There is no current study confirming any direct causation between porn consumption and premature ejaculation.
One treatment method that's been proven to be effective for reducing porn consumption is acceptance and commitment therapy.
Different treatments for premature ejaculation include yoga, running, and pelvic exercises.
It’s important to investigate the relationship and discuss the underlying psychological factors. Learning practical strategies and exercise will help men to overcome PE.
There is currently no study confirming direct causation between porn consumption and premature ejaculation. But research from the Journal of Medicine does suggest that one perceiving themselves as having internet porn addiction can lead to negative sexual outcomes.
A treatment option that can change the patient’s perception of their internet porn addiction may be worth exploring with a physician.
In the fourth edition of Human Reproductive Biology, it notes that most studies suggest that premature ejaculation is a learned response.
It’s possible that the quick arousal from pornography leads to men learning to ejaculate fast and thus developing premature ejaculation.
Dopamine is responsible for promoting seminal ejaculation. Porn is said to directly trigger dopamine secretion, which would suggest it may influence how quickly ejaculation occurs.
Psychological Factors Related to Porn and Premature Ejaculation
A range of psychological factors can exacerbate premature ejaculation, and porn consumption can contribute to these issues:
Performance anxiety: The unrealistic portrayal of sex in porn can lead to increased anxiety about sexual performance, potentially causing men to ejaculate sooner than desired.
Guilt and shame: According to Psychology Today, feelings of sexual guilt can make premature ejaculation more likely. If one feels guilty about pornography, it’s possible they may end up feeling guilt about sex in general.
Addressing these psychological factors may significantly improve the control over ejaculation and enhance overall sexual satisfaction.
How to reduce porn consumption
If the perception of pornography consumption is a cause of premature ejaculation, then it would stand that reducing it could treat the issue. One option to consider is:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
A study conducted on 28 male participants found that Acceptance and Commitment therapy caused a 93% reduction of problematic internet pornography use.
As Psychology Today describes it, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy involves accepting one’s inner emotions and understanding they don’t prevent them from moving forward in life. Look for a therapist that offers ACT as a treatment option.
Reducing porn consumption alone may not eliminate premature ejaculation. Here are a few other treatment options to consider to fix the issue.
Moderate running
A study found that there was a statistically significant increase in intravaginal ejaculation latency time in participants who did moderate running 30 minutes a day and five days a week.
The group showed more improvement than participants in the control group who were only advised to walk 30 minutes a day and five days a week. Set out some time to do some running and see how it impacts your time in the bedroom.
Behavioral techniques
Practice techniques like the start-stop method or the squeeze technique to train your body to delay ejaculation. These methods involve stopping stimulation before the point of no return and resuming when the urge to ejaculate subsides.
These methods have been found to be somewhat effective in managing premature ejaculation.
Pelvic floor exercises
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles is a medically recommended treatment for improving control over ejaculation. Kegel exercises involve contracting and relaxing the muscles that support the pelvic organs.
One study showed that participants were able to raise their intravaginal ejaculatory latency time from less than a minute to nearly two minutes.
Counseling and therapy
Engage in individual or couples therapy to address underlying psychological issues, such as performance anxiety, guilt, or shame.
In a recent story in the New York Post, it was reported that yoga can potentially help men last up to three times longer. The time that the participants lasted during sex went from an average of 26 seconds to about a minute and a half.
Deep Breathing
Focused attention on breathing movements in the lower abdomen was found to be correlated with an increase of whole blood serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine levels.
Researchers hypothesize that elevated concentrations of 5-HT is involved with ejaculatory control. Therefore, it’s possible that more 5-HT can help men be better able to hold off ejaculation and last longer.
Topical anesthetics like lidocaine, which can be found in desensitizing spray, is clinically proven to help men last longer in bed.
Takeaways
While there is no direct causal link between porn consumption and premature ejaculation, it may indirectly contribute to the condition.
It’s important for men to address any negative perceptions they have about their internet porn consumption.
Additionally, it’s important to address any psychological factors related to premature ejaculation that porn may be contributing to, such as performance anxiety and sexual guilt.
Exploring treatments such as acceptance and commitment therapy may help to reduce porn consumption.
Pursuing activities such as yoga and running will also potentially provide long-term treatment for PE.
Our team has over a decade of experience in the sexual wellness field and are experts in sexual dysfunctions, like premature ejaculation. We help couples and individuals better understand treatment options available for different types of sexual needs and educate the public on all things related to intimacy. All of our authored content is medically reviewed for accuracy and reliability.
Sources:
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