Erections During Sleep - What do they mean?

If a man has ever awakened and found himself experiencing an erection, he might wonder if it were a normal response. Not only is it normal, but it's a sign that the reproductive system and the male hormones are healthy. Doctors and researchers believe that nocturnal erections are due to chemical changes in the brain at night, and may even serve a purpose for improving penis health by improving the blood flow of oxygen and penis-specific vitamins and minerals to the tissues. When a man doesn't experience nighttime erections at all is when he should be concerned, though without visiting a doctor for tests this is hard to determine. Penis Health Men might not notice it while they are sleeping, but it is common to experience anywhere between 1 and 7 erections during one night's sleep. Achieving nighttime erections is a strong indicator that the penis, testes and nervous system are currently healthy. When a man goes to his doctor with problems concerning erectile function, often one of the main questions the doctor will want to know is whether or not the man experiences erections at night during sleep. The answer determines whether or not erectile dysfunction is physiological, or psychological. If a man does notice that when he wakes up, he frequently has an erection, then there is a good chance that his penis health is fine, and the problem may be emotional or psychological in nature. Why Do the Erections Occur? Scientists and doctors do not yet understand why men experience nocturnal erections. They do however have several theories on the subject. According to a study published in "The Journal of Endocrinology", brain cells known as noradrenergic cells, in charge of actively inhibiting the arousal response in men, switches off during REM sleep. Testosterone levels also appear to play a part in the action, as men with low testosterone levels experience fewer nocturnal erections than men with high testosterone levels. More simply, chemical and hormonal changes at night-time cause erections to occur spontaneously during specific sleep cycles. Other theories suggest that night-time erections occur in order to prevent a full bladder from voiding during sleep. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggest that the purpose of nocturnal erections is to increase the flow of oxygen to the penis during nighttime, to protect overall penis health. Loss of Nocturnal Erections If a man doesn't experience nighttime erections, it may be a sign that he needs to visit his doctor. Loss of erections during sleep can mean many different things, but the possibilities include depression, hypothyroidism, pituitary gland problems, low testosterone levels, nerve damage, prostate surgery, and more. Nocturnal erections tend to begin in deep REM sleep, so it's not always easy to know if a man is experiencing them in the night or not. To get around this problem, doctors can fit a device around the penis which will record how many erections occur during a single night's sleep. In a study published in "The Journal of Urology", researchers from Germany using such a device found that before prostate surgery 93% of men experienced normal nocturnal erections. After prostate surgery, 0% of men experienced any nocturnal erections at all. if lack of nocturnal erections coincides with erectile problems, it is important to visit your doctor and get a diagnosis. Health Crèmes Penis health Crèmes are topical products that provide active ingredients directly to the connective tissues, nerves, blood vessels and skin of the penis. Specialist formulas (most professionals recommend Man1Man Oil) contain vitamin E and C for male hormone balance, alpha lipoic acid for nerve health and regeneration, L-arginine for erectile function, and shea nut butter for skin health and integrity. Use to moisturize and heal skin damaged from dry rubbing at night, support healthy hormone and nerve responses, and improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction by feeding nutrients directly to the local tissues.