(Article medically reviewed by Dr. Zac Hyde M.D)
15 Reasons Why Men Lose Their AM Erections
When you start waking with no morning wood, your ability to achieve an erection during daylight hours is going to diminish.
And those random erections, that show up for no apparent reason, will also start to fade.
Stage three of this process is the inability to get wood that is hard enough OR stays around long enough to have a satisfying sexual experience (blatant erectile dysfunction).
In other words, morning wood is usually lost first, then full blown ED soon follows, so it’s critical that you get a grip on this situation before it gets out of hand.
If your morning wood has faded, the first thing you should do is prepare and drink the Erection Juice described on page 23 of my ebook (no charge for this book).
Ignore the recommendation to drink it in the morning, and take it at night just before bed. If you wake up with an erection the following morning, you should consider yourself lucky…
Because chances are, your blood vessels are fine, and you just need to work on boosting nitric oxide, which isn’t too complicated.
If the drink doesn’t do the trick for you, you may have vascular problems, because an erection is basically a cardiovascular event.
In this case, you should look into the vitamin K protocol described on this page.
Now lets dial in on 5 common causes of this condition….
Low Testosterone & No Morning Wood
If your testicles are less that 1.5 inches in length, this is a very strong clue that may you have low testosterone.
Also…
If your ejaculation volume is down, or if you’re having a hard time building or retaining muscle, and you’ve also experienced a noticeable decrease in sex drive…
You probably have low-t.
Low testosterone and its impact on wood production hasn’t been entirely sussed out yet, but we do have plenty of evidence to look at…
For one, when testosterone levels drop, blood sugar levels usually rise, and arteries harden quickly when you have too much sugar in your blood.
And hard arteries make soft erections.
Low-t also causes insomnia in many men and nothing will terminate am wood faster than poor sleep patterns (more on this in a minute).
Low testosterone is also a marker for obesity, metabolic syndrome and estrogen dominance, all which have a direct impact on your ability to achieve an erection, random or otherwise.
If you think you may have Low-T, you can learn how to spike it quickly Here.
Next…
DHT Blocking Agents & Erectile Dysfunction
Dutasteride, Finerseride (propecia) and the herb Saw Palmetto are often used to prevent hair-loss and treat enlargement of the prostate.
They accomplish this by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
The problem with this plan is, DHT is a vital component of the erection process, and when you reduce levels in your system too much, you’re going to quickly feel the effects in the bedroom.
In June of 2001, the Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study showing that 94 percent of Propecia users surveyed has low libido and 92 percent experienced erectile dysfunction.
And many of these men were still dealing with these negative sexual side effects 40 months after going off the drug.
Dutasteride, the sister drug of Finesteride blocks DHT even more effectively than Finasteride does and it has many of the same negative side effects, including…
Low libido
Reduced ejaculation volume
Breast tenderness or enlargement.
Difficulty getting or keeping an erection
And once again, these issues can haunt you for months or even years after you stop using the drug.
Saw Palmetto is a much weaker DHT blocker than the drugs are, but it can still cause similar side effects, especially if it is used chronically.
I’ve heard enough stories from men who’s erections were torched after using Saw Palmetto that I now recommend that most men should avoid it entirely.
Next…
Coronary Artery Disease & Morning Wood
Coronary arteries supply blood to your heart and to your penis, and neither will function properly if they’ve become stiff, blocked or damaged.
Arteries that lead to the penis are much narrower than the ones leading to your heart, so they usually get blocked up with plaque first, which will lead to erection difficulties that will continue to get worse over time.
As mentioned earlier, men with high blood sugar or diabetes are especially susceptible to this, but other risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, advanced age, family history and obesity.
You obviously have no control over genetics, but you do have control over the other risk factors, most of which can be addressed by exercising, losing weight and bringing your blood sugars down.
No Morning Wood & REM Sleep
It’s during REM sleep that men get nocturnal erections, a nighttime regenerative process where the pipes and tissues of your genitalia are maintained and repaired.
Your nervous system actually relaxes the penile muscle tissue and blood vessels during this process which increases blood flow and delivers vital nutrients to your entire package.
