Morning erection affects older men, teenagers, boys and even unborn babies. Known medically as “nocturnal penile tumescence,” morning erections are a normal part of a man’s sleep cycle and can occur several times a night. The mind and body go through several stages of physiological activity during sleep, which gradually becomes deeper, until the onset of REM – the phase in which we dream actively and observe rapid eye movement (REM). Along with dreams, during REM sleep the body experiences other changes. The brain begins to decrease the synthesis of certain neurotransmitters, thereby trying to protect the body from motor reactions to dreams. One of these neurotransmitters, called norepinephrine, is directly involved in the control of sexual arousal and erection. It leads to constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction) leading to the penis, which prevents it from filling with blood (erection). As we enter REM sleep, norepinephrine levels drop sharply, allowing the testosterone mechanisms to take over. Testosterone interactions in this condition lead to a strong dilation of the blood vessels (vasodilation) supplying the penis, which fills with blood and erects. NEWS_MORE_BOX Why is this happening? The additional blood flow improves oxygen exchange in the penile tissues and serves as a system for repairing and maintaining the organ’s functionality. Also, if a man has taken a lot of fluids before going to bed, they can cause the bladder to expand. Reaching certain expansion values ​​at night, the bladder stimulates an area of ​​the spinal cord that triggers a reflex erection. The physiological benefit of this is that it prevents the possibility of bedwetting during sleep. There are also theories linking morning erections to erotic dreams, but scientific evidence to support them is still unknown. For additional information, we attach the following video: