The Morning Wood Test: What It Tells You About Your Health
What Morning Erections Really Mean
Let’s be honest, waking up with a morning erection feels like a good sign.
And it is.
But it’s not just about desire or how turned on you are.
Morning erections (also called nocturnal penile tumescence) are a key marker of your internal health, especially your testosterone levels and blood flow.
If you’ve noticed yours are less frequent, less firm, or completely gone, it could be your body’s way of waving a red flag.
This blog will help you understand what’s normal, what’s not, and what you can do about it.
Why Morning Wood Happens (Even Without Desire)
You don’t need to have had a sexy dream, or any dream at all.
Here’s what’s really happening during sleep:
Testosterone spikes in the early hours of the morning
You go through REM (deep) sleep cycles multiple times a night
During REM, your parasympathetic nervous system (the one that helps you rest and digest) kicks in
This triggers automatic erections, a completely healthy, unconscious function of your sexual system
In other words, it’s a sign that everything’s working under the hood.
What It Means If You’re Still Getting Morning Erections
✅ Great news.
It usually means your:
Blood flow is working
Hormones (especially testosterone) are in a good range
Nervous system is functioning properly
Even if you experience erectile issues during sex, consistent morning erections suggest the problem may be more psychological (e.g. stress, anxiety, pressure) than physical.
What It Means If You’re Not Getting Morning Erections
This can be a sign of an underlying physical issue - especially if it’s a sudden or long-term change.
Potential causes include:
Reduced blood flow to the penis (vascular ED)
Low testosterone
Poor sleep quality (especially less REM sleep)
Overtraining or chronic stress
Alcohol or certain medications
If you’ve gone more than a couple of weeks without a morning erection, especially if you’re under 60, it’s worth looking into further.
How to Track Morning Erections
This is where the “morning wood test” comes in.
You don’t need fancy gadgets, just some paper and awareness.
Here are two easy options:
✂️ 1. The Toilet Roll Test
Yes, it’s a thing.
Take a strip of perforated toilet roll
Wrap it gently around the base of the penis before bed
Secure it lightly with tape, not tight, just enough to stay in place
If the roll is torn in the morning, you had an erection overnight
It’s a basic but surprisingly reliable way to detect nocturnal erections, even if you don’t wake up during them.
📝 2. Simple Morning Tracking
Keep a notebook or note on your phone. Record:
Whether you had a morning erection
The firmness (scale of 1–4)
Any lifestyle factors that may have affected it (alcohol, stress, sleep, etc.)
Track for at least 2 weeks to spot patterns.
When to Get Help
If you:
Rarely or never wake up with erections
Have lost morning erections after years of having them
Are under 60 and experiencing persistent ED
…it’s worth having a proper assessment. This doesn’t mean you’re broken.
It just means something is off, and it’s absolutely fixable.
How We Help at Men’s Room
We take morning wood seriously.
It’s one of the clearest indicators of your vascular and hormonal health, and it often helps us pinpoint whether the cause of ED is physical, psychological, or both.
We offer:
Shockwave therapy to restore blood flow
Hormone and lifestyle coaching to rebalance your system
Pelvic floor training to improve function and control
You don’t need to figure this out on your own.
We’ll help you understand what’s going on, and get you back to feeling like yourself.
📩 Download Our Free ED Info Pack
📞 Book a Free, Confidential Call
FAQs
Do I need a morning erection every day?
Not necessarily. A few times per week is considered healthy for most men. It varies based on sleep, age, stress, and health status.
Can I have ED and still get morning erections?
Yes, and that usually points to psychological causes. If you’re getting them regularly, your physical systems are likely intact.
Does testosterone affect morning wood?
Absolutely. Low testosterone can reduce frequency and firmness. Morning erections are one of the first things to disappear when hormone levels drop.