Pornography

The reasons why people watch porn can be diverse, but the main ones are probably to try to learn and to get sexual stimulation, e.g. during masturbation. It is important to keep in mind that porn does not give a realistic image of sex and is therefore not a good example of sex education. Porn can certainly help some people get sexually aroused and there are many people who take advantage of it, but it's important to keep in mind what you're watching, it's an act that's set up in unrealistic situations.

People find porn in many things, in books, shows, movies, and on the internet. Porn can be accessed both for free and also by paying for it in various places.

The fundamental difference between porn and sex is that porn is an act, it usually takes place in situations where there is little or no communication between individuals because all the participants are following some script or the director.

Real sex is based on good communication, trust, equality, and consent. Also, porn can promote unrealistic pressures on how to perform, think and act.

If you see something in porn that you want to try, you have to be sure that your partner is willing and ready to try it without feeling pressured. Communication and consent are the keys to good and healthy sex.

In "mainstream" porn, which is often common on free online streaming sites, porn can often be very crude and downright violent, especially towards women. There are examples of individuals being forced to act in porn against their will, with low wages and poor treatment. This kind of porn is more often found on these free sites, so it can be good to keep that in mind when watching.

It's also good to know that movies almost never give a realistic picture of sex. How often do you think people have sex in elevators in real life, compared to how often it happens in movies? How often do movies show people picking up condoms and using them during sex?

So-called mainstream porn usually includes a heterosexual cis-woman and a man having sex, where the woman is typically portrayed to be submissive and the man is in control. However, it’s also possible to explore queer porn, where people of the same gender have sex.

The kind of porn you watch doesn't define your sexual orientation.
Heterosexual individuals might just as well enjoy watching queer porn, and homosexual individuals might watch heterosexual porn. Many people even find that queer porn contains less violence and more respectful treatment of women, and therefore prefer it over "mainstream" porn.

There is also a newer concept called "feminist porn", which focuses on depicting sex in a more "realistic" and respectful way than mainstream porn — meaning it includes communication, contraception, and equality between all participants.

Whether someone watches porn is personal. A large portion of people watch or have watched porn at some point, and studies show that more boys than girls tend to watch porn.

Whether you watch porn regularly or just occasionally, it’s good to keep the following in mind:

Porn and Its Influence ("Pornification") Can Contribute To:

• Worries about appearance and self-image, such as body shape or the appearance of genitals.
• • Most actors in mainstream porn are chosen based on the look of their genitals — they’re often well-groomed, may have breast implants, or use pills to maintain an erection.
• Performance anxiety in sex.
• • In porn, you can pause or edit out anything that goes wrong. In real-life sex, anything can happen — someone might fart or climax earlier than expected — and that’s what makes it exciting! You never know what to expect.
• Negative effects on sex with a partner — when ideas from porn are applied to real-life sex without respecting boundaries and consent.
• Unhealthy porn use.

But What Counts as Unhealthy Porn Use?

• Watching porn repeatedly, even though you regret it afterward.
• Constantly seeking more extreme or violent content to feel aroused — even if you regret watching it.
• When sex with a partner becomes worse because you're applying ideas from porn without respecting their consent or comfort.
• When porn use begins to negatively affect your daily life, such as school, work, or social life.
• Feeling isolated because of your porn habits.
• Becoming dependent on porn to feel any kind of sexual arousal.

Some Treatment Options May Include:

• Psychological counseling: This can help a person understand their relationship with porn, identify unmet sexual needs, and develop healthier ways to manage emotional struggles — whether they’re linked to porn or deeper issues.
• Relationship counseling: Therapy for couples can help open up discussions about values, whether porn has a place in the relationship, and how to build trust.
• Medication: Sometimes, people use porn to cope with underlying issues. Medication can help treat conditions like anxiety or depression.
• Lifestyle changes: Some people watch porn out of boredom or fatigue. A healthier lifestyle might mean spending less time on the computer and more time exercising, socializing, etc.

If you feel that porn is having a negative impact on you or your relationship, it can be a good idea to take a break or stop watching it completely — and train your imagination instead.