Morning wood is a common problem faced by many boys and men. Called the 'morning wood' informally, the medical terminology for this common occurrence in men is Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT). Getting a morning wood means having to wake up to an erect penis. You may wake up and find yourself in an awkward situation with having your penis hard for no reason. NPT happens to most boys and men with healthy sexual functioning. It doesn't necessarily have to occur in the morning but anytime when you wake up all of a sudden. Usually, the phenomenon may occur 3-4 times a night. Marijuana Alters Sperm? Erectile Dysfunction and Other Effects of Cannabis on Sex and Fertility.

What Causes Morning Wood?

Contrary to popular belief, morning erections aren't caused because of sexual stimulation; in fact, morning wood is more like the response your body has to one of several other occurrences. Multiple factors affect the occurrence of NPT. Various reasons can be Hormonal shifts, relaxed brains, etc. If your brain is relaxed, your body produces less of the hormones to suppress erections. In the case of hormonal shifts, it is because the testosterone levels are the highest in the morning and this increase in the hormone causes an erection.

Myths Surrounding NPT

Many people believe that morning wood is caused because of the urge to pee, which is not the case. It is a widespread belief that a morning erection is caused because of sexual stimulation. While that may be the reason sometimes but not always, moreover, the notion that sexual dreams cause NPT is also a myth.

Is Morning Wood Healthy?

Morning wood is a sign of good health and proper nervous system functioning. It means that the flow of blood is proper in the body and pelvic area. Most boys and men experience an erection 2-5 times a night, and people suffering from ED will have less morning wood. A normal NPT can last anywhere about 10 minutes to half an hour. However, in some men, the erection may even last for an hour or two.

Who is More Prone to NPT?

Teenagers and men in their early twenties experience morning wood the most. Even adults experience it however they become trained in managing it well. Sometimes boys as young as 6-year-olds experience a morning wood. However, while it may occur less in older adults, many people from the age group 60-70-year-old, experience it.

Does No Morning Erection Mean Onset of Erectile Dysfunction?

Morning erections are a sign of good sexual health. It indicates that you have good blood flow in the penis. A consistent morning erection also shows that you are capable of having a good sex life, in terms of maintaining an erection for long even when you are awake. However, it is a matter of concern if you suddenly stop experiencing morning erections you may want to see a doctor as it could be a sign of an underlying medical issue.

There could be chances that you have erectile dysfunction if you suddenly stop having NPT. You could also be suffering from some other issues that may prevent the blood flow to your penis. Certain medications may also be blamed to affect your ability to experience NPT like excessive painkillers and antidepressant. Also, people of older age may experience less or no morning erection.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2018 05:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).