Associations Between Online Pornography Consumption and Sexual Dysfunction in Young Men: Multivariate Analysis Based on an International Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Expanding access to the internet has resulted in more and earlier consumption of online pornography. At the same time, a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among young men is seen. Increased pornography consumption has been suggested as a possible explanation for this rise. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to better understand associations between problematic pornography consumption (PPC) and ED. METHODS: A 118-item survey was published online, and data collection took place between April 2019 and May 2020. Of the 5770 men who responded, the responses from 3419 men between 18 years old and 35 years old were analyzed. The survey used validated questionnaires such as the Cyber Pornography Addiction Test (CYPAT), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C). The estimated amount of porn watching was calculated. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. For the multivariable analysis, a logistic regression model using a directed acyclic graph was used. RESULTS: According to their IIEF-5 scores, 21.48% (444/2067) of our sexually active participants (ie, those who attempted penetrative sex in the previous 4 weeks) had some degree of ED. Higher CYPAT scores indicating problematic online pornography consumption resulted in a higher probability of ED, while controlling for covariates. Masturbation frequency seemed not to be a significant factor when assessing ED. CONCLUSIONS: This prevalence of ED in young men is alarmingly high, and the results of this study suggest a significant association with PPC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Research Registry researchregistry5111; https://tinyurl.com/m45mcaa2.

Gender-dependent bladder response to one-day bladder outlet obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Development of bladder fibrosis, loss of compliance, and voiding dysfunction are among the severe consequences of various lower urinary conditions, for example, bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), neurogenic bladder, and radiotherapy to the pelvic area. The bladder remodelling results in significant changes in bladder function and architecture, and may ultimately be deleterious for kidney function. The molecular signals underlying pathologic bladder remodelling, as well as the impact of gender, remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bladder remodelling after one day BOO, whether the remodelling is different between different bladder sections, and whether genders may affect the remodelling. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty male and 30 female C57BL/6NRj mice were randomly divided into Control, Sham and BOO groups with ten mice per group. A 24-h total urethral obstruction was performed at the proximal urethra. Histological changes were observed via H&E, trichrome and immunohistochemistry staining. Harvested bladders were divided into upper and lower sections for analysis. Protein and gene expression were detected by Western blotting and qPCR. RESULTS: No significant changes in bladder wall thickness were observed following BOO, while increased bladder mass after BOO was found in female mice only. We detected FN and ⍺-SMA upregulation in the male upper bladder segment. Female BOO mice bladders showed increased α-SMA expression in both bladder segments, but no difference of FN was observed in either bladder segments. BOO-induced upregulation of TGF-ß and Gremlin were detected in both male and female bladders, while downregulation of BMP-7 was detected only in male bladders. Furthermore, phosphorylation of both SMAD2/3 and SMAD1/5/9 were increased in male bladders following BOO, whereas female mice exhibited increased pSMAD2/3 in the upper and increased pSMAD1/5/9 in the lower bladder segment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that some specific proteins and growth factors were detected as early alterations of tissue which may lead to fibrosis. In addition, the males tended to have more pronounced response than females. However, the causes and consequences of the findings need to be further investigated.