Why do men wake up with erections in the morning?

Testosterone levels peak in the early morning hours, which causes spontaneous dilation of the arteries leading into the penis and constriction of the veins leading out of the penis. This may also explain the “horniness” you describe (although this is less common, though not strange). Hope this helps.

No no no…sorry all, this is the explanation (as unromantic/unheroic as it sounds), it’s basically an evolutionary attempt at keeping men “dry” while they’re asleep, so as to keep the rest undisturbed…ladies, you probably don’t know this, but it goes down after you pee; aka “Nocturnal Penile Tumescence.”

@richardhenry so some guys dont get turned on just because they have an erection in the morning?

@toolaura4ya: Sometimes, it depends on the guy. Personally, very rarely.

@sndfreQ: Wow, I’d never heard of that before. Interesting theory. My response is based upon what I learnt in my biology class, but it’s often hard to tell which is the most widely accepted.

I just wish he wouldn’t get upset with me bc I’m not in the mood and sometimes he uses it to make me feel bad. i.e. He has a hardon and can’t help it

Laura, you are letting yourself in for some really dumb answers, unless the mods are really alert. Check out morning wood

SndfreQ; so why wouldn’t that apply to women? We just wake up and have to run to toilet.

Laura: check out http:www.medline.com

@toolaura4ya: I think you perhaps need to talk to him about it. I really wouldn’t get offended by you saying something like “morning really isn’t a good time for me”.

The thread linked to by @gailcalled seems useful. To give a working link (missed some slashes :), it’s http://www.medline.com.

yeah I tried to search for the question before I asked it but must have used the wrong keywords. Thanks gail

@gail: my guess is that because the male urethra is housed in a ‘dual purpose sheath’, it’s a mechanism that is unique to our anatomy; I don’t think females have this same ‘setup’, as the analagous sex organ (the clitoris), is not part of the urethra (although in the vicinity)...also the female urethra is much shorter in length, and the muscles in that area are not of the same construction/girth, etc.

Some men ‘do their homework’, some just lay around and wait for some big idea to pop-up…

Evolution has NOTHING to do with it.

@theloveprophet: Elaborate? Please don’t make stupid comments (if indeed you are), especially without backing them up in the slightest. If evolution had nothing to do with it, then we wouldn’t have a penis at all (amoeba are we?).

@toolaura4ya: If this thread has taught me anything, it’s that I don’t think science has a conclusive answer for you yet.

Look at your first post. That had nothing to do with Evolution. That’s what I mean.

However, I have learned, I think, why women need pit stops so much more frequently than men. (Or do we simply have smaller bladders?)

Sorry that I forgot //. @Richard; glad that you are awake and alert.

@gail. Where are you getting the inclination that women feel the need to go more than men?

@theloveprophet: I disagree, although I can barely remember biology class so this may be incorrect, but the release of testosterone had something to do with the sleep cycle and stimulation of certain areas of the brain to induce REM sleep. The erection is the byproduct of this process.

@gailcalled: Speaking of which I’m off to bed… it’s 3am. What am I doing on Fluther!? :)

@richard thanks for your input. Its much appreciated

Laura: Lines at bathrooms in public events, car trips with guys, everywhere and all over, it seems. I have to discount middle-aged men with prostate problems who go all the time. I walk w. a male friend in his early 60’s; he is constantly ducking behind trees. (I do live in the country.)

REM sleep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REM_sleep

It doesn’t seem to provide any information regarding hormone induction. I’ll keep digging tomorrow if I have a chance.

LOL well I can see how the lines could make anyone think women must go more but I’d like to see some evidence on that. I may have to research it. My father is much like your friend. He has problems with incontinance (is this the correct word?)

Laura; first stage is urgent need to go often, then some dribbilng, and as Richard Henry said (in spite of his promise to go to bed, I note) I have to do more research. Your dad will be thrilled to know that we are discussing his urinary tract online:)

*Incontinence.

I’ll admit that it’s not an exact science; the link I provided above accounted for both theories (hormone and urination suppression), so perhaps out of both circumstances the situation presents itself…

Admittedly, it can’t be entirely based on the urination suppression concept, as during the day, men can hold it all day long (sometimes), and not have an erection, although we are conscious at the time…I was just postulating (and based on the article as well) that because we are unconscious, the body takes over in an involuntary manner…maybe it has something to do with the depth of our sleep; I haven’t observed this phenomenon on short naps, or even 1–2 hour siestas…any thoughts?

LOL my poor old man. My whole life when we would go on trips we always had to stop when dad had to go and it was always before anyone else had too. His preoblem has only gotten worse with age for the frequency per time has increased

Yes, incontinence; I’m pretty sure that the muscles around the bladder actually lose elasticity with age, causing that one…and most of us [men] can’t simply flip a switch to turn on the ‘backup system’ (without Viagra)...but I digress.

Also, my understanding is that the sensation of your bladder being full is caused by a powerful nerve branch that can detect pressure (which has the capability to very immediately wake you up).

As @sndfreQ said, the muscles around the bladder lose elasticity with age, and because your nervous pressure sensitivity doesn’t accommodate for the change in pressure capacity before you need to urinate which decreases as you age, the early warning before you’re about to ‘burst’ is almost rendered useless because it comes too late (or not at all).

This is from digging through an old biology book I never returned, it was in the bottom of my wardrobe. Anyway, I really have to sleep now. Night all!

This turned into a *very interesting set of answers. Who woulda thunk it?

I know I got quite the education here!!

nice job team a.m. wood!

The fact that he’s “in the mood” could have more to do with what he’s dreaming than anything. I know in another thread we were discussing how women can have erotic dreams, so that might be a way to “relate” to your boyfriend’s desires. But yes, morning wood ≠ horny all the time. Trying to pee with morning wood however does deserve a little sympathy see “Me, Myself, and Irene” for a reference :P

P.s. morning sex is a great way to start off the day!

Geezzz. If you like the guy, and you’re not in “the mood,” just give him three minutes of help. Some lube and a quick hand job will make him love you even more. He will be given the false impression that you care about his problems, for once.

maybe he has a wet dreams !