Scientists discover worrying health condition caused by ‘problematic’ masturbation habits.

Experts have found that regular porn users who try to stop suddenly can experience symptoms similar to physical withdrawal, such as headaches, chills and even nausea.

The researchers made the discovery while studying problematic pornography use (PPU): the compulsive viewing of pornography that interferes with everyday life.

The phenomenon, sometimes called porn addiction, has previously been linked to erectile dysfunction and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

However, scientists now believe that up to two-thirds of people with PPU may also experience health problems if they try to “go cold turkey” and stop using porn.

Similar problems are seen in drug addicts when they try to stop using narcotics, and the team is now investigating how common the condition is among porn watchers and how long symptoms last.

A review of 14 studies conducted by researchers in Brazil published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, revealed that people with problematic pornography use experience withdrawal symptoms.

PUP is a form of compulsive sexual behavior disorder, defined by the World Health Organization as a failure to control intense and repetitive sexual urges or urges.

This could lead to neglecting relationships, personal health, other interests and responsibilities.

Typically, the disorder would be diagnosed if the problems had persisted for six months or more.

In the case of PPU, the sexual urge is to masturbate to pornography.

People suffering from PPU may have made several unsuccessful attempts to reduce their pornography consumption and may also find little satisfaction with their habit.

Recognizing that many of these “symptoms” were similar to those reported by drug addicts, a team at the Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil, set out to investigate whether PPU was also linked to other health problems.

They found that, as with drugs and other compulsive behaviors such as gambling addiction, PPU could trigger physical withdrawal symptoms.

After reviewing 14 separate studies, they concluded that yes; in fact, 72% of people with PPU are affected by withdrawal.

One study found that 57 percent of participants experienced “cravings,” while 52 percent also experienced heightened emotions, difficulty focusing, and nervousness.

A smaller number, about one in 20, reported difficulty sleeping, headaches, sweating, chills and illness when they tried to quit porn.

Other studies also found that participants refrained from self-reported symptoms such as depression, “brain fog,” feelings of loneliness, and restlessness.

The researchers found that in most cases, people had “intense urges” to masturbate to porn that caused them to relapse.

Problematic pornography use is a form of compulsive sexual behavior that can cause sufferers to neglect relationships, personal health, other interests and responsibilities.

They noted that several of these withdrawal-like symptoms were seen in regular porn users who were not classified as severe enough to have PPU.

Following the review, the authors called for further research to investigate the onset, characteristics, duration and proportion of withdrawal-like symptoms.

The UK has the second highest incidence of internet pornography searches in the world, with an average of 16,600,000 pornography searches each month.

Almost two-thirds of young people now regularly use online pornography, according to Paracelsus Recovery, a leading mental health and addiction clinic.

A quarter of 16- to 21-year-olds first viewed pornography on the Internet when they were still in elementary school. By age 13, 50% had been exposed to it.

Meanwhile, research suggests that one in ten adults may now suffer from PPU, with the number higher in young people. They can watch porn up to 12 hours a week.

Why watching porn can become a compulsion is not fully understood.

One study found that 57 percent of participants experienced “cravings,” while 52 percent also experienced increased emotionality, difficulty focusing, and nervousness.

However, viewing pornography is known to trigger the release of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and motivation.

This can make viewers want to watch it again and again.

Later, the brain releases another chemical called dynorphin, which is designed to counteract the effect of dopamine.

When a person used to watching a lot of porn suddenly stops, dopamine and dynorphin levels become unbalanced, leading to withdrawal symptoms, some experts have suggested.