Virtual reality is a new technology with a wide variety of uses. It can be used in education, architecture, gaming, and marketing. It’s not surprising that it’s also now used in pornography. Virtual pornography or virtual reality sex (a.k.a. VR porn) can be more pleasurable for some people because it allows users to watch immersive and interactive porn videos. However, there are concerns that virtual reality pornography might affect sexual functions. Can VR porn negatively affect your sexual well-being? Here are some ways that VR porn might affect sexual functions.
Dopamine desensitisation
Dopamine desensitisation is a condition wherein your brain’s dopamine receptors become less responsive to stimulation. Dopamine is known as the “happy hormone” because it is associated with pleasure and motivation. Dopamine desensitisation can be caused by repeated exposure to pleasurable stimuli, like social media, porn, games, or food. When you are dopamine desensitised, activities that used to be pleasurable, like watching porn or having sex, become less enjoyable. The heightened sensations stemming from watching VR porn can make the experience of vanilla sex less pleasurable. This can result in erectile dysfunction. It can negatively affect your intimate relationship as you may not get excited or get hard during sex with your partner.
Fetish or kink development
Although most pornographic videos contain regular sex acts, there are also videos that deal with fetishes. A fetish is a sexual interest in a body part or an object that is not usually considered sexually stimulating. Examples are body parts, like the feet or toes. A fetish can also involve a piece of clothing, such as footwear, stockings, or hats. Others develop a fetish for the feel of certain materials, such as latex or leather.
VR porn can also cause someone to develop a kink. A kink is an unconventional sexual practise. For example, someone might develop a kink for exhibitionism or having sex in a public place. A person might develop a kink for group sex while another might develop a kink for spanking. Once a man has developed a kink, he might not derive sexual pleasure from regular sex.
Aside from the possibility of having sexual dysfunction during regular sex, a kink can also affect one’s relationship. For example, if a man has a kink for spanking but his partner just wants regular sex, it can cause a rift in their relationship. His partner might also think of a kink as something too weird or abnormal. If you developed a kink for something, it’s best to communicate it with your partner with honesty. Remember: kinks are generally okay, but it’s always good to practice it with consent.
Addiction and overuse
Porn addiction is a real health issue. According to an article published by the University of Sydney, 4% of Australian men and 1% of Australian women are addicted to porn.
This means that they feel a compulsive and excessive need to consume porn. As a result, they cannot get sexually aroused unless they are watching porn. This can lead to erectile dysfunction when they engage sexually with their partners without porn videos playing.
It can also lead to premature ejaculation for some because they might want to finish a sexual encounter to get back into watching porn. Porn addiction can also cause them to neglect their responsibilities because their minds are too occupied with porn.
Impact on intimacy and relationships
Virtual reality porn might lead to emotional detachment. Since they can derive sexual pleasure from VR porn, some might find real relationships unnecessary. They might also think of VR porn as a low-effort and low-maintenance alternative to human intimacy.
Virtual porn might also result in unrealistic expectations about sexual encounters. Since most porn videos use idealised depictions of women, a man might be disappointed when engaging with a woman who is not as “perfect” as a porn actress or model.
Healthy sexual function and VR porn
VR pornography is not entirely bad as long as you know how to use it properly. Here are some tips to ensure that VR porn won’t negatively impact your sexual functions:
- Moderation – Anything in excess can be bad so be sure to watch VR porn in moderation. Limiting the time spent watching VR porn can help you avoid desensitisation.
- Focus on real relationships – VR porn might be enjoyable but it is not a replacement for a real relationship. Strive to establish a strong emotional connection with your partner to heighten intimacy.
- Seek professional help – If you feel that you have a porn addiction, seek professional help. A therapist can guide you on how to slowly and safely wean yourself from porn addiction. If your addiction to VR porn has been causing sexual health issues such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, get help from a sexual health specialist. Custom treatments for ED and PE can help address all aspects of your sexual health issue at once.
If you need custom treatments to address ED and PE, book a FREE consultation with the Men’s Health Clinic (MHC). MHC provides quality, custom treatments for common male sexual dysfunctions via our state-of-the-art telehealth platform.
We look into our patients’ health profiles to craft the best treatment plan that addresses not only their sexual dysfunctions but also other underlying issues. If porn addiction negatively impacts your health and relationships, MHC can consult you with our partner mental health experts (psychologist, intimacy coach, and sex and relationship counsellor) to address the root cause of your ED and PE.
Conclusion
Virtual reality pornography takes porn videos to the next level. They make pornography more life-like and immersive. They can help fulfil sexual desires. But they can also affect sexual functions when abused. VR porn can desensitise a person so that regular sex is no longer exciting. They can result in kinks and fetishes. They can cause sexual dysfunction. There is nothing bad with watching VR porn as long as you do it in moderation. Keep in mind that no matter how good it is, virtual reality is still not as good as the real thing.
