If you're a man or have spent any time close to a partner, you've probably experienced the phenomenon of nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT)- aka morning erections or "morning wood" in general.
But why exactly does this happen? And is this ever a sign of a problem, or is it normal?
Most people believe that morning wood or morning erection is a sign of sexual arousal. Although this is also true, it is not always the case. Morning excitement is likely your body's response to one of many natural events.
What is Morning Wood (NPT), Morning Erection?
Morning wood - or as it is formally known - nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). It is a regular occurrence for most people. You may often wake up with your erect (hard) penis. It is widespread in youth. While it would be completely redundant to say that this is just a puberty experience, men of all ages can experience morning wood or NPT, which is entirely normal.
What Causes Morning Wood (NPT) or Morning Erection?
The cause of NPT (Morning Wood) will likely depend on several factors. And medically, doctors have some theories to help explain why people often or periodically wake up with an erect penis or morning erections. However, it is also true that doctors have different opinions on this topic, which makes it a controversial category, and that is why none of these theories are supported by solid medical evidence.
These essential principles include:
Physical Stimulation Of A Person
It usually becomes a matter of thinking that with your eyes closed, your body is still aware of what is happening around you or what your body needs. If you or your partner accidentally touches your penis (genitals), you may feel sensitivity, your body senses the sensation, and your body responds with an erection.
Hormonal Changes
One of the leading causes of morning wood (NPT) or morning erection is hormonal changes, a relatively solid and reliable cause. Your testosterone level is at its highest in the morning and is highest immediately after waking up from the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage. An increase in this hormone (testosterone) alone may be enough to produce an erection even without any physical stimulation.
As a man's body progresses, usually between the ages of 40 and 50, natural testosterone levels begin to drop. As this level decreases, episodes of morning wood (NPT) or morning erections are less likely to occur.
Your Brain Rest
When you are awake, the brain and body are busy with different tasks, due to which your body releases certain hormones to suppress the erection. And when you're sleeping, your body releases less of those hormones, which can cause you to experience erections in your sleep, making NPT or morning erections more likely.
Other Thoughts Of People
Some people believe that morning erection prevents them from urinating during sleep, but this is entirely unfounded, and medical professionals strongly believe this.
While some people believe that morning erection or morning wood (NPT) is the cause of sexual arousal, the truth is that morning erection is not always a sign of sexual arousal. While morning wood (NPT) or morning erection is not caused by your fantasies, dreams, or thoughts of a sexual nature, sometimes it happens spontaneously, and sometimes it is possible for many other reasons.
Who Gets Morning Erection Or Morning Wood (NPT)?
Morning erections are pretty normal during puberty, as testosterone levels remain very high. But it can occur in common in men of all ages and can experience NPT.
This is a healthy process at any age and is a sign of proper functioning of the blood and nervous system in and around the penis.
It is also true that boys can experience NPT in early childhood. NPT can also occur in men in their 60s and 70s, which is normal. It may occur less frequently as erectile dysfunction (ED) issues arise; yes, it is natural to decrease with age.
Especially in puberty, you may experience four to five erections every night. NPT can last longer than 30 minutes due to what is in your fantasies and dreams. Some men may experience an erection for more than 2 hours during sleep. And most erections subside within minutes of waking up.
How Can I Be Sure I'm Getting Enough Morning W (NPT)?
If you're worried about your morning wood or have doubts, keeping an eye on how often you wake up with erections doesn't hurt. You can check it regularly for a few days and record it at your convenience.
You may need to visit the doctor if you feel like you have been continuously deprived of it for the past few days.
A man with normal erections is usually in excellent health. When they feel a lack of erection, it's time to see their doctor. Sometimes it is customary to not get an erection for a few days due to mental stress or any reason, and it ends automatically after a few days.
Is It Normal To Get NPT Or Morning Wood (Morning Erection)?
It is very typical to have an erection, usually during sleep. You can get five or more erections every night while you sleep. Research conducted by some prestigious institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom suggests that as you age, you are less likely to develop morning wood (NPT) nocturnal penile tumescence.
How Are Morning Wood (NPT) And Wet Dreams Different?
Morning wood means the act of getting an erection while sleeping. A wet dream, also called nocturnal emission, is when you have an orgasm during sleep, and it can happen anytime. On this topic, some experts believe that nocturnal emissions occur when you are already having or fantasizing about erections and sexual dreams.
Aside from morning erections, wet dreams are normal, especially during puberty.
