A young man visited the Men's Health Center, believing he suffered from premature ejaculation because his sexual encounters lasted only about 5 minutes. He felt this duration was too short compared to the seemingly tens of minutes often portrayed in adult films.

According to Doctor, Specialist Level 2 Tra Anh Duy, this is a common type of comparison that leads men to misjudge their sexual capabilities. Many seek medical consultation despite having no significant abnormalities, having already established "benchmarks" for intercourse duration, penis size, or erectile function based on what they see on screen.

A multinational study by Waldinger and colleagues, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, reported a median time from vaginal penetration to ejaculation of approximately 5.4 minutes. This duration varies significantly among individuals. Therefore, 5.4 minutes is not a "gold standard" for all men to achieve, nor can it be solely used to diagnose premature ejaculation.

Doctor Duy explained that adult films do not reflect typical sexual life. Performers are carefully selected, scenes can be divided into multiple segments with breaks, and are edited; camera angles can also create a perception different from reality. Viewers only see the final product and are unaware of the entire process behind the scenes.

Illustration created by AI

Penis size also frequently becomes a source of insecurity. A study by Veale and colleagues, published in BJU International, which synthesized data from over 15,000 men, reported an average erect penis length of approximately 13.1 cm. According to doctors, constantly comparing oneself to the selected physiques on screen can lead some men to believe they are "not big enough".

When these unrealistic standards are brought into the bedroom, intimacy can easily become a performance review. Attention shifts from emotions and one's partner to self-assessment. Anxiety can make it difficult to maintain an erection, creating a vicious cycle where the fear of failure makes problems more likely, leading to even greater anxiety in subsequent encounters.

However, doctors caution against attributing all sexual dysfunctions solely to adult films. Erectile dysfunction is also linked to stress, lack of sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hormonal imbalances, medications, or relationship issues.

Doctor Duy emphasized that the important factor is not achieving a specific number seen on screen, but rather the comfort and satisfaction of both partners. If self-consciousness about one's body or anxiety about erections and ejaculation leads to avoiding intimacy, loss of confidence, or impacts relationships, men should seek medical advice for appropriate guidance.

Le Phuong