Are you watching too much porn? Psychologists have developed a test to measure whether someone is watching too much porn. The scale was developed after there was significant evidence that watching too much can harm health. This scale helps therapists diagnose problematic pornography use (PPU). This is a type of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD), which can affect a person's mental and sexual relationships and may lead to sexual violence.

As reported in the DailyMail, PPU is on the rise, and experts fear that it may lead to conditions like erectile dysfunction, anxiety, and depression, alongside withdrawal symptoms. This is why the experts have come up with a scale to detect PPU.

We spoke to relationship counsellor Ruchi Ruuh, and asked her what could happen if someone watches too much porn and how it affects their sex life? "Frequent exposure to porn can heavily shape sexual scripts, creating distorted ideas about what sex should look like, who should initiate it and what is considered desirable or acceptable. What the whole experience does is that it creates unrealistic physical expectations," she explains.

Ruuh points out that the bodies and genitals depicted in porn form an idealised image which leads to dissatisfaction with their own bodies and their partner's natural appearances.

What Is Porn?

Ruuh explains that it is a performance practised by professionals under guidance. It showcases sex as a flawlessly coordinated and intense, act. It is devoid of pressure, emotions and pauses that are very much a part of a real sexual encounter. This is what creates stress when one tries to replicate such acts in real life.

Another problematic aspect is the glorification of kinks. Most Porn has some kind of kink, performed flawlessly with partners completely in sync and enjoying it. "Porn often highlights extreme or niche kinks as commonplace. While this may normalise exploration, it can also lead to people feeling pressured to engage in acts they’re not ready for or genuinely uncomfortable with," she notes.

Real-life communication, consent and vulnerability are often missing in porn, leading viewers to expect sex to be spontaneous and instinctive.

Porn Leads To Unrealistic Expectations In A Relationship

Due to the unrealistic depiction of genitals, like hairless, symmetrical or surgically enhanced body parts, it can lead to criticism of a partner's body. Many also believe that sex should mirror pornographic perfection. It also misunderstands certain that not all acts can bring pleasure to your partner and that there are certain acts where your partner can draw boundaries.

Affecting The Young Minds

DailyMail reports that the UK has the second highest incidence of internet porn searches in the world, with an average of 1,66,00,000 searches each month. A quarter of 16 to 21-year-olds first saw porn on the internet and were still in primary school. By the age of 13, 50% of them have already been exposed to it. As per a 2015 report published in the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences, in India, 63% of youths in urban areas reported watching porn, with 74% accessing it through their mobile phones. The online erotic comic is also accessed in India.

Ruuh points out that young viewers may think that kinks are common and desired by everyone when it is not actually the case. "They might force, coerce, even shame their partners for being vanilla. Believing that extreme acts, such as BDSM or group sex, are the default rather than exceptions or consensual choices between partners."

There is also an overemphasis on aesthetics, on how the partners look or behave, which may be dissatisfactory in real circumstances. It also creates a perception that sex must escalate or surprise, rather than valuing it as an emotional connection and trust.

"Porn has no real representation of how a relationship dynamic works and how the emotional safety and intimacy ultimately lead to sexual desire. This missing gap makes individuals value the desire for novelty over intimacy which can be detrimental to forming a healthy relationship," says Ruuh.

It also creates anxiety in the bedroom. For instance, your partner may experience performance anxiety for not being "adventurous enough", or body image issues, kink pressure and fear of judgment, which might come from the expectation to perform unrealistic acts.

"Porn often creates a gap between what's fantasy vs the reality. It involves exaggerated scenarios that might seem appealing during solo play for imagination but feel impractical, uncomfortable or even undesirable in real-life settings. This over-reliance on porn’s extreme visuals or specific kinks can create arousal triggers that might not translate into partnered sex, causing frustration or a sense of disconnection. For example, someone might fantasize about certain acts during solo sex, influenced by porn, but find their partner uncomfortable with them. Sex is doing things, two people understanding and pleasing each other accordingly. With Porn, only a one-sided understanding of sex is created, which might make it hard to prioritize shared enjoyment and mutual consent during intimacy," explains Ruuh.

Can It Also Impair People's Communication?

Ruuh says that it could make people feel embarrassed about expressing desires influenced by porn, worrying their partner will find them strange or abnormal. Sometimes, the person also expects their partner to know their kinks, just like what porn shows. Most porn does not show any backstory of how two people or more came to a conclusion on what acts must they perform, this could lead to an unrealistic expectation that your "partner already knows what you want".

