Daniel
In the morning, some men may feel a sense of satisfaction when they wake up to find their lower body erect, assuming it signifies strong sexual prowess. Conversely, if there is no morning erection or a less noticeable one, they might become concerned about their sexual performance and wonder if they have erectile dysfunction (ED).
Morning erections
During sleep, men typically go through cycles of deep sleep and light sleep, which includes a physiological process of erection-softening-re-erection-softening. This is a normal nocturnal erection process experienced by healthy men. Generally, men have 3 to 6 erections throughout the night, each lasting 15 to 40 minutes.
Actually the “morning wood” refers to the last nocturnal erection, which often occurs in the early morning hours. Morning erections occur spontaneously and naturally between the hours of 4 to 7 am, without being influenced by waking situations, activities, or thoughts. It is an unconscious physiological phenomenon that happens independently of one’s will.
However, it’s important to note that the frequency and duration of morning erections may gradually decrease with age. While men in their 20s and 30s may experience more frequent morning erections, the number of erections tends to decrease after middle age.
It’s essential to understand that the occurrence of morning erections can vary depending on a man’s daily physical state. Therefore, it is not advisable to solely judge a man’s sexual function based on the presence or absence of morning erections.
Causes of morning erections
Currently, the exact mechanism behind morning erections remains unclear. However, several factors are commonly believed to contribute to this phenomenon:
Male hormone levels: Morning erections are influenced by androgens, which play a role in sexual desire, arousal, and achieving an erection. Testosterone levels, in particular, undergo rhythmic changes within a 24-hour period, with the highest levels in the morning and the lowest in the evening. These hormone fluctuations contribute to the occurrence of morning erections.
Nitric oxide activity: During sleep, the brain relaxes its control over various bodily functions, leading to increased activity of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide signals the body’s management center to relax muscles and dilate blood vessels, facilitating smoother blood flow. When nerve cells release nitric oxide in the perineum, local blood flow increases, resulting in spontaneous penile erection. Medications like “Cialis” and “Viagra” aim to enhance nitric oxide effectiveness, relaxing smooth muscles to facilitate sufficient time for sexual intercourse. Nocturnal and morning erections ensure an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the penis, promoting self-maintenance of erectile function.
Sympathetic nerve stimulation: Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves constantly work in opposition, similar to a seesaw. Sympathetic nerves are more active during the day, responding to environmental stimuli, while parasympathetic nerves dominate during quiet sleep. In different sleep phases, including the morning, male penile erections and female genital congestion can occur due to increased parasympathetic nerve activity.
Reflex effects of internal organs: Visceral reflexes can also trigger penile erections. For example, increased pressure in the bladder due to a full bladder in the morning may stimulate the internal organs, leading to a subconscious reflex erection of the penis. This stimulation can also lead to the sensation of imminent ejaculation response by compressing nearby seminal vesicles.
It is important to note that morning erection are a natural occurrence influenced by various factors, and their presence or absence alone is not sufficient to determine sexual health or functioning.
Methods for Assessing Nocturnal Erections
While some men may find that their sexual function problems improve when they have good nighttime erections, relying solely on self-observation of early morning erections can be unreliable. Factors such as poor sleep quality, easy awakening, emotional anxiety, and tension can impact early morning erections. Additionally, individuals may not experience an erection upon waking if they are in a non-rapid sleep phase. Therefore, we recommend the following reliable methods for measuring nocturnal erections:
Stamp test
Before going to bed, encircle the base of the penis with four or five stamps. If a normal nocturnal erection occurs, the stamp joint will break the next morning. It’s important to ensure that the overlapping parts of the stamps are firmly glued and do not come off; otherwise, the test results may be meaningless.
Penis circumference measurement
A commercially available strip-shaped soft ruler, usually made of paper, can be used for this method. Before going to bed, wrap the ruler around the penis, with one end connected to a square buckle. Read the circumference of the penis at the base in a softly contracted state. The next morning, compare the data to determine any changes. The difference between the pre-sleep and wake-up measurements represents the increase in penis circumference due to nocturnal erection. A normal increment is typically 1.5 to 4.1 cm. If the increment exceeds 1.5 cm, impotence may be caused by psychological factors. If it is less than 1.5 cm, erectile dysfunction may be attributed to physiological factors.
