Pornography can create a false sense of gender identity by linking sexual arousal to body transformation fantasies.
Several detransitioned women report that hours of gay-porn use trained them to eroticise the idea of having a male body. One woman explains: “I romanticized the twinks in gay porn and compared my ugly female self to their beautiful youthful male bodies… It caused many unrealistic and irrational desires including wanting to have a male body. I had top surgery and I regret it.” – rockandroll666 source [citation:83be3f57-dbf5-42d5-a4e8-e592a015287b] The constant pairing of sexual excitement with the image of a flat chest or a penis rewired her self-concept until she believed transition was the only relief. When she later stopped watching porn, the dysphoria faded and she recognised the desire as a learned fetish rather than an innate identity.

Quitting porn often dissolves the dysphoric thoughts, revealing them to be porn-induced rather than authentic.
A detransitioned man notes: “I had thoughts of becoming or being a man for over 5 years… I stopped watching it – all my thoughts have disappeared after a while. But once I relapsed… the thoughts came back.” – va____ source [citation:0362d183-17c7-47fd-bdb7-b81855bd3325] The rapid return of trans-identity fantasies after a single relapse convinced him that the feelings were tied to the stimulus, not to an underlying self. Similar stories appear across the forum: a three-month “porn fast” is repeatedly described as the clearest way to distinguish between genuine gender non-conformity and a screen-created script.

Pornography reinforces rigid gender stereotypes, making ordinary non-conformity feel like a medical problem.
Heavy use teaches adolescents that only stereotypical bodies are desirable. One woman writes: “I never related to the women in [straight] porn as they were so cartoonish and had ridiculous and sexist roles… gay porn seemed more egalitarian, so I imagined myself as the man.” – rockandroll666 source [citation:83be3f57-dbf5-42d5-a4e8-e592a015287b] Instead of questioning why women are reduced to caricatures, she concluded her own female body was the problem. Detransitioners emphasise that stepping away from porn allows space to challenge these stereotypes and to practise gender non-conformity without seeking bodily alteration.

Early exposure can rewire a still-developing brain, so a break is especially urgent for adolescents.
A detransitioned man warns: “This shit even happens to adults, so imagine how your 11-year-old brain handled it… you can’t just watch porn casually and expect it not to change your own view of yourself.” – spamcentral source [citation:57bea4dc-9294-4daa-b545-5fc46b8253b5] Because the adolescent brain is highly plastic, repeated pairing of arousal with cross-gender imagery can hard-wire what feels like an identity. Detransitioners therefore recommend a complete break—not just from videos but from erotic fan-fiction, hentai, and even “exploratory” sexting—so that natural interests and healthy gender non-conformity can emerge without interference.

Conclusion
The lived-experience accounts show that persistent gender-dysphoric thoughts often stem from pornography’s ability to fuse sexual excitement with rigid gender roles. When the material is removed, the distress usually lessens or disappears, revealing space for self-acceptance and creative gender non-conformity. If you are questioning your identity, a porn-free period—combined with supportive friends, therapy focused on self-understanding, and exploration of non-stereotypical ways to express yourself—can clarify what is truly yours and what is simply a screen-induced script.