Experts have found that regular porn users who try to quit suddenly can suffer withdrawal-like physical symptoms, such as headaches, chills, and even nausea.
Researchers made the discovery while studying problematic pornography use (PPU): compulsive viewing of pornography that interferes with daily life.
The phenomenon, sometimes called porn addiction, has previously been linked to erectile dysfunction and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
However, scientists now believe that up to two-thirds of people with PPU may also suffer health problems if they try to “quit” and stop using pornography.
Similar problems are seen in drug addicts when they try to stop using narcotics and the team is now investigating how common the condition is among porn watchers and how long the symptoms last.
A review of 14 studies conducted by researchers in Brazil published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine revealed that people with problematic pornography use experience withdrawal-like symptoms.
PPU is a form of compulsive sexual behavior disorder, defined by the World Health Organization as lack of impulse control or intense, repetitive sexual urges.
This could go to the point of neglecting relationships, personal health, and other interests and responsibilities.
Typically, the disorder would be diagnosed if the problems had persisted for six months or more.
In the case of PPU, the sexual impulse is to masturbate to pornography.
People suffering from PPU may have made multiple failed attempts to reduce their pornography consumption and may also find little satisfaction with their habit.
Recognizing that many of these “symptoms” were similar to those reported by drug addicts, a team from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, set out to investigate whether PPU was also linked to other health problems.
They found that, as with drugs and other compulsive behaviors such as gambling addiction, PPU could trigger physical withdrawal symptoms.
After reviewing 14 separate studies, they concluded that yes; in fact, 72 percent of people with PPU experience withdrawal.
One study found that 57 percent of participants experienced “cravings,” while 52 percent also experienced intense emotions, difficulty concentrating, and nervousness.
A smaller number (about one in 20) reported difficulty sleeping, headaches, sweating, chills and nausea when they tried to quit porn.
Other studies also found that participants refrained from symptoms such as depression, “brain fog,” feelings of loneliness, and restlessness.
Researchers found that in most cases people had “intense cravings” to masturbate to pornography that caused them to relapse.
Problematic pornography use is a form of compulsive sexual behavior that can lead sufferers to neglect relationships, personal health, and other interests and responsibilities.
They noted that several of these withdrawal-like symptoms were seen in regular porn users who were not classified as severe enough to have PPU.
Following the review, the authors called for further research to investigate the onset, characteristics, duration and proportion of withdrawal-like symptoms.
The UK has the second highest incidence of internet porn searches in the world, with an average of 16,600,000 porn searches each month.
Nearly two-thirds of young people now use online pornography regularly, according to Paracelsus Recovery, a leading mental health and addictions clinic.
A quarter of young people aged 16 to 21 saw pornography on the Internet for the first time when they were still in primary school. By the age of 13, 50 percent had been exposed to it.
Meanwhile, research suggests that one in ten adults may currently suffer from PPU, with higher numbers among young people. They can watch pornography up to 12 hours a week.
It is not fully understood why viewing pornography can become a compulsion.
One study found that 57 percent of participants experienced “cravings,” while 52 percent also experienced increased emotionality, concentration difficulties, and nervousness.
However, watching pornography is known to trigger the release of dopamine, a brain chemical linked to pleasure and motivation.
This can make viewers want to watch it again and again.
The brain then releases another chemical called dynorphin, designed to counteract the effect of dopamine.
When a person used to watching a lot of porn suddenly stops, dopamine and dynorphin levels become unbalanced, triggering withdrawal symptoms, some experts have suggested.