Expert reveals how watching porn can make it difficult to orgasm for both men and women
Topics: Adult Industry, Sex and Relationships
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Adult Industry, Sex and Relationships
In 2025, it was found that 60 percent of women in the US and 80 percent of men had watched pornography that year — but how are these habits affecting our real-life relationships and sex lives?
In December, FHE Health reported that roughly 11 percent of Americans watch porn daily. It may seem like a harmless thing to do while pleasuring yourself, but it can have some negative impacts on your actual relationships.
Halle Berry recently discussed adult films and how people might feel inclined to try out things they've seen online.
"Men often mimic what they see in porn [and] that's another thing I get to say to my guy — don't do what you see in porn," she said on the Sex with Emily podcast.
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Berry went on to say that if she ever thought a sexual partner was trying to reenact a porno that it would be a 'dead stop' for her.
But, away from porn-like antics in the bedroom being a turn off for some people, it can affect your sex lives in other ways, Annabelle Knight (sex and relationships expert at Lovehoney) told UNILAD.
"Porn isn’t inherently harmful, and for many people it can be a healthy part of sexual exploration," Annabelle said. "The issue arises when it becomes someone’s primary reference point for what sex ‘should’ look like."
"Most mainstream porn is performance-based, it’s designed for visual impact, not emotional connection, mutual pleasure or realistic pacing," she added.
She went on: "When people internalise those scripts, they can start to measure themselves or their partner against unrealistic standards, whether that’s body image, stamina, constant arousal, or the idea that orgasms happen quickly and effortlessly.
"Over time, this can create pressure rather than pleasure, and comparison rather than connection.
"Some people experience difficulty maintaining arousal or reaching orgasm because their brains have become highly conditioned to a very specific type of visual stimulus. When real-life intimacy feels slower or less visually intense, it can take time to retrain that response."
If you're worried that your partner has become too influenced by porn, Annabelle advised that you should address the matter by starting the conversation with 'curiosity instead of criticism'.
She explained: "You might say, 'I’ve been thinking about how we both learned about sex, and I wonder if some of it has shaped what we expect from each other. Can we talk about what actually feels good for us?'
"That kind of framing keeps the focus on shared growth rather than fault."
Annabelle further noted: "Healthy sex isn’t about recreating what you’ve seen online — it’s about co-creating something that works for both of you."