By now, everyone’s familiar with the not-so-hot side of watching porn. Yes, there’s a lot of bad porn out there. There’s a lot porn gets wrong about sex, as well, and it’s certainly possible for it to have adverse effects on someone’s relationship with sex. That’s not all there is to the picture, though.
These days, there’s a lot more to porn than you might think, and there are some surprising benefits to exploring it in your intimate life. Here’s a closer look at why you might want to give it a try and how you can find the right experience for you.
Exploring Porn is great for your libido.
Whether you’re getting down and dirty with someone else or flying solo, for the time being, the occasional sexy play session really does a body good. Among other things, having sex – solo or otherwise – can help you:
- Sleep better
- Boost your self-image and confidence
- Improve muscle tone
- Ease menstrual cramps
- Manage stress
- Treat a variety of sexual problems
Exploring porn is great for stoking the libido and encouraging sexual activity, up to and including masturbation. It’s also not bad for coming up with new ideas to try, both on your own and with a partner.
Porn helps you identify and normalize your desires.
Sexy media formats like porn and erotica can be safe, fun ways to explore your fantasies and desires. You can use them to indulge the fantasies you already know you have, as well as discover a few new ones. It’s a great way to get a read on what scans as a hard “no” for you, as well.
The sheer diversity of porn is also a testament to the vastness of human desire. If you can picture a particular fetish or kink, the chances are excellent that there’s not only porn out there that revolves around it, but lots of people who are into it. Some fetishes are extremely common while others are a lot more niche, but all of them – including yours — are legitimate.
Porn can help you communicate better with your partner.
Just as sex toys are no longer just for solo use anymore, neither is porn. Many couples these days find they enjoy exploring porn together for a variety of reasons. It can be a great way to get a play session started by setting the right mood. Porn makes fantastic inspiration, as well.
Porn and erotica can be great ways to open a dialogue about sex between partners. Many couples like to explore erotic material together. But you can also figure out what you like separately and discuss it together later. You may even discover a few new moves you’d like to try in the flesh sometime.
What to Consider When Choosing Porn
Porn and other forms of erotic material have a lot in common with movies. Not everyone is into the same styles and approaches. Differences are often especially pronounced between what men usually go for versus what women prefer, but you won’t know what you’re into until you try a few different things. Here are a few to consider.
- Are you primarily interested in porn to see sex and nothing but sex? Try a wall-to-wall approach to porn. Wall-to-wall pieces are often longer and feature multiple scenes, usually connected by a common theme. However, there’s little to no dialogue to break up the action.
- There are also full-length features that have more in common with mainstream movies. The storylines aren’t exactly going to win any Oscars, but they’re there. Features also have a higher production value, better camera work, and better sound, leading to a much lusher experience than many people picture when they think of porn.
- Although it may not be for everyone, there’s plenty of porn out there that’s often described as hardcore or gonzo, as well. This might be a fit for you if you enjoy watching or fantasizing about rough sex or erotic play that has a pronounced edge to it. Some options are a lot more extreme than others, so feel free to start small and work your way up to the crazier stuff.
Although men are often fans of straight-up sex with no real frills to speak of, many women prefer something more well-rounded. (Think more passionate sex that implies an emotional connection between the actors on screen.) Quite a few porn and erotica lovers find they enjoy some styles when they’re on their own, but others when they’re enjoying the action with a partner.
If you’re new to porn, try a few different options on for size to get a feel for what you like. Try watching it as pure entertainment or while enjoying some quality time with your favorite vibrator. As with everything else you explore in your intimate life, you’re the one in the driver’s seat, and anything goes!