How To Deal With Morning Wood (NPT) Or Wet Dreams?
Although this is normal, sometimes nighttime erections and emissions can be embarrassing for some people. And you can try to stop them, but there's no way to do that, and they're perfectly normal.
If you think you have a wet dream, you may need to clean yourself or change your sheets. If you only get an erection at night, it will go away soon after you wake up or after a few minutes.
If you find your nocturnal erections or emissions painful or challenging, you can talk to a trusted friend, doctor, counselor, or another specialist. Talking about it with someone can make you feel more comfortable, but you don't have to worry at all, and it's completely natural and very normal.
What Does It Mean If You Stop Getting Morning Erections Or NPT?
Having a taut penis when you wake up in the morning is not bad, but it is a sign of healthy blood and nerve supply to the penis. The presence of NPT also indicates that you are physically capable of achieving and maintaining an erection while awake.
If you stop experiencing morning wood (NPT) or morning erections or notice that you are no longer waking up with an erect penis, it may be an early sign of an underlying medical problem.
And most likely, this is a sign of physical ED. Something in your body may prevent enough blood or nerve supply for proper erectile function. Some common symptoms indicate you may be more likely to have ED if you can find out the common causes below:
- Are overweight
- Your cholesterol level is rising unintentionally
- Have high blood pressure
- Have diabetes
- Have depression
- It is also commonly seen that some disabled people start experiencing ED suddenly. The basic reason for this is suddenly some hormonal or other changes due to some body parts.
- Or some medications may affect your ability to experience morning wood. Pain relievers and some antidepressants can prevent NPT.
As you get older, NPT, in general, may decrease, But if you're young and you're not getting erections in the morning or if your erections stop suddenly, it may be time to see a doctor.
When To Contact A Doctor About Morning Wood (NPT) Or Concerns Related To Morning Erections?
Since morning wood (NPT) is an indicator of good sleep and good health of the sex organs, it is helpful to pay attention to how often NPT occurs. If NPT stops suddenly or happens less frequently, talk to a doctor.
They can provide appropriate advice after discussing and studying potential health conditions, such as sleep disorders, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, and ED.
It is essential to see a doctor about NPT deficiency, as it can be a symptom of ED. This condition can indicate serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, especially in young men. A health professional or doctor can help treat these conditions, including ED.
Some medicines, such as antidepressants, can make it more difficult for a person to get or maintain an erection. They can also cause morning wood (NPT), decreased (morning erection), or sudden stoppage. Some of these drugs include:
- High blood pressure drugs
- Muscle relaxant
- Pain relievers
- Hormonal drugs
- Seizure medications
- Antidepressant
- Histamine h2 agonist
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Medicines to treat heart arrhythmias
If a person has recently started a new medication and notices a change in the frequency of NPT, they may want to talk to their doctor. Sometimes, the doctor may prescribe a different medicine to help relieve this side effect.
Morning wood is healthy and rarely a reason to contact your doctor. However, in addition to the above, two specific conditions may mean it is time to make an appointment with your doctor. It includes:
● You stop getting morning wood
If you frequently experience morning wood but are no longer experiencing it or have fewer erections, you should speak to a doctor.
Although it is natural for episodes of NPT to become less frequent with age, a sudden drop in frequency may be a sign of an underlying medical problem.
● You begin to experience painful erections
Most erections subside on their own within 15 to 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. If your erections last more than an hour after you wake up or if they are becoming painful, you should contact a doctor.
It's hard to declare "too much" and "too little" when it comes to morning wood (NPT) or morning erections. Because it usually looks different in every person. Some people experience morning erections daily, while others experience it less than once a week.
During your annual physical exam, talk to your doctor about how often you are experiencing morning wood. If you're not experiencing it well enough, your doctor can help you diagnose a cause and give you appropriate advice and guidance.
Conclusion
Morning wood (NPT) or morning erection is prevalent. This is a sign of normal blood and nerve supply to the penis. Most young men experience morning woods several times per week. As men age, they begin to experience it less often.
If you suddenly stop experiencing morning wood (NPT), it may be an early sign of an underlying medical problem. Note how often you experience morning wood. If it stops, talk to a doctor.
NPT/Morning wood or morning erection (morning penis erection) is a typical healthy male body function. A man should speak to their doctor if they notice a sudden change in the frequency of erections during the night.
Your alertness and intelligence ensure that it is in your best interest to diagnose any underlying health problems. As such, you should ensure you receive treatment as quickly as possible for any conditions.
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