What causes nocturnal erections?

As we all know, when the male penis is stimulated by external factors, the corpus cavernosum inside will be filled with blood, and then the penis will become thicker and harder. This is a very normal phenomenon, and this phenomenon is called erection in medicine. Will it also have an erection without being stimulated? Of course it is, especially in the morning, any healthy male will have an erection, and it is called morning erection in medicine. So what is the reason for erection at night?

Men's Erections: Are They Abnormal?

Penile erection is a man's instinct, which is affected by both physiological and psychological factors. From one-year-old boys to elderly men, they can all experience penile erection to varying degrees. When the physiological or psychological factors are eliminated, the penis will return to normal.

Although penile erection is a physiological phenomenon, there are general rules in the timing and duration of erection. If the erection is too frequent or lasts too long, it may be the result of a certain disease.

Nocturnal erections

In a 24-hour day, nighttime is the peak time for penis erection. Survey data show that adolescent boys can have about 6 erections per night, each lasting about 20 to 30 minutes; more in puberty, with an average of one erection every 60 to 90 minutes per night; after middle age, the frequency gradually decreases, and healthy elderly people around 65 years old can still have several erections per night.

From this point of view, nocturnal penis erection is a physiological phenomenon of men, just like breathing, urinating, and sweating. However, due to the lack of sex education, some boys who have just entered puberty cannot understand this physiological phenomenon and are worried all day long. This is especially true for children who are sensitive and shy by nature. A middle school student wrote in a letter to a psychologist: "I live in a dormitory at school. Because my penis often erects at night, I am afraid that my classmates will see and laugh at me, so I always hide from people. Later, I dare not live in the dormitory anymore. I stay at home all day and don't want to go out. I feel very vulgar..."

All healthy men have nocturnal erections. If a man does not have nocturnal erections, it is a problem worth investigating. Medical experts tell us that when a man suffers from certain diseases involving the reproductive organs, nocturnal erections may disappear. At this time, not only should he not secretly rejoice, but he should also see a doctor in time to find out the cause and actively treat it. Otherwise, it may lead to erectile dysfunction and affect his life.