Why So Many Canadian Men Are Trying To Cut Back on Porn

Porn is easy to find, free, and rarely talked about honestly. For a lot of Canadian men, it's also become something they're trying to walk back. MedExpress surveyed more than 1,000 Canadian men to find out how many believe their porn use has changed the way their bodies respond, how many have tried to cut down or quit, and what happens when they do. The answers point to a fairly common struggle that most men are working through on their own.

Key takeaways

• Nearly 1 in 4 Canadian men (24%) believe they currently have or have had porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED).
• Canadian men who watch porn 5 or more times a week are 18 times more likely to believe they currently have PIED than men who don't watch porn at all (18% vs 1%).
• More than half of Canadian men (56%) have experienced at least one physical or arousal symptom they believe is connected to their porn use.
• Over 1 in 2 Canadian men (54%) are currently trying to cut back on or quit watching porn
• Nearly 1 in 10 Canadian men (9%) believe they currently have PIED; among heavy porn users (5 or more times a week), the figure doubles to 18%.

How porn is changing the way men's bodies respond

Who's cutting back on porn use, and why

Who's trying to quit

• 54% are currently trying to cut back or quit, including 17% who are abstaining completely.
• 22% report no motivation to cut back or quit whatsoever.
• 82% of Gen Z men have tried in the past or are trying now, compared to 68% of millennials and 58% of Gen X.

Why they're doing it

• The top motivations are physical and relational: restoring natural libido and arousal (28%), improving intimacy with a partner (26%), and reducing reliance on porn to feel aroused (25%).

How hard it is to stick

• Men have tried an average of 4 times to cut back or quit watching porn. Gen Z men who've ever tried have made 5 attempts on average, versus 3 for millennials and Gen X.
• Current attempts are fragile: 44% have lasted less than 2 weeks, 59% are in their first month, and only 13% have held on past a year.

The help-seeking gap

• Only 4% have spoken to a healthcare professional about porn-related sexual concerns, even though 24% believe they have or have had PIED and 56% report at least one symptom.
• 16% have thought about reaching out to a professional but haven't.
• Among heavy users, 25% have considered speaking to a professional, but just 3% followed through.

Methodology

MedExpress commissioned an online survey of 1,022 Canadian men in 2026 to explore attitudes, behaviours, and personal experiences related to pornography use, sexual desensitization, and porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED). Respondents were screened for valid and unique participation. Generationally, respondents were 49% millennials, 34% Gen Z, 14% Gen X, and 4% baby boomers. Average figures for numeric questions exclude statistical outliers.

Fair use statement

The data and findings in this article may be used for noncommercial purposes only. If reproduced or referenced, please include a link back to this page and an attribution to MedExpress.