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Here’s how an erection occurs

Have you ever wondered how erections happen?

Sometimes the penis is just flaccid minding its own business but in others cases, it becomes erect.

An erection is when a penis hardens and becomes enlarged and blood fills up the sponge-like tissue in the penis. You will notice that when a penis becomes erect, it stands away from the body.

Some people may refer to an erection as a boner, getting hard, wood, stiffy, among other names.

An erection can happen when a man is sexually aroused. Your brain plays an important role in getting an erection. You may have seen, felt, thought of, smelled something and this tells your nerves to send messages to the blood vessels in your penis.

The blood vessels (arteries) relax and open up thus letting more blood flow in. The veins close up to prevent blood from getting out. When blood enters the penis, pressure forces it to stay in the penis. The pressure makes your penis expand and hold the erection. When the blood stops flowing and veins open, the penis becomes soft.

In some cases, a man gets an erection for no reason at all. He will just be minding his own business and then BOOM! He gets an erection!

It is totally normal to get spontaneous erections and you should not worry if and when it happens.

The shape, angle, and direction of an erection are different from one man to another.

Normally, they will go away on their own but in other cases after ejaculation. Ejaculation is the release of semen through the small hole at the tip of the penis. This hole is known as the urethra.

How many erections are normal per day?

Hard to say.

Each man is different, it is inaccurate to say what is normal when it comes to how many erections the average man gets per day. Some men will get many erections per day while others may not experience any.

Unless your erections are painful, uncomfortable, or you do not get any under any circumstance, you do not need to worry about the number at all. If you are worried, talk to your doctor.

Got questions about erections? Talk to us in the comments section.

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Recent Comments (14)

    1. You’re welcome, Alicia!

      You’re welcome, Alicia!

  1. Why do l sometimes erect…
    Why do l sometimes erect when I fullmount or groundfight a male fellow???

    1. Hi Stevoh, 

      It could be…

      Hi Stevoh, 

      It could be that you are attracted to men as well or not. Note that this does not automatically mean you are gay or bisexual, it could be that you are just curious. Remember! erections do not always occur because you find someone sexually attractive. The best thing to do is to learn about yourself and your own identity sexually. Be honest with yourself in the process. 

    1. Hi David, 

      That does not…

      Hi David, 

      That does not sound good. Go to the hospital for tests and treatment. 

    1. You’re welcome, Ahmad!

      You’re welcome, Ahmad!

  2. Thanks for the information…
    Thanks for the information. I would like to ask,Does mustabation affect erection and how can it be stopped

    1. Hi Emman, 

      You are welcome…

      Hi Emman, 

      You are welcome. 

      Masturbation does not affect erections, including the quality or frequency of erections. It’s normal to have trouble getting or maintaining an erection at some point in life. It is important to understand that occasional erection problem is a normal part of your sex life. In terms of what you can do to stop masturbating, if you feel that it is preventing you from living a normal life, avoid coming into contact with things that make you want to masturbate; a good example is pornography. Second, get busy with other things such as hobbies, work, school, or even hanging out with friends. If you find it hard to stop, talk to a counselor or, if you, can a sex therapist. 

  3. Whenever I see boobs,any…
    Whenever I see boobs,any good ass or a smiling lady I erect is there any problem?

    1. No. You are okay. As long as…

      No. You are okay. As long as you do not get distracted every day and that this does not prevent you from living a normal life. Your penis is just reacting to what you find attractive. 

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