainment into dependency, which can significantly increase the risk of developing PIED – porn induced erectile dysfunction," said Dr Sophie Dix, Head of Medical Affairs at MedExpress.
"Excessive and compulsive porn use will encourage desensitisation of sexual responses, driving a need for more frequent, excessive and extreme content, which can escalate sexual and mental health issues.”
If you want friendly, confidential advice about porn addiction, you can talk to Rehab Recovery. You can call 0800 088 66 86, request a call back, or speak to the 24/7 chat on their website.
Topics: Health, Mental Health, Adult Industry
Emma Rosemurgey