If you miss out on your REM sleep, you also miss out on this repair process, which will eventually lead to erection problems, especially if your sleep issues are chronic.
Porn Addiction & Loss Of Morning Erections
Morning wood is often lost in men addicted to porn, not because of blood flow issues, but because of problems with the brain.
Excessive porn consumption actually causes desensitization, in a similar fashion to an alcoholic, who needs to keep drinking more and more alcohol to cop the same buzz.
But in this case, it’s not whiskey or beer that you’ll develop tolerance to, but brain chemicals such as dopamine, that you must to respond to in order to get an erection.
And once this mismatch is created between your brain and your penis, you’ll likely lose your morning wood entirely if you don’t take steps to get the porn out of our your life.
And remember, medication is not the answer to this problem, because the issue isn’t your penis, its your mind and its lack of sensitivity to dopamine and other brain chemicals.
The drugs will give you an erection, but you’ll have no real desire to use it because sex drive requires the involvement of your mind….and chronic porn consumption blunts this process.
Estimates put porn induced cases of erectile dysfunction as high as 20%, which is drastically higher than it was prior to the explosion of internet pornography.
Porn is available now with just a click of a mouse and you need to exercise extreme willpower to say away from it if you’re addicted.
For most men, four to six weeks is about what it takes to start seeing morning wood again consistently, although some can start seeing improvement in a matter of days once they drop this destructive habit.
Antidepressants (SSRIs)
If you take a regular dose of an antidepressant, it could be contributing to your lack of morning wood.
This is actually much more common than you think. In fact, a quick web search on this topic reveals that nearly all of the most popular antidepressants have some risk of sexual side effects.
Numerous scientific studies have been done on the topic. Results show that antidepressants classified as SSRIs (selective serotonin uptake inhibitors) are the worst offenders.
I’m talking about drugs like citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The reason these drugs have such a high risk of sexual side effects has to do with the nature of how they work. SSRIs actually raise the levels of serotonin inside your body. This has a calming effect, but also lowers libido and prevents crucial sex hormones from working how they should.
Other classes of antidepressants work differently and seem to have a lower risk, but it varies from person to person. Studies have been done to judge the risk level associated with these other drugs.
Going in order of risk, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) all have lower risk than SSRIs.
But that said, they all still have some risk of sexual side effects.
If you’re experiencing some sexual side effects related to your antidepressant, talk to your doctor. Consider switching to an antidepressant with lower risk, or cycling off the drug completely.
Your doctor might recommend using ED medication in combination with antidepressants, but I suggest you avoid this at all costs.
My personal view is that attempting to treat a side effect from one drug by prescribing another is not only stupid, but downright dangerous.
Alcohol Abuse & No Morning Wood
Alcohol is a potent enemy of testosterone when used excessively.
This is no good because testosterone is absolutely crucial for morning wood, strong erections and sexual performance.
Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying to stop drinking entirely. A small amount of alcohol here and there won’t totally destroy your testosterone levels.
Studies have shown that while a couple glasses of wine (or equivalent) will lower T levels, the impact is relatively minor.
Excessive drinking and alcoholism on the other hand have serious negative side effects. There have been plenty of scientific studies done on this topic, and they pretty much all tell the same story.
Human studies have consistently shown that regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol can drastically lower testosterone levels.
These effects are worst for alcoholics. Studies have shown that chronic alcoholics have significantly lower testosterone and higher estrogen levels than non-alcoholic subjects.
Heavy alcohol use will always hurt your sex life. Keep that in mind when thinking about how often and how much you drink.
Excessive Soy Intake Kills Morning Erections
Soy is a popular food these days, but it could be hurting your sexual performance. The reason why has to do with the compounds found inside soy itself.
Soy contains a few compounds that are known as phytoestrogens. These substances are essentially plant estrogens which are very similar to the estrogen found in human females (hence the word estrogen in the name).
That’s bad because estrogen and testosterone don’t play well together. High estrogen in men is almost always a cause of lower testosterone.
Studies have been done on the subject. Results show that heavy soy consumption is likely linked to low testosterone levels.