Penis strength measurement
Using a commercially available paper penis strength measuring tape, stick the tape around the penis before going to bed. The next morning, observe the breakage of the three small color bands on the tape. If none of the small bands are broken, it indicates the absence of nocturnal erection and implies erectile dysfunction caused by physiological factors. Breaking only the small red band suggests ineffective erection, breaking both the red and yellow bands implies insufficient erection, and in such cases, it is essential to consider the influence of physiological factors on erectile dysfunction. If all three small color bands (red, yellow, and blue) are broken, it indicates a good erection during the night, and erectile dysfunction is likely attributed to psychological factors.
It is crucial to remember that these measurement methods provide additional insights into nocturnal erections, they should not be relied upon as the sole determinants of sexual function. Consulting with a healthcare professional is advised for a comprehensive assessment.
Is the absence of morning erections a sign of erectile dysfunction?
Morning erections are a normal physiological response in men. However, some men may become concerned about having erectile dysfunction if their morning erections stop. Paradoxically, the more anxious these men become about their sexual function, the less frequently they experience morning erections. This creates a vicious cycle where psychological distress can lead to physical issues, and physical problems can further exacerbate psychological distress.
Sexual anxiety can affect sexual function through the nervous system. Nervous system arousal causes blood vessels to constrict. Similar to how anxiety can raise blood pressure and heart rate, the blood vessels controlling the cavernous bodies of the penis may constrict, resulting in difficulty achieving an erection.
Furthermore, recent studies have shown that anxiety can increase blood levels of glucocorticoids, which can inhibit the production of testicular androgens. Although androgens do not directly stimulate erections, it is well-established that chronically low levels of androgens can adversely affect libido and erectile function.
In reality, spontaneous nocturnal erections that occur unconsciously are not guaranteed to happen every day. Several factors may influence the disappearance or reduction of morning erections:
- Poor sleep: Inadequate sleep duration and poor sleep quality can impact the secretion of androgens, leading to changes in morning erections.
- Fatigue: High work pressure and excessive fatigue can result in mental and physical exhaustion, potentially influencing morning erections.
- Unhealthy habits: Excessive smoking, alcohol consumption, irregular diet, and inconsistent sleep patterns may affect the occurrence of morning erections.
- Mood: Anxiety, depression, excessive grief, and other emotional factors can not only affect brain cortical activity but also impact the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, significantly reducing morning erections.
- Age: Morning erections are typically age-dependent. After puberty, the frequency and duration of morning erections increase. However, after the age of 30, morning erections may gradually weaken or decline. In elderly men over 60, morning erections may sharply decrease or disappear.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as antineoplastic drugs, antihypertensives, hypoglycemic drugs, antacids, and sedatives, can potentially reduce morning erections.
- Underlying diseases: Numerous medical conditions, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and lumbar disc herniation, can impact morning erections. A German doctor has studied the phenomenon of morning erections and found that they disappear during illness and reappear when the body recovers. Thus, morning erections can serve as an indicator of a man’s energy and health. Andrologists sometimes assess patients’ nocturnal erections, especially those without morning erections for a prolonged period, to help determine whether the issue is psychological or organic.
Therefore, the temporary reduction or absence of morning erections should not immediately be seen as erectile dysfunction. Becoming anxious about it can further diminish morning erections. For many men, the decline in morning erections is transient, and they can still have a satisfying sexual life.
However, if the absence of morning erections persists for more than six months or is accompanied by difficulties achieving or maintaining erections during daily sexual activities, reduced erection hardness, or decreased satisfaction with sexual life, it is essential to pay attention.
Particularly when no obvious factors like psychological stress, fatigue, or lack of sleep can be identified, increased caution is warranted. In such cases, seeking consultation from a reputable healthcare professional is crucial to address any potential organic causes and treat the condition in its early stages.
