Morning Erection – Generally, those who have a penis may wake up with an erection in the morning. In Slang terms, this is called morning wood and it is absolutely normal. Its technical term is Nocturnal Penile Tumescence or NPT. However, Morning wood are not necessarily an indication of sexual arousal or sex dreams. Let’s understand everything about morning wood through this article.
Table of Contents
What is Morning Erection or Morning Wood?
Men frequently experience morning wood, also known as morning erection. It was formally referred to as NPT, or nocturnal penile tumescence. This happens when a penis user experiences an erection while still asleep in the middle of the night or early in the morning.
Read More: Nightfall – Everything about Wet Dreams or Nocturnal Emissions?
Are morning erection and nightfall similar?
No, Morning erection (NPT) and nightfall ( Nocturnal Emission) are two different things. They may sound the same but actually both are different. Morning wood is the spontaneous erection during sickness or immediately after waking up whereas night fall is the spontaneous ejaculation or orgasm. Don’t worry, Both are normal.
What is the cause behind morning erection?
There are several possible factors that might contribute to the cause of a morning erection. A common component among them is the parasympathetic nervous system. This section of the nervous system regulates a wide range of bodily functions like urination, digestion, and sexual arousal.
When bladder is fully loaded
When you are in sleep, your parasympathetic system dominates. It happens especially in the REM sleep stage. There are mainly four stages of sleep. REM is the sleep stage in which you dream. Most people wake up after or during the REM stage of sleep which means you are more likely to wake up while you have an erection. You may actually get more than one erection each night but you tend to notice them mostly when you are close to waking up in the morning.
Few experts believe that the sacral nerve may play a role in the morning erection. When your bladder is full, it may press on the sacral nerve leading to an activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System which can then lead to an erection.
Hormonal changes
Your testosterone level is at its highest in the morning after you wake up. It is highest immediately after waking up from the REM sleep stage. The increase in this hormone alone may be enough to cause an erection even in the absence of any physical stimulation.
Brain Relaxation
During your working hours, your body releases hormones to suppress erections. When you are asleep, your body releases less of those hormones. That’s why you may experience erection in your sleep, and morning wood becomes more likely.
Physical Stimulation
Even though your eyes are shut, your body is still aware of what’s happening around you. If you and your partner accidentally touch your genitals it may become erect. Your body senses the stimulation and response with an erection.
Is morning wood good or bad?
It is completely a natural and healthy thing. It is a sign of a properly functioning blood and nervous system in and around the penis. Men of all ages can experience morning erection but it may become less common as you get older.
The frequency of morning erections varies from person to person. This may vary based on things like age, hormones and health conditions. Often, morning erections are bigger for younger people and the frequency gradually decreases with age.
When to see a doctor?
Now if you suddenly stop experiencing this or notice that you are not waking up with an erect penis anymore then this may be an early sign of an underlying medical problem. More likely this is a sign of physical erectile dysfunction and you should check for High Blood Sugar, High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol Level. Also, In case of painful erections, you should consult a doctor.
Most morning erections will subside within 30 minutes of waking up. If your erections last more than an hour after you wake up or if they become painful then you should definitely make an appointment with the doctor Note – Remember that painkillers and some Antidepressant medications may also prevent morning erection.
Some Additional Doubts
Question: What is NPT (Nocturnal Penile Tumescence)?
Answer: NPT is a technical term used for morning erection or morning wood. Nocturnal means night and Tumescence means swelling and it is also a formal word for erection.
Question: Is Morning Erection good or bad?
Answer: Absolutely good, As morning erection is the normal function of the body and it is the healthy sign of the reproductive system.
Question: Is Morning Erection harmful?
Answer: No, It is just a normal function of the reproductive system and indicates that the nerves and blood supply to the penis are healthy.
Question: What is the cause of morning erection?
Answer: They may be the result of our sleep cycles, healthy nerves and blood flow, and usually morning erections go away within a short time of waking up.
Question: When should you consult the doctor?
Answer: If you are facing a sudden drop in frequency of having morning direction then it is better to consult a doctor.
Reference Links:-
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317051942_Why_Do_Healthy_Men_Experience_Morning_Erections
https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/morning-wood
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708440/
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007617.htm
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374254576_A_Study_Showing_Importance_of_Nocturnal_Penile_Tumescence_Sleep_Related_Erections_to_Differentiate_between_Psychogenic_and_Organic_Erectile_Dysfunction_and_Using_NPT_as_Confidence_Building_Measure_in_