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What if porn isn’t the problem, but part of the solution?
Pornography is often portrayed as a threat to sexual health, especially for men. It’s blamed for everything from performance issues to relationship breakdowns. But these claims are increasingly being questioned, including when it comes to women.
Emerging research suggests that porn use may actually support sexual wellbeing in women. From boosting desire to aiding orgasm, it could offer benefits that have long been overlooked.
To better understand this shift, researchers Nikola Komlenac and Jennifer Birke from the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria reviewed recent studies on women’s porn use and sexual functioning. Their findings suggest it’s time for healthcare providers to rethink the role of porn. Rather than treating it as a problem to fix, it may serve as a tool for enhancing desire, satisfaction, and communication.
Recent research reviews link higher pornography use among women with better sexual functioning and greater sexual satisfaction. Komlenac and Birke explain its potential benefits for both relationships and overall sexual health:
“Women specifically report that pornography provides exposure to new sexual techniques, enhances sexual arousal, facilitates masturbation, introduces new fantasies, aids orgasm, and fosters sexual exploration and communication. Past studies also indicate that some women feel sexually empowered, more relaxed, and better able to enjoy their sex lives through pornography consumption.”
But prior reviews did not specifically focus on the link between women’s pornography use and sexual functioning. They also did not address the full range of sexual dysfunctions outlined in current diagnostic manuals.
To fill these gaps, Komlenac and Birke reviewed 34 articles published between 2020 and 2025 in two major scientific databases: PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection. The researchers examined variations in use, including frequency, problematic use, age at first exposure, and consumption with a partner.
Most studies found that increased pornography use in women is linked to better sexual functioning, including higher desire, greater arousal, and more frequent orgasms.
Even women who had simply ever watched porn, regardless of frequency, tended to report better overall sexual functioning.
As for genres, one study found those who consumed "passion and romance” porn more often reported better sexual outcomes.
Watching porn with a partner was linked to better sexual functioning. Some studies also found that higher porn use increased desire for partnered sex.
In fact, whether used alone or together, some studies associated consuming pornography with a greater likelihood of having orgasms during both solo and partnered sexual activities.
Yet other studies found that women who used pornography more often had trouble reaching orgasm with a partner. One study showed that higher porn use was linked to taking longer to orgasm during both masturbation and partnered sex. Feeling pressured by a partner to watch porn was also connected to difficulties achieving orgasm.
Nearly a third of studies used pornography to test women’s arousal in real time. Watching it was linked to greater subjective and physical arousal, as well as increased awareness of bodily responses.
These findings suggest porn may not only be a useful tool for stimulating arousal. It may also help identify those who struggle to become aroused.
Problematic pornography use (PPU) involves frequent consumption that feels difficult to control and leads to negative consequences in daily life, such as at work or in relationships
Most studies showed no link between PPU and sexual functioning. Yet two studies found that women with higher levels of PPU reported poorer sexual functioning.
The most consistent finding was a link between higher levels of PPU and more symptoms of compulsive sexual behavior disorder, which involves persistent struggles managing intense sexual impulses. Although many studies assume compulsive behavior is caused by PPU, the authors point out that the diagnosis actually sees it the other way around: PPU is considered a symptom of deeper, ongoing difficulty controlling sexual urges.
“High levels of stress, difficulties with emotion regulation, or repetitive thoughts may explain the reported link between PPU and reduced sexual functioning,” added the authors.
Women who began watching porn at a younger age were more likely to show symptoms of compulsive sexual behavior. Some studies also linked these symptoms to frequent use and more time spent consuming it.
Though porn often gets a bad rap, many women say it enhances their sexual experiences.
This review supports that perspective and backs up earlier research. For most women, consuming porn is either unrelated to sexual problems or linked to better sexual functioning. That means increased arousal, improved communication with partners, and greater sexual satisfaction.
However, since most studies were cross-sectional, they can’t prove cause and effect. As a result, it’s not clear whether pornography use leads to certain sexual outcomes or if people with certain traits—like higher sexual desire—are simply more likely to watch porn.
Some of the studies reviewed also found that problematic pornography use is linked to poorer sexual functioning, especially when it involves compulsive sexual behavior. Yet PPU may not be the cause of these issues. Rather it might be a symptom or a coping mechanism for difficult emotions or other underlying causes.
Additionally, some individuals may view their porn use as problematic because cultural or moral messages portray it as harmful, leading to feelings of shame. This raises the question of whether it is a person’s behavior that is problematic or the surrounding society that does not accept it.
The authors urge clinicians to move beyond focusing on how much porn someone consumes. Instead, attention should shift to why they use it and how it affects their wellbeing. They also recommend therapists consider discussing porn as a potential tool for sexual stimulation and satisfaction. Moreover, future research needs to include sexual minorities and participants outside of North America and Europe.
Turns out, when it comes to porn and women’s sexual health, the climax of the story might just be a positive one.
This article was originally published on Le Shaw.
