From the ASTROGLIDE team
Sexual Health
If you’re someone who has a penis, chances are you’ve experienced a lump (whether it’s welcome or not). While an erection is defined by the dictionary as an enlarged and rigid state of the penis, usually caused by sexual excitement, there are many other reasons to get hard. Curious about the different types of boners? Here’s the long and the short of it.
The erection of puberty
Let’s start from the beginning. Believe it or not, biological baby boys can start gaining bones before they’re even born, also known as phenomenon of fetal contractions. Baby erections, although perfectly normal, are not a sexual response but rather the body’s response to touch. Once a child reaches puberty, which is usually around age 11, erections begin to become more frequent and can be triggered by physical contact, sexual thoughts, or for no reason at all. For males, puberty begins when the brain sends a signal to the testicles to start producing the hormone testosterone, which is the main sex hormone in men. Testosterone plays an important role in libido, deepening of the voice, wet dreams, sperm production, facial and pubic hair, growth spurts, and last but not least, erections. While bones have a starring role in awkward moments during puberty, don’t be like that hard to yourself! This is just a sign that you are maturing and will happen less often as you get older.
Morning Wood
Morning erection, also known as “morning wood” and scientifically known as Nocturnal penile volume (NPT), occurs when a penis fills with blood, which makes you wake up loud. Although more common in younger people, morning erections can be experienced by people of all ages and are a completely normal phenomenon. So what causes your penis to rise with the sun? Morning sickness can be caused by changes in testosterone levels, which we remind you is the main male sex hormone. When you wake up, your testosterone levels are at their highest. This surge of hormone alone can be enough to make your cock go “Cockll-doodlle-doooooo,” even without stimulation. Even though your eyes are closed and you may be half asleep, your body is still alert to touch. You can also get an erection if you or your partner grazes your genitals (intentionally or accidentally), or even from sheets or pajama fabric rubbing against you.
Sweet dreams
Let’s talk about the bone that comes before you wake up. According to ASTROGLIDE’s Resident Sex Researcher, Dr. Justin Lechmiller, “People born with a penis – regardless of whether they identify as male – experience an average of 4-5 erections during a full night’s sleep. Little known fact: people born with a clitoris—again, regardless of their gender identity—experience the same thing.” Sleep erections last on average for about 25-35 minutes each and can occur from infancy, through your adulthood. Dr. Justin explains that these erections occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which we experience 4-5 times a night, consistent with the 4-5 erections we have per night. REM sleep is when our dreams tend to happen, and yes, that means wet dreams. Fun fact: although sex dreams and sex dreams can happen at the same time, one does not necessarily cause the other. Rather, the bones in your sleep are caused by hormonal (testosterone) and neurotransmitter (erection stimulants) effects that occur during REM sleep.
The Pee Boner
A full bladder can cause a reflex erection, which is a bone that is a direct result of penile stimulation. Stimulation from a full bladder pressing on the nerves in your lower back can be the cause of “uria”. The downside to this experience? Although possible, peeing with a bone is HARD. Here are some tips to help you rise to the occasion:
Massage your bladder: If you can’t pee, try giving your bladder a helping hand. Gentle pressure on your bladder can help speed up the process.
Distract yourself: Think of anything that can get rid of your unwanted bones. This can be anything from ‘unsexy’ thoughts or complex thoughts such as working out math problems or opening up problems Soduku App on your phone and solve a quick puzzle.
Change your position: Bending over to pee or sitting down can help relax the muscles that prevent you from going number one.
The uninvited visitor
Although uninvited bones often appear during adolescence, it is not unusual to experience an uncomfortable bone as an adult. Just as morning bones can be caused by a rise in testosterone when you wake up, random erections can be caused by hormone fluctuations throughout the day. This type of irritation is not very forgiving, as it can happen at any time – yes, even at a formal event, before a presentation, during exercise, etc. an “awkward” place to find your penis standing in the foreground. If this has happened to you, don’t worry. You can only go up from here (no pun intended)! Although these random erections are usually nothing to worry about, if you notice a sudden change in the frequency of your erections, you should talk to a doctor as this could be a sign of a medical condition.
The classic
Now that we’ve discussed the unwanted bone in depth, let’s talk about the wanted bone! Psychogenic erections it occurs when you think about sexual fantasies or memories and can happen with or without physical touch. Mental arousal, often combined with physical arousal, sends a message to your penis through your nerves to get an erection. At this point, manual stimulation or sex may occur, whether you are engaging in self-pleasure or with a partner. It’s important to note, however, that just because you picked it up doesn’t mean it will stay upright. While erections usually last from a few minutes to half an hour, Some reasons why you may not be able to keep a bone include fatigue, stress, alcohol, medications, discomfort, self-consciousness, and more.
The last survivor
While it can be difficult to maintain an erection, sometimes it can also be difficult to get rid of one. Blue balls (or epididymal hypertension) occurs when a bone lasts for a long time. Usually, blood is released from the penis after an orgasm or from reduced sexual arousal, returning your body to its normal state. However, a lot of blood can remain in the penis of someone who has been stimulated for a long time without release. Although usually not serious, this can cause pain, discomfort, pain and a feeling of heaviness. On the other hand, painful bones that last for several hours, also known as priapism, occur when blood stays in your penis and cannot drain. If you are experiencing priapism, you must seek immediate medical treatment from a healthcare provider to avoid permanent damage, as blood trapped in your penis will eventually run out of oxygen and can cause damage to existing tissue. While priapism is relatively rare, it occurs more often in people with existing medical conditions. For example, 30% to 45% of people with sickle cell disease will experience priapism.
D*ck whiskey
So, you’ve had a few too many mugs of liquid courage at the party and you’re ready to take your partner home. The problem is that while you may be ready for your partner, your penis is not. According to our Sexual Health Consultant, Dr. Josh, “This is because alcohol blocks normal blood flow to the penis, increases angiotensin, a hormone linked to erectile dysfunction, and depresses the central nervous system – making it harder to get or remain hard. ” It’s important to note that while alcohol can help you make a move on someone you’ve been too shy to talk to in the past, the lowered inhibitions brought on by alcohol will also put you at greater risk when it comes to sex . Excessive alcohol consumption has the ability to impair decision-making skills, leading to an increased risk of STDs and infections, sex without clear consent, and injuries during sex. Read our blog on how alcohol affects sexual dysfunction for more on this topic.
In this blog we’ve covered the different types of erections you may experience throughout your life, from unwanted erections, unwanted erections, and erections you want but can’t get. The bottom line: if you are experiencing the hardships listed in this article, you are not alone! Don’t let it get you down (literally and physically).
