Shame Around Porn Use
Q: Dear Dr. Betito, I regularly read your topics on Pornhub and I appreciate your advice. I am 52 years old and single. Until now, I was not interested in porn. I am a practicing Catholic and I have always found it immoral. I heard about Pornhub at work and I do not know why, but I started watching some scenes. I finally signed up for Pornhub Premium. I’m ashamed. I watch porn every day. I live normally, I work and I see my friends but I lose sleep and I am tired. Porn is too addictive and I am afraid to become a compulsive masturbator. Please can you help me? Do you think I need to see a therapist? Best regards.
A: At least 60% of the male population regularly watch porn and 40% of women. That’s a pretty large chunk of the population. Most people who watch porn do it for the fantasy and arousal of it during self-stimulation sessions. And most people watch for about 10-15 minutes—basically as long as it takes to climax. Some people have a higher sex drive and so masturbate daily, and others much less. If your porn watching is interfering with your life, then it becomes problematic. The shame comes from your religious upbringing which often gives us the message that sex for pleasure is sinful. It’s too bad because sex is a healthy part of life, and should be seen in a more sex-positive light. If you are having trouble reconciling your desire for sex and your religious upbringing, then yes, seek out counseling.
Stuck Foreign Object
Q: Obviously this is quite embarrassing, but I’d rather seek help from a professional instead of dealing with this on my own and suffering from some complication. I was playing with some of my toys and I bought a new one; a ball the size of a regular ping pong ball. What was weird to me was the fact that it didn’t come with a cord or anything. Anyway… It’s stuck in there. It’s soft and not that big, but I’m really scared about what will happen if it doesn’t come out during my next evacuation. I really need some help and thank you for your attention.
A: It’s not clear to me whether the object is stuck in your vagina or rectum. But since you mention the word “evacuation” I will assume it is your rectum. It is never a good idea to stick anything in your anus that does not have a base (like a butt plug). Unfortunately, there is a risk that anything you put up there that is not designed for anal play can be sucked up into the rectum. If it does not come out when you next bear down/evacuate, you will need to have it removed by a doctor ASAP, or risk developing an infection.
Masturbation and Bladder Health
Q: If a man is in his mid-70s, is on finasteride medication, and masturbates weekly, does it help relieve pressure on the bladder by reducing frequent urination? Thanks, I’m looking for more opinions.
A: For those not aware, finasteride is prescribed to shrink an enlarged prostate. As for the masturbation to help relieve pressure on the bladder, I have not found any research to support this. However, there have been studies that show that masturbation can have a positive effect on prostate health.