Dangers of ‘gooning’ – Britain’s fastest growing sex fetish could fuel erectile dysfunction, experts warn

Experts have warned of a new fetish that sees men undertaking ‘marathon’ masturbation sessions while avoiding or delaying their orgasm could leave them suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Research shows that interest in this sexual practice has increased by 800 percent in five years.

Gooning sessions can range from an hour to marathons of seven or more, according to online forums where fans of the fetish share their experiences.

However, experts warned MailOnline that so-called ‘gooners’ are at risk of problems such as erectile dysfunction and possible porn addiction because of their habit.

Dr. Richard Viney, a urological surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, said gooning was the latest in a long line of unusual masturbatory practices undertaken by men seeking a ‘transcendental sexual experience’.

“This is likely rooted in tantric practices that became influential in Western culture in the 1960s,” he said.

‘The concept of trying to prolong the sexual act and enhance the experience as much as possible is an understandable holy grail.’

But he added that there was no evidence it worked and that it could even lead to problems in the bedroom.

“Relying heavily on pornography can desensitize the individual to real sexual encounters, increasing the risk of erectile dysfunction when having sex with a partner,” he warned.

Dr. Viney said this was due to “gooners” mentally training themselves to only become aroused while watching pornography.

“A man may find that he needs pornography to get aroused, rather than the presence and touch of his partner,” he said.

‘Difficulty with erections and sexual performance can then lead to fear of failure, which makes the sexual problems more entrenched.’

Dr. Paula Hall, of the nonprofit online therapy program Pivotal Recovery and who has worked on pornography addiction, said gooning could be potentially harmful depending on how often a person engages in it and for what reasons.

While she said it was probably fine if performed as an “occasional treat,” she added that, like any behavior, taken to the extreme it can lead to problems.

“It’s no different than binge-watching a box set every now and then,” she said.

“But if you do it for five or six hours every day of the week, it’s unlikely to be of much use.”

She warned that “gooners” can also be at risk of developing a potentially problematic relationship with pornography, especially if they use it as an escape from problems such as stress or depression.

She warned that this could even lead to porn addiction.

“If we keep repeating any behavior, it becomes more habituated,” she said.

‘Your brain undoubtedly becomes more and more accustomed to that behavior and the more it is repeated, the more likely you are to have difficulty stopping and enjoying other activities.’

Dr. Hall said the consequences of such problematic use can lead to problems in the bedroom, such as erectile dysfunction and lower libido.

“We know that people with compulsive sexual behavior tend to struggle with erectile dysfunction,” she said.

She added that there is some debate among experts as to whether these problems are due to problematic pornography use that directly inhibits sexual arousal, or to the guilt or shame a person feels when engaging in acts like “gooning,” sometimes in the secret.

“We don’t know exactly what the mechanism is, but we do know that research suggests a link between erectile dysfunction and problematic pornography use,” she said.

Dr. Hall added that depending on the extent of the behavior, other problems, including financial problems, can also arise.

‘While the amount of time you watch porn can be an indicator that you have a problem, the biggest measure is whether it is having a negative impact on your life, but despite this you can’t stop.

‘Unfortunately, there is a lot of evidence that over time, compulsive pornography use begins to negatively impact other areas of life, including relationships, work, friendships, finances and general mental health and wellbeing.’

‘Many people start with online porn, but then move on to chatting, webcam, adult dating sites and offline real-life encounters.’

Concerns about these types of practices follow research suggesting interest in the term has skyrocketed 778 percent over the past five years, based on data from Google search patterns.

There are no accurate estimates of the number of individual Britons who actually practice ‘gooning’.

But research shows that as many as one in twenty Brits have problematic porn use, meaning their habit has a wider negative impact on their lives.

However, experts caution that estimates of how many people may be living with a porn addiction are inherently unreliable.

This is because many patients avoid seeking professional help due to shame and embarrassment about their condition or fear of exposure.

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