On top of that, soy is also high in compounds known as goitrogens. These substances can mess with your thyroid activity and disrupt the production of crucial hormones.
A healthy thyroid is critical for overall health and energy levels, so you really don’t want to mess with it by stuffing yourself with soy.
While the majority of the science does suggest a link between soy consumption and low testosterone, I will say that more research is needed. Some studies have shown conflicting evidence.
That said, it certainly can’t hurt to be cautious about your soy intake.
High Levels of Stress
Stress is another potent enemy of testosterone that many men will face. If you’re not getting morning wood, it could be due to excessive stress in your life.
This is because when you’re stressed, your body produces a hormone called cortisol. This is natural – cortisol is a necessary hormone that we couldn’t live without.
However, high levels of cortisol over a long period have been proven to lower testosterone levels in men.
Stress can cause depression and mess with our sleep, diet and exercise too. These are all critical factors for healthy testosterone levels and sexual function.
My recommendation is to do things that chill you out. There is plenty of scientific data out there showing that meditation, walking in nature, and regular exercise all help to lower cortisol levels.
High or Low Blood Pressure
Blood pressure issues can have a big impact on your erectile function.
High blood pressure is certainly the biggest risk. In fact, studies have shown that men with high blood pressure are nearly twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction than men with healthy blood pressure.
This is because high blood pressure damages blood vessels over time and reduces overall blood flow through the body. When that happens, it becomes difficult for enough blood to flow into the penis to facilitate an erection.
This is worst for men with hypertension. Studies have found that ED and hypertension often go hand in hand. (source)
Low blood pressure may also cause erectile issues, but this hasn’t been studied as deeply as the link between ED and high blood pressure. That said, many men low blood pressure often have difficulty pushing enough blood into the penis to facilitate morning wood.
Sleep Apnea & No Morning Wood
Sleep is absolutely critical for male sexual health. If you’re not sleeping enough, your sexual performance will suffer.
If you have sleep apnea and it’s keeping you from getting a restful night’s sleep, this could be a big reason why you don’t regularly see morning wood.
Consider some of the facts about sleep and male sexual health.
One major study found that when men slept for about 8 hours per night, they had more than double the amount of testosterone in their bodies the next morning versus those who slept just 4 hours.
Another study backed this up, finding almost the exact same results. Eight hours of sleep was again the magic number for optimal testosterone levels.
Remember, testosterone is crucial for strong erections and overall sexual health. If your sleep is suffering then your T levels are likely too low, which can lead to negative sexual side effects.
Excessive Chemical Exposure
There are millions of chemicals produced in the United States and many of them can have a profound negative effect on male sexual health.
I’m talking about chemicals known as endocrine disruptors. These are found in all kinds of personal care products, preservatives, and plastics.
Endocrine disruptors are no good because they mess with the endocrine system. Also known as the hormone system, this system regulates all your hormones – including crucial sex hormones like testosterone.
One of the worst endocrine disruptors is triclosan. This is an antibacterial compound found in many soaps, shampoos, wipes, deodorants, and toothpastes. It’s so bad that it has been banned in the EU since 2010.
Studies have proven that triclosan can suppress testosterone production, lower overall testosterone levels, and even stimulate estrogen production. (source)
You should also look out for chemicals including bisphenol A, parabens, phthalates, and benzophenones. All of these chemicals have been shown to lower testosterone levels.
These chemicals are found in many plastics and popular personal care items. To avoid them, I recommend using only natural care products and using metal or glass in place of plastic whenever possible.
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid)
Hypothyroidism is the medical term for a thyroid gland that is less active than it should be. That means the gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone to support the body’s needs.
This can have a direct impact on male sexual health. In fact, one study found that about 6% of all erectile dysfunction cases can be attributed to thyroid issues.
Plenty of studies have analyzed this connection over the years. The general conclusion is that in men with hypothyroidism, ED is common.
The reason behind this is simple: the thyroid is a major part of your body’s endocrine system which regulates hormone production. That includes hormones like testosterone which are critical for arousal, erectile function, and overall sexual health.
If you know you have a thyroid condition, talk to your doctor about how it could impact your sexual function.
