{"id":23935,"date":"2024-12-19T20:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T19:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=23935"},"modified":"2026-03-29T21:30:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T19:30:44","slug":"what-causes-morning-wood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/what-causes-morning-wood\/","title":{"rendered":"What Causes Morning Wood?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rise and shine! Although some mornings it\u2019s more \u2018rise\u2019 than \u2018shine\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most men have experienced this situation \u2013 your eyelids creak open to a slanted ray of sunlight coming through your window blinds. Birds outside are chirping as you yawn and pull away the covers and notice that it\u2019s not only the sun that\u2019s come up \u2013 so has your penis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning wood, AKA Nocturnal Penile Tumescence, is a natural phenomenon for men at any age. Researchers have found that even infants experience erections while sleeping in the womb.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people assume that waking up <\/span>with an erection<\/span><\/a> is due to <\/span>sexual stimulation or arousal<\/span><\/a>, but this isn\u2019t always true \u2013 morning wood can be a natural bodily reaction to a number of things.<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning Wood Causes<\/h2>\n

Nobody knows, without a doubt, what causes nocturnal tumescence and it can\u2019t be linked to one specific cause. but it\u2019s believed that can cause an erection as you rouse yourself from a good night\u2019s sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Full Bladder<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s normal for your bladder to fill up while you\u2019re sleeping, it may also be the culprit behind morning wood. In some cases, having a full bladder can put pressure on your sacral nerve. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a key role in erections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When a full bladder puts pressure on this nerve while you\u2019re sleeping it can cause a sort of \u201creflex erection\u201d. This type of erection can linger in the morning until after you urinate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stimuli Sensitivity<\/h3>\n

While you might not consciously be aware of what\u2019s going on around you while you sleep, your body stays somewhat aware as a means of survival. That means that your body, including your penis, may respond to stimulation even when you\u2019re sleeping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re sleeping in a position that puts some pressure on your penis, happen to be cuddling with someone, or if your PJs brush against it, that stimulation may lead to an erection. People move around in their sleep \u2013 it\u2019s normal, just know this movement may increase the chance of you waking up with morning wood!<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormonal Fluctuations<\/h3>\n

Everyone experiences hormonal shifts, regardless of their physiological sex. For men, testosterone levels tend to be higher in the mornings, especially after waking up from REM (rapid eye movement sleep stage). These higher testosterone levels signal the body to send blood to your penis \u2013 causing an erection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As you get older and your testosterone levels begin to dip, you\u2019ll notice your instances of morning wood also happen less frequently.<\/span><\/p>\n

And speaking of hormones, just like there are ones that can cause an erection, there are some that will inhibit you getting an erection. When you\u2019re awake, your brain releases hormones as a response to daily stressors, making you less likely to randomly experience an erection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Decreases in Morning Wood<\/h2>\n

Although it can come as a surprise sometimes, morning wood is often an indicator of good health. If you notice a decrease in the amount of erections you wake up with or are experiencing <\/span>erectile dysfunction<\/span><\/a> in general, it could be related to one of these health issues:<\/span><\/p>\n