I’ve been lurking here for awhile now and thought I’d post my success story to encourage others and maybe provide some insight in the process. I’m a 30 year old SWM who is otherwise healthy. I stay pretty fit and active with no known medical problems. Never been abused, no trauma, injuries, etc. I started with porn on a regular basis when I was 18 and went away to college. That was the first time I had access to my own computer as well a high speed Internet connection. Prior to then, I had seen Playboys and some soft core stuff but never had an issue getting hard even when just making out with a girl.
At first I didn’t notice a problem. But fast forward a few years and I had several encounters in college where I couldn’t get hard. I wrote it off to nerves, not being attracted to my partners, being tired, etc, etc, etc. I’m sure a lot of you out there can relate. Well, to be honest with you, the same damn thing kept happening to me. I’d have an encounter with a woman and was unable to get hard. All the while I was using porn probably daily and jerking off about the same frequency as well. I never associated the two and had no idea one porn might cause ED.
Finally, at the age of 28, I went to go see a urologist. He determined nothing was physically wrong with me (at least below the belt) gave me a script for Cialis and sent me on my way. Around the same time I discovered YBOP and suddenly everything made sense. I saw a lot of commonality between my own story and what other guys had shared as well. It was a HUGE discovery for me.
Now, to give you some perspective, I did manage to have sex in my 20s but it was pretty bad. As soon as I’d put on a condom I’d go soft. I did manage to have one decent encounter with a condom but I think that was because I had spent all weekend with this chick and didn’t jerk off the week before she came to visit me. But the bottom line is that I just wasn’t functioning as I should.
So, approximately 8 weeks ago I started a reboot. No porn. No masturbation. No orgasm. I did edge a few times but stopped once i discovered how harmful that could be as well. I also stayed off OKCupid as that could trigger me to jerk off as well like if I came across some sexy bikini pics or something. My goal was to have sex with a condom all the way to orgasm. I focused my energy elsewhere. I started working out more, started reading again, and tried to stay away from the Internet (unless it was related to work). Hell even watching TV (not porn) is a better use of time than surfing for porn, bikini pics, or whatever online.
I achieved my goal! This past Friday I had sex all the way to orgasm. I used a condom with no issues. During foreplay I didn’t get hard right away but after a little bit it came back! Such a surreal feeling. Putting on the condom wasn’t an issue. I just took it slow with no pressure. And to be honest, getting off after not doing it for 8+ weeks felt awesome. She enjoyed it as well based on her reactions.
I never had a wet dream and I’m not sure if I ever “flat lined”. My libido did wax and wane but I never noticed a real pattern to it. The biggest thing I can tell you is to stay away from porn and all Internet images , don’t jerk off, and be patient! I cannot tell you how many bad encounters I’ve had, how many ruined condoms I’ve gone through because I couldn’t stay hard to put them on. This is a huge step for me, like climbing Mount Everest or breaking the four minute mile or something. So hang in there guys. You can fix this. Trust me!