As part of human sexuality, erections are organic and pleasurable. However, they are frequently opaque and untransmitted. Most people know the very basic meaning of an erection, but there are so many unsettling details and phenomena about how the body works. In this article, I share five unheard facts by which most people are unaware.
1. Erections Happen At Any Time, Even In the womb.
One common misconception is that erections result solely from sexual stimulation. While erections are typically induced by sexual stimulation, they can happen at any moment and for a wide range of reasons. Actually, male babies have even gotten erections while they were in the womb; doctors often find them on an ultrasound. Because the penis is a muscle and contracts unintentionally, particularly during pregnancy.
2. Sex Without Sexual Dreams Is Possible While Sleeping During Erections.
Another intriguing aspect of erectile function is that, although men are not dreaming sexually, they can form erections while asleep. Such spontaneous nocturnal erections, or nocturnal penile tumescence, is the natural evolution of male anatomy and repeats itself multiple times throughout the night during REM sleep.
While it is unclear exactly how NPT works, it is said to play a critical role in the maintenance and repair of penile tissue. A lot of them believe that erections at night keep the erectile tissues fresh and blood flowing. Like the “morning wood,” this NPT is normal, indicating that the genitals are functioning properly.
3. Erections Can Be Provoked by Sexual Stimuli.
Sex is typically linked to sexual ideas, emotions or behaviours. Yet the lesser-known fact is that erections can also be caused by nonsexual cues. It is referred to as reflexogenic erections because the nerves in the spine are directly stimulated without any need for sexual arousal.
Reflexogenic erections may be triggered by a range of non-sexual factors. Exercise, for example, can trigger erections as the stress is placed on the nerves of the perineum. Enlarged bladders can also lead to erections, because the bladder’s detrusor muscle is neuronally connected to the erection tissue. Erections have also been observed to result from cold and changes in temperature, as the cold narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
Reflexogenic erections pose an enormous medical challenge. Having some insight into how these non-sexual erections work can shed some light on the underlying biology of erectile dysfunction. Research into reflexogenic erections, for example, has inspired the advent of vacuum erection machines to assist men with erectile dysfunction to get and keep erections. Additionally, examining reflexogenic erections can illuminate the wider interaction between nervous system and sexual response, and lead to better treatments for sexual dysfunctions.
4. Erections Last Hours and Are Excruciating.
The vast majority of us are familiar with, or at least heard of, the well-known “morning wood” scheme, whereby guys wake up and get to tuck an erection. These will usually dissipate quickly and independently. What most people don’t know, however, is that some erections can last for hours at a time, and that when they do, it might be an indicator of a dangerous medical condition called priapism.
Priapism is the unpleasant, over-four-hour-long penis erection that is likely to have nothing to do with sexual desire and stimulation. It is not just a painful problem but one that is detrimental to the condition of the penile tissue. If blood stays in the penis and does not return, the erectile tissue can be permanently damaged and permanent complications of ED or penile scarring can occur. This makes priapism a medical emergency. Anyone who experiences an hour-long erection not initiated by sex should see a doctor immediately to avoid permanent injury.
5. Even Death Can Lead To Erections.
A third surprising aspect of erections is that they may also occur in the absence of a dead body. Whether in humans or in animals, postmortem erections (‘angel lust’ or ‘death erections’) have been observed. These are the erections you generally find at the beginning of decomposition, when the body is warm and the muscles and nervous system are at least partially functional.
Retarded erections are thought to occur when the muscles of the penis cool and contract again, resulting in the pooling of blood in the erection tissue. Additionally, because of oxygen and nutrients being stripped from the body, the penis muscles can become hyper contracted, leading to the formation of an erection as well. However, it should be noted that postmortem erections are not signs of arousal or sexual activity prior to death, and are merely a physiological response to the breakdown of tissues.
The presence of postmortem erections has multiple implications for forensic science and the investigation of death. As a way to guess the time of death, forensic examiners can count postmortem erections, which usually dissolve within 12 hours of death. Additionally, postmortem erections can help us understand what caused death, particularly when it comes to allegations of sexual assault. For example, postmortem erections can distinguish consensual sex from rape (because it won’t induce postmortem erections due to endorphins released during orgasm).
Conclusion:
Finally, erections are strange, ambiguous forms of human sexuality. Although most know them for causing sexual excitement, most people don’t know much about them. From the womb to death, erections can happen at any time for a range of reasons. We need to learn about and appreciate the intricacy of erections and dispel myths and misconceptions about this biologically evolved process.