And if you aren’t sure, talk to your doctor anyway. If you’ve lost your morning wood, this is probably a good time to get your thyroid health checked out.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is the medical name for several different medical conditions that occur together. It can have a drastic effect on your erectile function.
The conditions that make up metabolic syndrome include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
If you have two or more of these conditions, your risk of life-threatening complications like heart attack and stroke goes up quite a bit.
Your risk for sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction also skyrockets. In fact, one study found that over 95% of participants with metabolic syndrome had ED. (source)
If you don’t address the causes of metabolic syndrome, then you’re very likely to develop some erectile issues. It’s critical to make healthy lifestyle changes now before things get worse.
I recommend that you spend at least 30 minutes each day doing some physical activity. Working out consistently will provide the biggest benefit.
Just get up and move! Go for a walk, sprint, lift some weights.
I also recommend eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and clean carbs. Cut out the processed foods, salt, and sugar.
It also pays to quit smoking if you’ve got the habit. Studies have found that cigarette smoking can nearly double your risk of ED.
UPDATE: Vaping and No Morning Wood
Vaping nicotine wasn’t much of a thing when I first started blogging in the erectile dysfunction niche more than a decade ago.
As a matter of fact, I didn’t start getting emails on the subject from my subscribers until fairly recently.
But once disposable vapes with extremely high nicotine content hit the market, the emails started trickling in.
(Vuse, JUUL, Elf Bar, NJOY, etc).
Now these emails are almost a daily occurrence.
Vaping and Penile Atrophy
The main problem with high nic vaping is, nicotine is a very potent vasoconstrictor.
Vasoconstriction means constriction of the blood vessels, including those leading to your penis.
And this vasoconstriction reduces blood flow, which is the last thing you want to happen to a penis.
Because you need all the blood you can get when racking up an erection.
Blood also delivers nutrients to your penis at night, to facilitate the repair and rebuilding process.
And vaping blunts this process.
So if you keep up this habit, eventually you’re going to find yourself dealing with some pretty serious penile shrinkage.
And based on the emails I’ve been getting over the last few years, this shrinkage can be quite significant.
And even worse…
There seems to be a direct correlation in most men between nicotine induced penile atrophy and loss of morning wood.
And the science backs this up. For example..
A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine investigated the effects of e-cigarettes on penile blood flow in group healthy young men.
The findings revealed a significant reduction in penile arterial flow after vaping nicotine containing e-cigarettes.
This study clearly confirmed the vasoconstrictive effect that nicotine has on a mans penis.
So what’s the solution?
When I first started investigating this problem, I spent quite a bit of time on various ecig forums and subreddits.
And I found that men with the most devastating penile side effects were vaping 5% nicotine.
This equates to a whopping 50 mg of nicotine per milliliter of juice, which is way beyond what any human needs.
And if I were looking for the fastest way to shrink my penis and lose my morning wood, vaping 5% nic would be my first choice.
So if you’re vaping high nic devices simply for the pleasure, you’d be wise to just drop the habit.
Your penis will thank you for it.
But if you’re a former smoker and are using ecigs to get off cigarettes, you can mitigate the damage by vaping less nic.
You can achieve this by methodically dropping the nicotine content of your devices until you eventually wean yourself off entirely.
If I were trying to quit, I’d start off at 12 mg of nicotine, max.
Then I’d set a goal to drop to 6 mg within 45 days. Then I’d drop to 3 mg over the next 45 days.
Then I’d drop the habit entirely.
Because no matter how satisfying a good vape may be, it will never compare to the satisfaction of rock hard morning wood.
No Morning Wood Conclusion:
Many men make the mistake of attempting to use erection supplements to treat morning wood loss, but its almost impossible to get back on track until you address the root cause of your condition first.
But once you have addressed this cause, you’ll find that the supplements and other natural methods I recommend on this site will start working their magic for you quickly….
And once you get to this point…you’ll regain the ability to achieve hard erections AND you’ll also increase your desire to actually use them.
And if you think about, neither one of these is any good unless you have the other….
So always go after the root cause first.
