01 What is morning erection? Why is it so important?

A morning erection refers to the penis being naturally erect when a man wakes up in the morning.

This is not caused by "sexual arousal," but is a physiological erection triggered by neural reflexes when the brain and body enter the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase. This phenomenon typically begins at puberty and continues throughout sexual maturity, and is an important physiological indicator for assessing male sexual function.

Put plainly: morning erections are the body's daily, quiet "self-check report" of sexual function.

02 Is the disappearance of morning erections a sign of erectile dysfunction?

First, be clear: occasionally missing a morning erection ≠ erectile dysfunction.

Our bodies aren't machines; expecting a daily "check-in" isn't realistic. High stress, poor sleep, excessive fatigue, drinking, and staying up late can all cause a missed morning erection. But if there are no morning erections for more than two consecutive weeks, that should raise concern!

This may indicate one of the following situations:

A decline in sex hormone levels (such as reduced testosterone secretion)

Vascular health problems (such as atherosclerosis affecting penile blood flow)

Abnormal nerve conduction (such as lumbar spine issues affecting the sexual nerves)

Psychological factors (anxiety, depression, high stress)

Urogenital system diseases (such as prostatitis, chronic seminal vesiculitis)

Clinically, we often use whether morning erections are normal as an important reference to judge whether erectile dysfunction is psychological or organic.

✔ Morning erections present but sex life is failing usually leans toward psychological impotence;

❌ No morning erections and difficulty achieving erections during sex often indicate an organic lesion.

03 What to do if morning erections disappear?

Don’t panic! The key is to assess scientifically:

Step 1: Self-check your lifestyle

Have you recently had disturbed sleep?

Are you frequently staying up late and under a lot of stress?

Do you drink or smoke excessively?

Do you masturbate excessively or have frequent sexual activity?

If you have any of the above issues, start by adjusting your lifestyle habits — morning erections are likely to "come back."

Step 2: Undergo necessary examinations

Serum testosterone, prolactin, and the six sex hormones to assess hormone levels;

Penile Doppler ultrasound to evaluate blood flow status;

Nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring (Rigiscan) to assess neurovascular function;

Psychological evaluation if necessary to rule out psychogenic disorders.

Step 3: Identify the pattern and treat accordingly, combining Chinese and Western approaches for regulation

As an integrative Chinese and Western medicine andrology physician, I classify patients according to their specific conditions using TCM pattern differentiation:

Kidney yang deficiency: warm and tonify kidney yang, commonly using Yougui Wan and Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan;

Kidney yin deficiency: nourish yin and replenish essence, combined with Liuwei Dihuang Wan and Zuogui Wan;

Liver qi stagnation: soothe the liver and regulate qi, choosing Xiaoyao San and Chaihu Shugan San;

For those with concurrent spleen and heart deficiency: strengthen the spleen and boost qi, using formulas such as Guipi Tang or Si Junzi Tang.

04 Morning erections are your body's "early warning system"

Don't wait until your sex life really has problems to be filled with regret. Changes in morning erections are the body's "soft signal": if they disappear for several consecutive days, you may be overworked; if they're absent for weeks in a row, your body is sounding the alarm! Instead of fearing it, face it; instead of self-diagnosing on Baidu, see a doctor.

05 Written at the end

Men's health shouldn't be sustained by "enduring" and "delaying" alone.

Morning erections may be small, but they reflect the integrated function of the body's systems.

Not for "that little thing," but for a healthier, more energetic self.

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