"Since porn rarely depicts discussions about emotions, boundaries or consent, viewers may lack the tools and vocabulary to articulate their own needs or respect a partner’s," she says.

So What Does The Porn-Test Scale Do?

Developed by academics from Nottingham Trent University, the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale has questioned hundreds of porn users, of both sexes and led to an 18-point questionnaire which can be carried out at home too.

The test found that men are more likely to score highly in this than women, regardless of their sexual orientation.

The test is developed around the 6 core elements of PPU. These include: salience, which refers to how important pornography is to a person's life; mood modification: how much they use masturbation to porn as a way of making them feel a certain way. Conflict: how much does masturbation to porn impact on the significant others, if it gets in the way of their work or other commitments. Tolerance: is masturbation to porn a necessary requirement to achieve a certain mood; relapse, which refers to attempts to abstain and then return to the problematic behaviour patterns; and lastly withdrawal: unpleasant feelings and emotional states that occur after quitting or attempting to quit porn.

In a shocking incident, a woman contracted the herpes virus after using shared lipstick samples at a cosmetic store, raising concerns about makeup hygiene.

The incident highlights the risks involved in trying products that come into direct contact with the skin and are shared with a lot of people.

Also Read: World Autism Awareness Day 2026: Can Cell Therapy Be The Future Of Autism Treatment?

What Is Herpes?

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is very common, and the infection is lifelong. But the symptoms can come and go over different periods of life. Many people never get any symptoms linked to their infection.

The common virus, carried by up to 50 to 80 percent of adults, can cause painful blisters or ulcers. It primarily spreads by skin-to-skin contact. It is treatable but not curable.

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

HSV- 1 is the most common and usually spreads by oral contact. It causes infections in or around the mouth (such as oral herpes or cold sores), as well as genital herpes.

Common oral herpes symptoms include

• blisters (cold sores)
• open sores (ulcers) in or around the mouth or lips.

HSV-2 generally spreads by sexual contact and causes genital herpes.

Its symptoms include painful

• bumps,
• blisters,
• open sores (ulcers) around the genitals or anus.

How Makeup Testers Can Spread Infection

Experts warned that makeup testers can become a breeding ground for germs. The repeated use of the open samples can spur their growth and can then spread by “double-dipping” — reusing an applicator after touching the skin. This can transfer viruses and bacteria between users.

“You can absolutely get a herpes infection from a makeup tester," Dr. Whitney Bowe, a dermatologist in New York City, told TODAY. "The more ‘double dipping’ that occurs, the higher the chance of spreading viruses or bacteria at a makeup counter.”

A 2010 study by researchers from Rowan University in New Jersey found that cosmetic samples harbored strep, E.coli, and staph.

For two years, the team examined makeup testers at makeup counters, specialty stores, and drug stores. They found that Saturday is the busiest day of the week, and 100 percent of the samples carried some sort of germ.

How To Stay Safe?

To reduce the risk of infection, experts recommend:

• Much like the toothbrush, personal cosmetics and cosmetic brushes must not be shared.
• Wash and dry your brushes regularly to avoid bacterial growth.
• Avoid applying testers directly to your lips or skin
• Use disposable applicators
• Test products on your hand rather than your face
• Avoid using testers if you have cuts, chapped lips, or active infections.

April 2 is celebrated worldwide as “Autism Awareness Day” and April as Autism month to create awareness and promote inclusivity and acceptance in society for individuals with autism.

So what exactly is Autism, and why do we need to create a culture of awareness and acceptance?

As per DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria, in simple terms, there is poor eye contact, impaired social communication skills, repetitive patterns (certain movements or fixation on certain toys, objects), difficulties with sensory processing - extreme sensitivity to sensory inputs (dislike loud noises, sensitive to touch), etc.

As a child, these individuals may not respond to name-calling, have poor eye contact/lack gestures like pointing, etc., lack imagination in play, and may not be able to relate and respond to the emotions of others. They have set routines and dislike changes to their routines. All this can cause significant disruption to their day-to-day functioning.

This year’s theme of -Autism and Humanity- Every Life has Value” reiterates the need for inclusion of autism, ensuring equitable representation of these individuals. Ensuring that society not only recognizes them but also treats them with equal respect and dignity.

