Why do men get morning erection
From wikiWHYfiles
[edit] Introductory Note
When a man is sexually stimulated by sight, thought, or touch, the brain sends signals that relax the smooth muscles around the arteries that supply blood to the spongy and cavernous bodies. The veins draining the bodies can't keep up, resulting in swelling. As the swelling reaches the limit of the penile skin, the penis becomes firm. The pressure of the spongy and cavernous bodies against the skin partially closes the veins, helping to maintain the erection. Erection continues until the signals from the brain stop, but erections are not consistent; waking and waning are normal, even during intercourse.
Erection can occur throughout life, happening before birth and into the 90's in healthy men. Nocturnal erections occur during all male dreams (regardless of what the dream is about), unless the man has physical problems (this is the easiest way to determine if impotence is physical or emotional in nature). The so called "morning erection" is the result of being wakened during, or just after a dream; and it can be a very persistent erection. While a morning erection is not a sign of arousal, it's presents and the pleasurable sensations it can create may result in arousal.
Men have only very limited control over their erections. During puberty the young man is often embarrassed by erection in public settings, but he gradually becomes able to suppress erections when the stimulation is mild. Likewise, it is impossible to "will" an erection, although sexual thoughts can cause erection. During prolonged foreplay a man's erection may go away; this is normal, and is not a sign of lessening interest.
General health and physical exhaustion can affect erection; when very tired, a man may be able to have only a partial erection, but still be able to climax. Erection is lost in two stages; the initial stage is very quick, but usually leaves the penis firm enough to continue intercourse. The second stage is somewhat slower and is effected by a variety of things including age (which tends to speed it), and arousal level before climax, with higher (or longer) pre-climax arousal generally resulting in slower lose of erection.
|
|
[edit] Reason
Many men think their penises are erect upon waking because of urine buildup in the bladder, but this is false. Morning erections are technically nighttime erections which happen during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep (when most dreaming occurs), although men older than sixty years may have them during even non-REM sleep. Generally, we experience four intervals of REM sleep per night. These spontaneous woodies in the wee hours are caused by specific neuroreflexes that are stimulated during REM sleep.
Most guys have nocturnal erections throughout their lifetime, and their frequency, along with one's awareness of them, may vary. Nighttime/morning erections can be noticeably harder or stiffer than those had when awake. The penis can stay erect for up to two hours nightly, and not all men who have erections during the night wake up with one in the morning.
[edit] Related Articles
[edit] More
- Popularly known as a "morning wood", but also as "the morning glory" (or "nocturnal penile tumescence"), a morning erection is a natural reaction to the blood flows which are surging through your body. Other afflictions that may occur in the morning are blurry eyesight and aching muscles. Contrary to those who claim that morning erections are the result of having a wet or sexy dream, it really does not mean that you are turned on and that you are going to open your eyes and have a big grin on your face because you are enjoying a state of wellness. In fact it can be quite uncomfortable and really painful.
- Even though morning erections are discovered first thing in the morning, it all starts during sleep, which in general is at night. There are many theories trying to explain the, to some, weird phenomenon; one of them refers to the urine retention, meaning the bladder is full and it is about to burst; because it has no other place to go, it is filling the urethra and therefore engorging the penis . Some schools of though claim that the morning erection appears in order to wake the male to prompt urination.
- If the man is laying face down, the discomfort of an erection trying to push its way through to the other side of the mattress can provoke the owner of the penis into action, possibly preventing any accidental bed-wetting. This urine-related theory is understandable, but is unlikely to be true from a medical or scientific viewpoint because of the fact that the body has many other methods of promoting elimination.
- Other theory says that it is all a matter of wet-dreams and fantasies during the night, and in connection with rapid eye movements (REM), the penis becomes erect anticipating a sexual act due to some neuro-reflexes that are stimulated during REM sleep. Generally, men experience four intervals of REM sleep per night. Whatever the theory, everyone agrees there are pros and cons regarding this matter. Among the pros we find the increasing desire to have sex or to masturbate, depending on the presence/absence of a partner, the help provided in insomnia problems or just for simple guy pride.
- Among the disadvantages or the cons count the embarrassing and awkward situation in the case you are woken up in the morning by a female relative such as you mother, or if you are in a hurry to leave your home and catch a bus and the erection just won't go away. Morning erections are not at all abnormal and if you are lucky enough to have your partner besides, you might even enjoy them.
[edit] References
1. erection
