Erect penis: Everything you need to know

You're aroused, blood flows to your lower body, and your penis becomes erect. So far, so clear, but why? What happens in your body that causes your penis to become erect, and why does morning wood actually occur? We'll enlighten you!

A stiff penis, also known as an erection or hard-on, occurs primarily as a result of sexual stimulation, either through visual stimulation or direct stimulation. On average, young men experience their first erection during puberty between the ages of 13 and 15. Later penis size is genetically determined and cannot be influenced.

The erect penis can stand at a different angle from man to man. Around 60 percent of men have a slightly upward-pointing penis when it becomes erect. In 20 percent of men, however, the erect penis points downward. Only 10 percent of all men have a forward-pointing penis, and in the remaining 5 percent of men, the penis stands vertically. A curved penis is also completely normal.

How it stands doesn't really matter to you, because your penis is flexible to a certain extent. If your erection is upward-pointing, you can gently bend it downward during sex. Even a penis curvature with a slight inclination to the right or left is not a problem, so don't worry, every erect penis is different.

Occasionally, one mistakenly hears that the penis becomes erect due to muscle power. This is actually not true, as erectile tissue located beneath the skin of the penis is responsible for an erectile erection. The main erectile tissue (also called corpora cavernosa) is located centrally on the right and left sides, and a smaller one (corpus spongiosum) runs on the underside – it contains the urethra.

The erectile tissue is supplied with blood by internal arteries. The glans and foreskin, on the other hand, receive blood via arteries on the upper side of the penis; the large, visible vein on the penis carries blood back to the systemic circulation. During arousal, 40 to 100 times more blood flows through the arteries than in a normal state – which also explains why an erect penis is so hard.

The filling of the erectile tissue with blood causes the penis to become erect. At the same time, blood flow from the penis is also reduced. To support this effect, you can also use a cock ring, for example. A cock ring also helps prevent blood from flowing out of the penis and can thus help keep the penis erect for longer.

A flaccid penis is often significantly smaller than an erect penis, but you have to differentiate between flesh penises and blood penises when it comes to size. The flesh penis is already a considerable length when not erect and doesn't get any larger when aroused, but only gets harder.

The blood penis, on the other hand, increases in length and firmness when the corpora cavernosa are supplied with blood. The penis size increases with arousal. Approximately 80 percent of all men have a blood penis, so the group of flesh penises is significantly smaller.

Have you ever experienced this? Suddenly, you get a spontaneous erection, even though you weren't thinking about sex at all and aren't in the mood? This is almost always a reflex, triggered by even the rubbing of boxer shorts. Bus and train journeys also become an adventure for many men when the seats vibrate violently, resulting in a sudden erection.

An erect penis is, of course, most often associated with sexual arousal. When you have sexual fantasies, a particularly attractive person walks past you, you watch an erotic film, or you get intimate with your partner when you're horny, your penis becomes erect. Sometimes it's hard just at the thought of sex; sometimes it needs a little manual stimulation to become fully erect. Variations in this regard are normal and nothing to worry about. An erect penis doesn't always lead to ejaculation; it can simply subside as arousal decreases.

You know the feeling, right? You wake up in the morning and your penis is hard. It's very annoying, especially when you want to pee but it's so hard that it's difficult. Statistically, a man has an erection between one and five times per night, which can even last up to 30 minutes. Morning wood is one of those experiences, and it's still there when you wake up. It's a completely normal reflex that says nothing about your sexual arousal at the time.

It may sound funny, but some men get a hard-on even when they're happy. Extreme emotions can trigger a brain reaction that makes your penis hard. This could be a birthday present that really blows you away, or the anticipation of meeting a very important person. If your penis gets hard when you're feeling intense pleasure, let it be. Ultimately, it's just a sign that it's working well.

Arousal doesn't always lead to an erection. Sometimes an erection doesn't occur even though you're actually really horny. If your penis doesn't become erect, there can be various reasons for this. These can be divided into physical and psychological reasons.

The most common physical causes of a lack of erection and erectile dysfunction are:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalances
• Neurological disorders
• Unhealthy lifestyle (unhealthy diet, alcohol, smoking, marijuana)

If physical causes are the reason for erection problems, you can often achieve a lot with a healthy lifestyle. Exercise more, eat healthily, and avoid alcohol and drugs to prevent erectile dysfunction. Smoking marijuana, in particular, can affect your potency. You can read more about this in the article on the stoner penis.

But your psyche also plays a role when it comes to erections. Especially if masturbation is perfect and you can't get an erection during sex with a partner, there may be underlying psychological causes. The following things can have a negative impact on the stiffness of your penis:

• Stress
• Insecurity and anxiety
• Overwhelm
• Depression
• Relationship problems

If your mind is elsewhere, your penis may not become erect, leading to erectile dysfunction. Be honest with yourself and admit when it's simply not the right time for sex. Your partner will certainly understand if you want to talk about what's bothering you first. And who knows, maybe your desire will return after an intimate, connecting conversation!

Everyone has heard the horror stories about penis fractures during sex. The cowgirl position, in particular, is said to be notorious for leading to numerous sexual accidents. But what is the truth behind penile fractures?

Strictly speaking, the penis cannot fracture, as it is not a bone, but rather erectile tissue. Nevertheless, the term "penile fracture" has become common. This occurs when the erectile tissue is bent, twisted, or compressed, causing a tear in the erectile tissue, which is extremely painful.

This is a medical emergency. If this pain occurs during or after sex, you should consult a doctor immediately.

A persistent erection can also be a reason to see a doctor. In this case, the erection doesn't go away. If the erection lasts longer than two hours, doctors refer to it as priapism. A persistent erection may sound appealing at first, but if an erection doesn't go away, it could be a sign of serious conditions and even damage to your penis. So, take this phenomenon seriously and consult a doctor if in doubt!

This can be caused by various blood, vascular, or nerve disorders. Furthermore, various medications can trigger a persistent erection, such as medications for erectile dysfunction, depression, or high blood pressure. Taking Viagra can also result in a persistent erection.

• Erection is triggered by erectile tissue.
• With an erect penis, peeing is either impossible or difficult.
• An erect penis can also occur during sleep.
• There are muscles in the penis that stiffen it.
• Any erect penis means that the man is horny.
• A man can consciously control whether the penis is erect or not.

So you see, an erect penis is something that can occur in many situations. If your penis doesn't become erect despite desire and sexual stimulation, you may have erectile dysfunction, which you should discuss with a doctor. If your penis becomes erect in inappropriate situations, let me tell you that you're not alone – sometimes things just get tough.