Porn to Blame for Rising Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men?

Key Points

• Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is becoming more prevalent in men under 40

• ED is typically caused by psychogenic or organic reasons

• Excessive porn use can lead to Erectile Dysfunction

• Treatment for porn addiction may help reduce instances of ED in younger men

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Healthy and regulated porn use can become a problem when it turns into an obsessive or uncontrolled habit that negatively impacts one's mental or physical health. Dr. Babak Ashrafi stated that he has seen a 46% increase in men under the age of 40 who have sought out his services related to erectile dysfunction in 2025 compared to the previous year. Dr Ashrafi contributed a large part of this issue to be related to excessive porn use, which can rewire men's brains and make it difficult for them to become aroused without porn or other visual stimulation. 

Vannah Hughes, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist at Birches Health, has seen this firsthand:

“Men who struggle with avoidant attachment or intimacy anorexia – combined with excessive pornography use – often experience erectile challenges in real-world intimacy. Pornography offers stimulation without vulnerability, emotional risk, or the fear of being truly seen and rejected. 

In other cases, erectile dysfunction may stem from the presence of the ‘Madonna-whore complex,’ which creates a psychological split that makes it difficult to integrate emotional closeness with sexual desire. The individual begins to view their partner as pure and sacred—emotionally revered but sexually inaccessible, while reserving desire and arousal for pornography. This internal division reinforces a pattern of compartmentalization, framing intimacy through a distorted lens of ‘good versus evil,’ and further entrenching reliance on porn.” 

-Vannah Hughes, MA, NCAC-II, LCDC, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist at Birches Health

For context, the “Madonna-whore complex" is a psychological concept coined by the famed Sigmund Freud that describes a split in some men's perception of women, classifying them into two exclusive categories:

• The "Madonna" is pure, virtuous, nurturing, and respectable; someone to idealize and revere. This is often the type they want to marry and/or protect.

• The "Whore" is sexually promiscuous, degraded, or morally “loose”; someone to desire sexually but not respect or with whom they want to form a deep relationship.

Individuals with this complex struggle to sexually desire women they respect, and on the other hand may not respect women whom they desire. As a result, they find it difficult to integrate love and lust in the same partner.

Research indicates rise in erectile dysfunction in young men

Researchers have found that the rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) in males under the age of 40 has increased in the past decade. One medical practice reported that they saw 31 times more cases of erectile dysfunction issues in men aged 14-21 than the last ten years and that 1 in 4 men under 40 suffer from ED.  The Yale Daily News spoke with Dr. Thomas M. Buckley, an associate professor of urology, to dive more into the reasons why this may be occurring. 

ED is typically caused by either psychogenic or organic reasons. Psychogenic refers to mental health or performance anxiety where organic causation would be from a physical or medical issue. With men under 40, Dr. Buckley attributes factors such as stress, performance anxiety, medication and lifestyle choices as potential reasons why there are more instances of ED in recent years. 

Younger males who smoke excessive amounts of cannabis, consume alcohol frequently or have poor eating habits are also at higher risk of struggling with ED. COVID-19 has also been linked to an increase of ED in younger men, stating that isolation, a decline in mental health and potentially even the virus itself could impact ED rates. 

Is pornography to blame for ED in young males? 

Research has also suggested that pornography use may be linked to an increase of Erectile Dysfunction in younger males. Men who were exposed to porn at a younger age are linked to higher rates of ED, with the pressure and unrealistic expectations that porn displays, impacting levels of anxiety and stress when engaging in sexual activity. 

Psychologist Raymond Rosen from Robert Wood Johnson Medical Institute explored the connection of learning and memory with erectile health as well. Otherwise healthy young men can become conditioned to have erections or sexual responses to non-sexual stimuli or mental images, including fetish porn, which can lead to issues with erections in traditional sexual situations. 

Another study analyzed the responses of almost 3,500 men between the ages of 18 and 35, who were asked questions related to porn usage and erectile dysfunction symptoms. The results showed approximately 21% of participants had some degree of ED and higher levels of porn use were directly correlated to higher rates of ED. 

Impacts of “Gooning” in young men

“Gooning,” a popular sexual trend, is a form of prolonged masturbation similar to “edging” that has become more prevalent in recent years. Gooning involves masturbating either alone or in a group setting, until one is on the verge of an orgasm but delaying their release for an extended duration, even multiple hours. It is said that gooning can lead to a meditative or hypnotic state, which is found to be pleasurable for some people. 

Gooning has also been linked to issues with sexual function and can have negative impacts on those who participate. Gooning typically involves watching excessive amounts of porn over long periods, which may increase the risk of developing a pornography addiction or sexual desensitization. Gooning may also lead to physical issues, such as damage due to overuse or erectile dysfunction. 

Porn Addiction statistics

Porn addiction affects approximately 3% to 6% of the population according to a 2019 study. Men are reported to have higher rates of porn addiction, with 69% of males watching porn regularly versus 40% of women. Men also downloaded more porn compared to women. 

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the majority of those who engage in excessive porn use. Those who were exposed to porn at a younger age were also more likely to struggle with problematic porn use as adults compared to those who were not.

Signs of Porn Addiction

Recognizing porn addiction may be difficult, as there are no specific diagnostic criteria that determine a healthy use or porn versus problematic use. Signs that someone may be addicted to porn include:

• Unable to stop watching porn 

• Cravings when not watching porn

• Porn use impacts relationships

• Mood swings

• Porn is prioritized over other responsibilities

• Lack of enjoyment in regular activities

• Sexual performance is impacted by porn use

• Unrealistic sexual expectations due to porn

• Feelings of shame or guilt related to porn use

• Being secretive about porn viewing

• Feelings of depression or anxiety when not viewing porn

• Continuously increasing the amount of time spent viewing porn

Porn addiction treatment in the United States

There are various treatment options for porn addiction available to those who are struggling. Porn addiction is often treated with interventions used in other behavioral addictions. Porn addiction treatment may include inpatient treatment, outpatient services, group therapy, mutual support groups, national or local hotlines and other therapeutic services. 

Birches Health offers virtual treatment with therapists who specialize and are trained in treating porn addiction. Birches helps reduce barriers to treatment for porn addiction with flexible and affordable care. To get started with Birches or get more information on porn addiction treatment, you can:

• Book an appointment 

• Call 833-483-3838

• Email help@bircheshealth.com