Educational Support and Inclusive Workplace

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was one of the Government's flagship programs, along with Action for Autism, to disseminate information in schools regarding inclusive education for autism. Education is a key foundation to ensure children with autism get suitable opportunities as adults. Special educators, with additional support in schools, can go a long way in ensuring their potential is maximized.

Many IT giants like Microsoft, Google, and SAP encourage tapping the potential of individuals with autism and their exceptional skills. In our country, organizations and NGOs, including Action for Autism, offer training for future employment opportunities.

There is a spectrum of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) known as Asperger’s syndrome, and these individuals have normal to above average intelligence and can have some exceptional skills, and the world includes some living examples of these with a higher IQ, some of whom are the most successful and famous personalities. Even on the other end of the spectrum, autistic individuals have exceptional skills, some of which include great attention to detail, creativity, problem-solving, and lateral out-of-the-box thinking.

Options for flexible working hours (part-time), understanding their need for routines, and explaining them beforehand regarding important changes to schedules can help them adapt better to an otherwise challenging workplace.

The Need For Sensitization

Understanding individuals with autism may need little extra support, being a little flexible with time deadlines, giving simple instructions, especially written/visual ones, and allowing them time to overcome their communication barriers can go a long way in ensuring they feel heard and valued like anyone else in the workplace.

Sensitization of all major organization employees to foster a culture of acceptance and awareness, and an accessible work environment, is the need of the hour. Autistic individuals do well in a variety of job profiles, including IT, technology, finance, art and creativity, and administration.

Environmental modifications like background noise cancellation with headphones help those with sensory processing issues. At the end of the day, none of us is perfect, it's recognizing our special skills and strengthening them.

Possibilities are endless if we wish to encourage and make these individuals heard. So, let’s carry the Autism Awareness Day beyond a mere day of awareness and light it up blue. Let’s value and acknowledge them being different, but also empower them to act on their special skills to earn them a dignified place in society and the workplace.

World Autism Awareness Day is observed every year on April 2. The day is important to raise awareness about autism — a neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior — affecting millions of people globally.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in 127 people worldwide is diagnosed with the lifelong brain health condition. It is also among the top 10 conditions contributing to health loss globally.

Also Read: Leptospirosis: US health officials flag outbreak risk after floods in Hawaii

The first child diagnosed with autistic symptoms was Donald Grey Triplett. Labelled as Case 1, he went on to become an American banker, demonstrating that, if provided with the right and inclusive support and opportunities individuals with autism be as productive as others.

“Like anyone else, autistic people should be able to shape their own lives — and help to shape our shared future,” said

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

World Autism Awareness Day: Date and History

April 2 was designated as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.

The 2007 General Assembly resolution highlighted the need to raise public awareness of autism.

It stated that "children with disabilities should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community, as well as the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children".

World Autism Awareness Day: Theme

This year, World Autism Awareness Day is held under the theme "Autism and Humanity - Every Life Has Value".

The 2026 theme highlights and affirms the dignity and worth of all autistic people. While there are international human rights conventions safeguarding the rights of people with autism, they continue to face stigma, discrimination, and barriers to participation.

“Access to timely, quality health care and support services remains limited, driving inequalities across the life course," the WHO said. The global health body urged "sustained action and greater investment" to address these challenges. It also called for developing inclusive policies and services that uphold the rights of autistic people.

This year's theme, thus, is a call to action to recognize the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people with autism.

Guterres highlighted the need for "equal education, fair employment, and accessible health systems" for all persons with autism and to provide inclusive opportunities to participate and thrive, along with others.

Also read: Expert Reveals Why Childhood Autism Is Going Undetected In India

What is Autism?

The National Health Service (NHS) UK defines autism as not an illness or a medical condition with treatments or a "cure", but a developmental condition that affects how people communicate, learn, behave, and interact with others.

It is a spectrum, which means "everybody with autism is different".

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have difficulty with social interaction, exhibit atypical behavior and activities, or find it hard to communicate.

Early Signs Of Autism

Studies show that symptoms of autism are usually diagnosed within the first 3 years of birth. These include:

• Limited to zero eye contact
• Delayed responses
• Repeating words or actions such as hand-flapping
• Being strong-headed about following the same routine
• Easily annoyed, throws tantrums
• Difficulty understanding and expressing emotions
• Sensitive to certain sounds, textures, lights, or smells.