Adelaide sexologist Dr Marie Tudor says X-rated habit is affecting young Aussie men

It’s usually a middle-aged problem, but more men in their sexual prime are seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction – and an Adelaide sex doctor blames a rising habit.

An Adelaide sexpert blames porn for increasing erectile dysfunction in young men. Picture: iStock

They’re supposed to be in their sexual prime, but a growing number of men in their 20s and 30s are suffering from a middle-aged problem in the bedroom, says Adelaide medical sexologist Dr Marie Tudor.

The GP and trained sex therapist, who has been working in the field for more than 30 years, says she is seeing an increase in the number of young men seeking help for erectile dysfunction – and she blames the trend largely on online porn.

Dr Tudor says easy access to online porn is wreaking havoc on the real-life love lives of a growing proportion of young men, who were worried about having to perform “swinging from the chandeliers, jungle sex”.

Adelaide sex doctor Marie Tudor says more young men are seeking help for erectile dysfunction – and she blames porn. Picture: File

“They’ve watched enough porn to feel inadequate or worried about their sexual performance,” she says.

“Before the internet came along, the only way you could get heavy-duty porn was via mail from Canberra. After the internet, men saw men behaving in impossible ways for them and started to feel inadequate.

“In the 1990s, I was not seeing men in their 20s and 30s with erection problems, I wasn’t, and now I am every week. I’m astonished.”

Rates of erectile dysfunction in young men have risen steeply, with studies showing up to 26 per cent of those aged under 40 suffering from the troubling problem in their sex lives.

Dr Marie Tudor. Picture: Supplied

Pharmacist James Georgiou.

James Georgiou, a consultant pharmacist in men’s urology, has seen a growth in the number of young people seeking help for erectile dysfunction at his Men’s Health Down Under clinics in Gawler and Stepney.

Mr Georgiou, who has a special interest in men’s sexual health, says most clients he sees “know that porn’s not good for their expectations in the bedroom”.

He says common medications for depression and anxiety – which have been linked to sexual health dysfunction for some men – are a big factor for many struggling with erections.

Physical health and drug use can also contribute.

Mr Georgiou specialises in medications that are injected into the penis that allow affected men to have erections when the need arises.

“I put a process in place to make them comfortable in being able to do that by themselves,” he says.

“I might help them get access to better medications, a better plan or refer them to a sex doctor for those that psychologically need something.”