The truth about morning erections
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Erections: the truth about morning wood

Has he been dreaming about other girls – is that why he has a hard-on waking up? Or are morning erections normal?

Morning wood: that’s the erection guys wake up with first thing in the morning. If the guy’s in bed with a partner, it can make for a sensual start to the day. And if he’s alone, he can take a DIY-approach.

Some women worry about their man’s morning glory. ‘What has he been dreaming about?’ they wonder. ‘Was it me – or someone else?’ But night-time hard-ons are a normal part of a healthy guy’s life, and they’re totally beyond his control.

Two to three erections during sleep are normal, each lasting about half an hour.

Sexual fantasies

Mind you, scientists are still confused about why men get them. Since they only happen during REM sleep, when we dream, night-time erections could be linked to sexual fantasies, some research suggests. Though if a guy says he’s no idea what on earth he was dreaming about, don’t hit him with the pillow, he’s probably telling the truth.

A more complicated theory about the cause of slumber hard-ons has to do with the brain cells called neurons. When a particular type of neuron is active, erections are a no go. But during REM sleep they shut down their activity. And that could make it possible for guys to get hard over and over again throughout the night.

Erection insomnia

Night-time erections so painful they woke him from his slumber caused one man grief for half a year before he headed for a check-up. When he did visit his doctor, the good news is that medical treatment cleared up his problem in no time. It must have been a major relief – the 35-year-old Brazilian man could get no sleep since his painful erections woke him up three to four times a night, every night.

The curious thing is that this man’s night-time woes had nothing to do with his daytime erections, which were perfectly normal. He reported pain-free hard-ons during the waking hours and told doctors he was satisfied with his sex life.

So what might have caused this man to have painful night-time erections and no problems during the day? Well, his doctors aren’t all that sure. What they do know is that the medicine they gave him helped relax his pelvic muscles and improved the way he slept.
And painful night-time erections have nothing to do with the healthy variety guys get throughout the night.

 

Do you feel turned on when you wake up with an erection? Have you ever had painful erections in the night? Leave a comment below or ask our discussion board moderators any questions you may have. 

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Recent Comments (43)

  1. We together with my pals
    We together with my pals frightened about this but we have the answer thank you

    1. You are welcome, Jully!
      You are welcome, Jully!

    1. Can’t help with that!
      Can’t help with that!

      1. How will you do this Danolah?

        How will you do this Danolah?

    2. I can give you hard dick if…
      I can give you hard dick if you care and also tell you what u can do to have a hard dick or someone you know that needs hard dick if you are a lady.

      1. Hey Henry, do share your…

        Hey Henry, do share your tips…

    3. Y did u nid a hard fuck
      Y did u nid a hard fuck

      1. This is a good question @…

        This is a good question @ Ifeoluwa

    4. Which part of africa are you…
      Which part of africa are you fast??

      1. Hi Wimon, I do not…

        Hi Wimon, I do not understand what you mean. Could you please explain?

  2. I think this night sexual
    I think this night sexual fantasies are what made me break with my lover. I tried to explain what i was going through but she never gave a damn

  3. Does women too experience the
    Does women too experience the urge or get wet in the morning

  4. As this is part of the
    As this is part of the reasons, i believe that this erections mostly are caused by the fact that the bladder is full of urine that raises the temperature of the body and also that warmth that comes during morng hours when it’s quite cold out there making blood flow speed increase thus the erections

    1. That’s indeed one of the
      That’s indeed one of the reasons.

  5. Waking up alway worry me
    Waking up alway worry me since i am not married

    1. It’s normal, Mohamed, don’t
      It’s normal, Mohamed, don’t worry!

  6. Why it’s hard to reach orgasm
    Why it’s hard to reach orgasm at morning.

  7. Why it’s hard to reach orgasm
    Why it’s hard to reach orgasm at morning?.

    1. Hm, Sabastian, we don’t
      Hm, Sabastian, we don’t really know, to be honest. Maybe you are just still tired, or not that much into morning sex?

  8. I have been having this issue
    I have been having this issue with eczema tried diff things but it still not working makes me ashame to undress in front of my partner

    1. Buuks,

      Buuks,
      don’t be afraid of who you are! It might be difficult to show him your skin, but then, sex is a very intimate thing to start with. If you trust him enough to have sex with him, showing him your body is just a part of it, isn’t it?

  9. I have it regularly though…
    I have it regularly though not painful. I guess it’s a bad thing.

    1. Hello Ajao , I believe you…

      Hello Ajao , I believe you mean this is not a bad thing!

  10. I also wake up with hard-on…
    I also wake up with hard-on mostly every morning. Sometimes it hurts b4 it goes down itself after taking long time. What should u do pls?

    1. Hey Mo, first, night-time or…

      Hey Mo, first, night-time or morning hard-ons are a normal part of a healthy guy’s life, and they’re totally beyond your control. However, if they are causing you pain and disrupting your mornings, you may want to consider seekin* medical advice. 

  11. Is it normal to feel pain…
    Is it normal to feel pain when. You have an erection?

    1. Hello Simon, 

      A painful…

      Hello Simon, 

      A painful erection is not normal, pain often goes hand-in-hand with an erection that persists for longer than normal. You may consider visiting a health care provider for attention. 

  12. Interesting information here…
    Interesting information here LMA 😉

    1. Thank you for the feedback…

      Thank you for the feedback. Keep reading our articles. 

  13. My penis gets veins when I…
    My penis gets veins when I erect???

    1. Hi Pete, this is completely…

      Hi Pete, this is completely normal. An erection occurs when blood engorges the penis, filling the spongy erectile tissue within resulting in an enlarged and stiffened unit. The veins are caused by the blood flowing into the penis. This is why they are not visible once one looses their erection. Check out the following article for more information;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/our-bodies/male-body/erection-top-five-facts

  14. I was having sex but failed…
    I was having sex but failed to get erections 2 times what may have caused this? This is the first time it happened to me!?

    1. Hi Salim, it is normal for a…

      Hi Salim, it is normal for a man to fail to gain an erection or even loose their erection during sex at some point. It should be a concern if this happens frequently. This maybe caused by psychological issues such as stress, anxiety or even fear. If it happens often, it may point to more serious issues that may require one to seek medical advice. Have a look at the following article for additional information;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/making-love/sex-problems-how-to-overcome-them/erectile-dysfunction-top-five-facts

  15. What’s your take on…
    What’s your take on masturbation.Is it okay

  16. After ejaculating during sex…
    After ejaculating during sex, it took a longer time for my penis to rise unlike before, when it rose, I wanted to go another round but it fall down again, pls what causes this kind situation

    1. Hello Valentine, it’s…

      Hello Valentine, it’s completely normal for men to have what is called a refractory period, where the penis cannot get hard after ejaculation. Honestly, your body is just telling you that it needs some time. There is no real way to change it or make it happen less, so just try to work with your body. If you are really hoping to have more sex, then take the time to recharge and focus on your partner. This is a good time to focus on them and give them pleasure. You will become hard again in no time and continue. 

  17. sometimes i wonder why my…
    sometimes i wonder why my dick gets stiff every morning i wake up and this leaves me a thousand questions,! Sometimes i can say am abnormal when the condition is usual and significant. So i seek for your advice and strength.

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