What your morning erection is telling you about your health

If your penis tends to wake up at the crack of dawn before you do, consider it a very good and normal sign.  That “good morning” salute is a sign of vigorous blood levels of testosterone which is a reflection of your overall good health.  They may be a bit tiresome (unless you have a willing partner) and painful, but having morning erections is a barometer of a man’s physiological fitness.

Why do erections pop up during the night and not during the day?

Spontaneous daytime erections are squelched by the release from the brain of a hormone called noradrenaline.  This inhibits a man (unless sexually turned on) from having an unintended and uninvited erection during the day.  But during the night while sleeping, the brain releases less of this hormone making involuntary erections arise. 

The cycle of a man’s night time erections

Erections in men do not just occur in the wee hours of the morning.  A healthy man usually has anywhere from three to five erections during the night lasting about 25 to 35 minutes.  These nighttime erections are called nocturnal penile tumescence or NPT – also known as “morning wood” - and the last of the series is the erection occurring right before you wake up.  One theory for NPT is the link related to our sleep cycle.  Erections tend to begin as our body shifts into a REM (rapid eye movement) cycle and then end when we transition into a deeper sleep. 

Sexually mature men are not the only ones experiencing morning erections.  It has been noted that baby boys in utero and as children can also have this same phenomenon.  In fact, morning erections are even common in the animal kingdom among male mammals.

Men will often blame a full bladder for the cause of their erect penis first thing in the morning and for some this may be the case.  However there is little evidence of the relationship between the two.

Men using the impotence medication of Cialis may notice more morning erections which could be a lingering effect due to the active ingredient of tadalafil.

Testosterone’s role

Testosterone is a sex hormone with many important roles in keeping a man healthy.  It influences bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm.

It is one of the primary hormones helping ignite the sexual fires or libido within a man.  This hormone also surges to its highest daily levels in the early morning hours causing the penis to stand tall and erect. Every man should breathe a sigh of relief congratulating himself as morning erections are good indicators that all of his equipment is working up to par.

If a man’s blood levels of testosterone decline this can result in a reduction of the number of morning erections he will have.  Aging is another factor that brings a decline in the number of early morning erections.  But if a man is paying attention to being more physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle, he may be able to avoid this.

Morning erections sign of good blood flow

For a man to achieve strong optimal erectile function it requires strong blood flow to the penis.   If a man’s vessels are obstruction free and elastic, this indicates his heart and brain are functioning and his erections should be rock hard. 

It doesn’t matter whether it’s of the involuntary type of a morning wood or when a man is sexually stimulated.  If he is unable to achieve an erection, it could be a sign of cardiovascular problems and should be addressed with his doctor. 

In conclusion

A man’s erections should be strong and rock hard no matter what time of day or night they occur.  If regular nocturnal or morning erections are not happening, this should be discussed with their doctor.

Men who understand that strong morning erections and good health go hand-in-hand and is all the more reason to take good care of themselves.