Anne Truong MDMen's Sexual Health Doctor

Why Men Get Morning Wood: A Doctor Explains

1 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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0:38

In this explanatory video, Dr. Anne Truong MD discusses the physiology behind morning erections, focusing on REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. She notes that men typically experience 3 to 6 REM episodes per night, each lasting between 5 and 30 minutes. These episodes are not random; they serve a vital biological function by delivering oxygen‑rich blood to penile tissue, which helps prevent scar tissue formation and maintains overall tissue integrity.

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Let's look at the physiology. So when you're sleeping, like you are in REM sleep or rapid eye movement sleep. So a man typically, believe it or not, had 3 to 6 when he's sleeping at night or even in the morning. And it lasts from about 5 minutes to even 30 minutes each time. They aren't just random events. They serve as an essential biology purpose. They bathe your tissue and oxygen-rich blood, preventing scar tissue development and maintaining the tissue integrity.