


Male Erection Frequency



For example, many men wake up with an erection. These morning erections are usually the last of a series of 3 to 5 erections that happen during the night (nocturnal penile tumescence). Each erection usually lasts for about 25 – 35 minutes.

Nighttime erections often happen during REM sleep, when a man is dreaming.  It isn’t clear why they happen. Some researchers think nighttime erections are a way to preserve elastic penile tissues. Doctors can use information about nighttime erections to diagnose erectile dysfunction (ED). 


Reflex erections are more common in a man’s teenage and young adult years. Many adolescents worry about getting erections at the “wrong” time, but reflex erections are a normal part of growing up. As men get older, the frequency of reflex erections tends to decrease.

Related to Erectile Dysfunction