16 April 2024

Health

15 fascinating facts about morning erections

This morning when you woke up, you were greeted in your underwear by an erection as rigid as an iron bar. A pretty common scenario, you'd have to agree?

For some men, however, this morning erection can be a source of anxiety. What happened during the night to put you in such a state? What were you dreaming about to be that aroused? A mystery…

Yet this erection, a simple continuation of the nocturnal erection, is a natural phenomenon observed in the early morning in all men.

In fact, during the night, your body relaxes and your pelvic organs increase in volume. Your penis fills with blood… Yes, you're having an erection without even knowing it!

This article presents 15 fascinating facts to discover about morning glory, the morning erection.

1) A universal phenomenon

Let's start with the obvious. The morning erection, also known as nocturnal penile tumescence, is a natural phenomenon occurring in all men during the REM sleep phase.

Penile engorgement during sleep occurs involuntarily and uncontrollably.

Yes! You, me, and that guy on the other side of the planet — we all have erections in the morning. And there's pretty much nothing we can do about it…

2) Linked to the sleep cycle…

Rapid Eye Movement (REM), or sommeil paradoxal in French, is the 5^th and final stage of a sleep cycle. It is the stage closest to waking. Nocturnal or morning erections occur during this phase.

As a side note: REM sleep also promotes the formation of dreams, including particularly vivid ones and those we remember most vividly once we wake up.

If you observe a friend sleeping with significant eye movements beneath their closed eyelids, they are most likely in the REM sleep phase.

3) … And controlled by the brain

Indeed. Morning glory is likely triggered by the parasympathetic nervous system, a reflex system.

This area of the brain controls many things that happen in our bodies, such as digestion or the regulation of heart rate. All of this, without thinking about it… Magical, isn't it?

Daytime erections linked to more conventional arousal depend on the sympathetic nervous system, which we control more consciously.

4) It's not just a morning thing

Morning glory is simply the continuation of the nocturnal erection, upon waking.

There is, however, a slight difference: the morning erection is often harder than the nocturnal one.

Why? Between 6am and 8am, men experience a testosterone peak in their body, triggering an erection as hard as a rock (or nearly).

5) Women can experience it too

A similar phenomenon to morning erections is observed in women: the vagina becomes lubricated, the labia swell...

Like men, women's clitoris fills with blood an average of 5 times per night. Nature is well designed.

6) A bit like gymnastics

Morning erections offer numerous benefits for the human body. First of all, erections are good for blood circulation and also for the brain.

Erections are good for blood circulation and also for the brain.

Above all, as penile elasticity declines with age, this engorgement of the penis during sleep would help preserve its suppleness — essential for reproduction! A morning erection is a bit like your penis exercising and warming up before the main event.

7) No need to be aroused

A morning erection differs from the more conventional one linked to arousal and desire — that is, when your brain sends an electrical impulse triggering the engorgement of your penis.

Conversely, no sexual stimulation occurs with morning glory. It is therefore not linked to an erotic dream — it is purely mechanical.

Morning Wood Knock GIF from Morning Wood GIFs

→ Read also: 15 female fantasies you need to know about

→ See also: How to get rid of a hickey quickly?

8) Does the bladder play a role?

According to some specialists, when your bladder is full, your body sends a signal via an erection to alert you that you need to empty it quickly. However, this theory is not necessarily shared by all sexologists.

Proof: when your bladder is full during the day, your penis doesn't automatically swell, does it?

9) Between 3 and 6 erections per night

Each man experiences approximately between 3 and 6 erections per night. Why?

As already explained, the nocturnal erection is directly linked to REM sleep. And we all experience between 3 and 6 REM sleep phases every night.

The maths is therefore quite straightforward.

10) It can last 30 minutes

A morning erection lasts on average between 10 and 30 minutes each. Beyond 4 hours, this is referred to as priapism, which is more concerning. In this situation, it is better not to wait too long before seeking medical advice.

For the record, TF1 reported that a man had to be hospitalised after a morning erection lasting 17 hours!

11) A man spends a large part of his life with an erection

Adding up nocturnal erections and more conventional ones linked to physical arousal, a man would spend an average of 50,000 hours with an erection over the course of his lifetime.

Most of these erections occur during the sleep period.

Morning Wood GIF from Zac Efron GIFs

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12) A healthy lifestyle matters…

Excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, or the use of sleeping pills negatively affects the quality of your morning erection.

Why? These substances have negative effects on testosterone production, blood vessels, and nerves.

13) But the absence of a morning erection is not necessarily a sign of health problems

Early morning erections are the continuation of those that occur during the night.

So, if you don't notice a morning glory, don't worry. In most cases, this phenomenon occurs during the night without you even being aware of it.

However, in cases of complete absence, the causes can be varied: stress, fatigue, or even erectile dysfunction. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

The number of erections during the night or in the morning declines over time, without disappearing entirely.

14) It can trigger an ejaculation

And yes, nocturnal ejaculations exist too.

The reason this time is simpler: according to sexologists, these occur to regulate the amount of sperm we sometimes have in excess.

15) It diminishes with age

It is a normal and natural process of the human body. Morning erections occur before puberty and even before birth. In fact, even foetuses can have erections in their mother's womb!

Whether you're young or older, all men experience them!

However, as they age, men gradually experience a phenomenon known as andropause. Andropause is something of the male equivalent of the menopause in women. In fact, testosterone levels in the blood decline over the years. More precisely, according to studies, from the age of 30, these levels decrease by approximately 1% to 2% per year.

Yet testosterone is essential for achieving an erection… It is therefore natural that the number of erections during the night or in the morning declines over time, without disappearing entirely.

Key takeaways

Morning erections are a natural phenomenon in all men and are often a sign of good sexual health.

However, a complete absence of erections can be a signal of health issues or erectile dysfunction. In such cases, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional.