Yes. Erections are a perfectly normal function of the male body,
especially in guys who are going through
puberty
.
What Is an Erection?
An erection is a hardening of the penis that occurs when
sponge-like tissue inside the penis fills up with blood. Usually,
an erection causes the penis to enlarge and stand away from the
body.
Erections can go away on their own or after
ejaculation
, the release of semen through the urethra, the small hole at the
tip of the penis.
Sometimes guys ejaculate at night while sleeping (these are
called nocturnal emissions or wet dreams). Guys may have several
erections and arousal periods while in the REM (rapid eye movement)
stage of sleep, the type of sleep in which most dreams occur.
What Causes Erections?
Although many erections are caused by sexual arousal, such as
watching a sexy television show or fantasizing, many erections seem
to happen for no particular reason.
So if you've had an erection in an odd or embarrassing
situation - like right in the middle of a really boring history
lesson - there's no reason to worry that something is wrong
with you. Your body is just acting naturally for a guy your
age.
Am I Getting Too Many Erections?
Because each guy is different, it's impossible to say
what's a "normal" number of erections. Some guys
experience many erections each day, whereas others may not
experience any.
Hormones fluctuate with age, sexual maturity, level of activity,
and even the amount of sleep a guy gets. Unless your erections are
causing you discomfort or pain, don't worry about how many you
get.
If you're concerned, talk to your doctor, who can answer
your questions and probably put your mind at ease.
What Can I Do to Avoid Getting Erections?
Because erections usually aren't controllable, there's
not much you can do to avoid getting them. Unless the penis is
stimulated enough to ejaculate, time is the only thing that will
help them go away.
As your hormones settle down and you advance through puberty,
the frequency of unexpected erections and wet dreams should
decrease.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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