Men’s Pornography Use Linked to Lower Sexual Satisfaction Than Women’s, Meta-Analysis Shows

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in *The Journal of Sexual Medicine* found that adult men who consume pornography report poorer sexual function and lower overall satisfaction in partnered relationships compared to women who view similar material. The gender gap persisted despite men’s higher rates of solitary sexual behavior and pornography consumption.

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Researchers Shahla Shafaati Laleh (Urmia Islamic Azad University) and Aysu Yildiz Karaahmet (Biruni University) combined data from 21 observational studies released up to January 2025. The pooled sample comprised 138,192 participants from North America, Europe, and Asia, all of whom completed validated questionnaires measuring desire, arousal, orgasmic ability, and relationship satisfaction.

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Men reported significantly lower scores on sexual function scales and greater prevalence of sexual dysfunction than female participants, who generally reported better sexual health outcomes. The authors suggest that men’s frequent exposure to highly specific pornographic scenarios may reshape “sexual scripts,” raising expectations that real-life encounters often fail to meet. Conversely, women who viewed pornography—typically less frequently—appeared to expand their sexual scripts, reporting modest improvements in partnered sex. The analysis also noted that content type mattered: romance-themed material correlated with higher satisfaction, whereas media emphasizing power or rough behavior linked to lower satisfaction among male viewers.

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• “Gender differences in pornography use and sexual health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” — Shahla Shafaati Laleh & Aysu Yildiz Karaahmet

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• “The authors recommended that health professionals take a highly individualized approach when discussing media habits with patients.” — Shahla Shafaati Laleh & Aysu Yildiz Karaahmet

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All included studies relied on self-reported questionnaires, introducing potential recall bias and social desirability effects. Their cross-sectional designs capture only a single time point, preventing causal inference; it remains unclear whether pornography use leads to dysfunction or vice-versa. Heterogeneity in how “active usage” was defined further complicates universal conclusions. The authors call for longitudinal research to map how pornography consumption and sexual health evolve over time and advise clinicians to tailor discussions to each patient’s unique media experience.

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