You’ve probably noticed that when waking up men often get an erection. Where does this phenomenon come from and what is it caused? Does a lack of a morning erection mean poor health?

The erection that we call “morning”, our “morning glory” in Anglo-Saxons, since we realize it when we wake up, is in fact a nocturnal erection. Indeed, this phenomenon appears at night, during sleep. The latter is divided into several phases: light, deep or REM sleep. It is during this last phase that erections appear, and last on average between 15 and 40 minutes. They are due to a relaxation of the pelvic organs, which cause an erection. The latter can also be followed by ejaculation, although this is more rare. These nocturnal or morning erections are totally detached from any sexual arousal or stimulation. It is an automatic mechanism, controlled by the brain, which has no connection with erotic dreams or excitement at night, for example.

What is male erection? This reaction of the body is due to a physiological phenomenon, neurological (ie which is triggered by a mechanism of the brain) and vascular, in other words at the initiative of the blood system. In men, it can be triggered by arousal or sexual attraction, but not only, as is the case with nocturnal erections. It can also take place during the day, caused by relaxation of the body or certain movements that stimulate the penis. This is a hardening and swelling of the penis due to a heavy rush of blood to the area. Concretely, the cavernous bodies, the elements which constitute the penis, are gorged with blood, then making the penis firm and dilated.

As we have seen, nocturnal erections appear during the phases of REM sleep. During these periods of sleep, the electrical activity of the brain is very important: it is especially at this time that we dream. Breathing and heart movements are irregular, and body temperature may also be affected. The body is totally relaxed: thus, the pelvic organs (which include the urinary and reproductive systems) will then be dilated. In men, it is this phenomenon that triggers the erection of the penis. This erection, when it occurs during the night, is then called nocturnal penile tumescence. It occurs on average three to five times per night, depending on the number of REM sleep cycles.

If the erection is a physiological and automatic response of the body, one would think that the morning erection is synonymous with a good state of health. Indeed, this means that certain body mechanisms are in working order. All men, from infancy to the elderly, and without erectile dysfunction, are prone to these erections. They help oxygenate the penis and are beneficial to the body. However, we can very well have erections every morning, and have erectile dysfunction during sexual intercourse. Indeed, as we have seen, the morning erection is not triggered by sexual stimulation but comes from a neurological mechanism.

The absence of a morning erection is sometimes associated with sexual or erectile dysfunction. However, no link is to be established between the two. Indeed, a man who does not have an erection when he wakes up can be quite healthy and not present any sexual disorder. As we have seen, erection upon awakening is linked to the stage of REM sleep. Thus, if the man wakes up when he is not in a phase of this sleep, as is the case for example during a short nap, he will not have an erection. Likewise, this type of erection is also linked to the production of hormones. With age, as this production tends to decrease, the phenomenon may therefore diminish and no longer be daily. Thus, a nighttime erection that appears only 2 to 3 times a week is always a sign of good health.