Everything about morning erections

Every man has experienced it at some point: waking up with a morning erection. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the subject of morning erections. For example, how does a morning erection occur and what role does age play in this? How is it possible that a morning erection suddenly no longer occurs, and many other questions and answers regarding morning erections will be discussed in this blog.

What is a morning erection?

A morning erection is, as the name actually suggests, the phenomenon that men often experience, namely waking up in the morning with a hard penis. In Dutch, it is sometimes abbreviated to ODOL, or ‘’Ontzettend Dikke Ochtend Lul’’. The English have a somewhat more refined name with ‘’Morning Glory”. However, it is not the case that this only happens in the morning, but that an erection occurs several times during a man’s sleep, especially during REM sleep. REM sleep stands for “Rapid Eye Movement”, which we will discuss in more detail later in the blog. A morning erection is therefore not necessarily related to the morning itself, but rather to sleep cycles, so when you wake up in the morning with an erection, it is often because you have just woken up from REM sleep.

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What causes a morning erection

Several explanations are given for a morning erection, such as the idea that it occurs more often when you have a full bladder. The erection closes off the urethra, so you do not have to wake up to urinate. Other researchers believe that a morning erection occurs because there is then a peak in testosterone levels. All plausible explanations for a morning erection. The explanation from REM sleep, which we discussed earlier, also provides insight into morning erections. One of the characteristics of REM sleep is the inhibition of noradrenaline and stimulation of acetylcholine, and this hormonal response causes morning erections in men. Another explanation for a morning erection is that because nitrogen accumulates in the erectile tissues in the penis, it needs to be removed. So by allowing blood to flow through them, they are cleansed and an erection occurs. There are therefore several explanations for a morning erection, and perhaps they also work together to cause the erection.

The role of age in morning erections

A morning erection can occur at any age; it has even been observed in a fetus in the womb. It is therefore completely normal for children to experience a morning erection. It is also healthy at any age and a sign of a properly functioning blood and nervous system around the penis. A morning erection occurs at every age but may become less frequent when men reach around 60-70 years of age. This is also the age at which erectile dysfunction occurs more frequently.

Reasons for the disappearance of a morning erection

As indicated earlier, a morning erection is an indication of good blood circulation around the penis and that the nerves are functioning properly. If you experience a morning erection, it also means that you are capable of getting an erection. So if you normally cannot get an erection but do experience a morning erection, it is most likely to have a psychological cause. The disappearance of a morning erection can therefore be a sign that something is wrong. Some possible causes may include:

• · Being overweight
• · High blood pressure
• · High cholesterol levels
• · Diabetes
• · Depression
• · Medication
• · Antidepressants

A morning erection may occur less frequently as one gets older, but if you are young and do not experience morning erections, or if they suddenly stop, it may be a sign that you should consult a doctor.

How to make a morning erection go away

If you want to make a morning erection go away, there are a few ways to achieve this. The quickest way is to urinate if you are able to pee. A cold shower is another good way to constrict the blood vessels, causing it to become flaccid quickly. Meditation or some breathing exercises in bed can also help reduce a morning erection.

Influence of testosterone on morning erections

Men experience morning erections most frequently from their late teenage years through their late 30s. From this, it can be concluded that testosterone certainly has an influence on morning erections. The reason older men experience morning erections less frequently is therefore also related to testosterone production. All in all, we can conclude that a morning erection is nothing strange and is actually a sign of good health and vitality. It is a sign that your body is functioning properly. Incidentally, it is not the case that if you no longer experience morning erections, you are in poor health.

What if you experience a painful morning erection

If you experience a painful morning erection, it could be priapism , in which you experience a morning erection that lasts for several hours. If this is the case, it is recommended that you see a doctor as soon as possible.