Sometimes the wind blows a certain way, a sexy text comes in, or a head-turning woman walks by. It’s natural to feel a little stirring in one’s trousers when these things happen. But what happens when an erection pops up for no reason and often in the worst places? A random unwanted erection happens when a boner pops without sexual stimulation. While unwanted, they are completely normal. Think about it, morning wood is a common phenomenon for most men. However, if unwanted erections keep popping up, a man may want to get to the bottom of it and also find strategies for extinguishing the fire below.

Cause #1: Testosterone

Hormones play a huge part in the daily function of the body. They tell us to eat, to sleep, to be happy or be sad. Researchers are finding that testosterone, often referred to as the sex hormone, is somehow related to unwanted erections. A man with High T, for instance, may have unwanted erections frequently. Since hormone levels fluctuate over time, the issue could sort itself out. See a doctor to test testosterone levels and go from there.

Cause #2: Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT)

Often referred to as “morning wood,” Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), is a type of random erection. The main symptom of NPT is waking up with an erect penis. Often times, the penis not only is awake and ready upon a man’s rising, it will also stay hard until coerced to come down. NPT is more common for younger men, especially those in the teen years. Men also experience up to five erections while they are sleep, with each erection lasting up to 30 minutes. Even though the body is asleep, the senses are not. Erections could be caused by simply the touch of a blanket against the skin. Hormonal shift could be to blame as the body releases hormones that quell erections while awake and they release less of them during slumber.

Cause #3: Priapism

Most men know what a priapism is simply because it is the fodder of many a movie or TV show. These are the most serious type of unwanted erection because the penis is full of blood due to a clot in the penis and can last hours and be extremely painful. Men with sickle cell anaemia are more likely to have priapisms. Either injecting medication or draining blood from the penis are the only two ways to bring the member down.

Managing Unwanted Erections

While erections are a desirable thing much of the time, they can be quite troublesome when they pop up for no reason and with no warning. Here are a few ways to mitigate those unwanted erection moments:

1) Think about something very unarrousing. Maybe Quaker Oatmeal man in the shower or read a car manual, anything that would qualify under “not at all sexy.”

2) Shift position. Maybe it’s underwear that are wound up that’s causing it. Shifting can also help a man hide his unwanted erection. Men can also put their hands in their pockets to discretely reposition the penis and pull it closer to the body.

3) Pull a 1997 move and put your book, jacket, suitcase, laptop, or anything handy in front of it.

4) Stop and meditate. Sit down, close the eyes and breathe slowly focusing on the sound of the breath. This relaxes the body and blood flow which could then reduce or diminish the erection.

Random erections are a totally normal thing in most cases. Men should also keep their penis health in mind to ensure that wanted erections also show up. In addition to thorough cleansing and giving the penis time to “breathe,” men should apply a penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) to care for the penis and it’s delicate skin. Using a crème with vital penis health elements such as vitamins A, B, C, D and E and essential amino acids like L-Carnitine and L-Arginine keep the penis strong and healthy. Apply daily for best results.