What Morning Wood Says About Your Health

Unlike morning breath and bedhead, you might not mind waking up with an erection. But why do guys get morning wood? And what do morning erections say about your health?

Despite what you might think, morning wood isn’t usually the result of steamy dreams. While sexy thoughts or physical stimulation trigger most erections, morning wood is your body’s way of signaling your cardiovascular system is in good shape and your testosterone levels are right where they should be. 

But if you’re suddenly waking up every day with no morning wood, it’s worth checking in with a doctor. It could be a sign of a serious health issue, like heart disease.

In this article, we’ll answer all your pressing questions about morning erections, like, Why do men get morning wood?, What do morning erections say about your sexual health?, and lastly, What happens if morning wood stops?

Morning wood, or morning glory if you’re in the UK, is an easy-to-remember, colloquial phrase for the medical term nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). If you get nocturnal erections (or sleep-related erections), there’s a good chance that you’ll wake up from time to time with morning wood. 

Though “morning wood” is a popular term, it’s a bit misleading. Many guys wake up with an erection, but it’s typical to have several during the night, too.

In fact, according to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, most men will get between three and five erections during sleep on a typical 8-hour night. 

Morning wood is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. While the exact reasons for these morning erections are still a bit of a mystery, experts agree they indicate healthy erectile function and good blood flow to your penis. 

Erections during sleep are all about your parasympathetic nervous system doing its thing. This bodily system regulates rest, relaxation, and sexual arousal. It’s the opposite of your sympathetic nervous system, which controls your fight-or-flight response. 

During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, your sympathetic nervous system takes a backseat, allowing your pro-erectile pathways to take over. This means more blood flow to your penis, causing erectile tissue to swell, resulting in a nocturnal erection.

Nocturnal erections come and go throughout the night, often aligning with certain sleep stages when your body goes through physiological changes.

Alongside nervous system activation, shifts in neurotransmitter levels and hormones play a role too. 

Here are some other theories about why nighttime erections occur:

• Testosterone fluctuations. Testosterone helps regulate the release of nitric oxide in erectile tissues and the central nervous system, influencing sleep-related erections.

• Full bladder. A full bladder can press on your sacral nerve, triggering a sleep erection.

• Neurotransmitters. Your brain releases feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine during sleep, which may trigger nocturnal erections. Studies also suggest that the release of acetylcholine during REM sleep may contribute to painful erections, especially in people with sleep apnea.

Despite these theories, experts aren’t really sure what gives men morning (and sleeping) wood. What is clear? If morning wood stops showing up, it’s a sign something’s not right.What Does it Mean if You Stop Getting Morning Wood?

Just like waking up with morning wood is normal, it’s also perfectly normal to sometimes wake up without an erection. 

But, if you consistently wake up without an erection or notice a sudden drop in nighttime or morning erections, it might signal an underlying health issue like erectile dysfunction (ED). 

ED can stem from several causes, including physical issues like: 

• Heart and blood vessel disease

• Low testosterone (less than 200 ng/dL)

• Atherosclerosis (clogged arteries)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Injuries to your penis and surrounding area

• Complications from surgery

• Chronic kidney disease

• Type 2 diabetes 

• Multiple sclerosis

• Peyronie’s disease

The following prescription drugs might also contribute to ED and affect nighttime erections:

• Antiandrogens

• Antidepressants

• Blood pressure medications

• Tranquilizers

• Ulcer medications

• Appetite suppressants

Erectile dysfunction can also develop as a result of psychological issues, such as anxiety about sex, depression, chronic stress, and low self-esteem. 

Morning wood isn’t like breakfast. You don’t need it to start your day. But if you often wake up without an erection, though, it might be time to chat with a urologist or other healthcare professional. They can help find solutions, like medications and lifestyle changes. Here’s what that might look like.

Treat Underlying Causes

No morning wood at all? It might be a sign of a severe case of erectile dysfunction. The first step? Uncover and address underlying causes with the help of a healthcare professional. They’ll likely run tests, possibly including blood work, to rule out health issues like diabetes or high cholesterol.

They might even suggest a nocturnal penile tumescence test, which monitors how many erections you get while you sleep.  

Addressing these underlying causes is crucial — not just for your erections, but for your overall health. 

Medications

Erectile dysfunction is treatable, and often, medications can help. Sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), and avanafil (Stendra®) are popular choices that can restore your sexual function. 

These drugs, known as PDE5 inhibitors, increase blood flow to your penis, making it easier to achieve an erection when aroused. You’ll still need to get in the mood, but these medications help set the stage. 

Lifestyle Changes

Simple changes to your habits and lifestyle can improve your sexual health and make it easier to get an erection anytime. Here’s what to try:

• Get active. Even a small amount of daily exercise can noticeably impact your heart health and ability to maintain an erection. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

• Maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction.

• Limit your alcohol consumption. Research shows that frequent and heavy drinking can lead to ED and other sexual health issues. Try to limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day.

• Avoid illicit drugs. Some recreational drugs can affect your sexual function, including the ability to get an erection. If you’re dealing with a substance use disorder, consider reaching out to a healthcare professional for support.

• Quit smoking. Research shows that smoking increases the risk of ED by negatively impacting your heart health. 

Our guide to naturally protecting your erection shares other techniques you can use to treat ED and improve your sexual performance naturally. 

Morning wood but no morning wood sex? If you wake up with morning wood but struggle to get hard with a partner, your ED might be psychological. 

Think about it: while you’re asleep, getting hard isn’t an issue. So what’s different when you’re awake? It’s likely your thoughts. 

Performance anxiety, low self-esteem, and other mental blocks can interfere with arousal. 

The silver lining? Knowing this gives you a major hint about what’s causing your ED. And you can now take action. 

Reach out to a healthcare professional for some tailored advice, whether it’s therapy or medication. 

Waking up with no morning wood day after day could indicate an underlying health problem. 

Let’s recap what we know about these sleep-related erections:

• Morning wood is a good sign. Morning erections are a typical part of life and a helpful signal that you’re physically capable of getting an erection. 

• Disappearing morning erections can be a wake-up call. If you’ve recently stopped getting morning wood, it could be a sign of an underlying condition like ED or blood vessel issues. 

• Treatment is available. You can treat ED by addressing underlying causes. Hims offers access to a range of ED treatments online, including chewable ED meds containing the same active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis. These medications are only available after an online consultation with a healthcare provider. 

Interested in learning more about erectile dysfunction and men’s health? Our guide to the most common treatments and drugs for ED goes into more detail about how you can maintain healthy erections for a satisfying sex life at any age.