An erection happens when the penis fills with blood and gets hard. The penis has 2 main chambers that run along side the top of the penis shaft. This area, the corpora cavernosa, is made up of spongy tissue, veins, arteries, spaces, and smooth muscles that hold in-flowing blood.

Erections happen when more blood flows into the penis and less blood flows out. The erection process is perfectly normal and can happen at any time throughout the day.

Most healthy males get erections during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep (the time of sleep when dreams happen). Also, erections when waking up are a sign of good penis health.

Usually, erections happen during physical arousal or fantasizing, but other things can cause it to occur. Such causes include pressure on the genital area and pressure from the urinary bladder from the need to urinate.

For an erection to happen, some kind of stimulation makes the brain and penile nerves to get excited. They tell the smooth muscles of the corpora cavernosa to let blood in, and stop blood from flowing out. This has the effect of expanding the penis size.

As the penis gets larger in length and girth, it is normal for it to rise at an angle. This angle is usually anywhere from parallel to the floor to pointing almost straight upward.

Sometimes men are stressed out and can't get an erection. This is just the body's way of dealing with stress (or the fight-or-flight response). Worrying about a small penis size or having an unattractive partner can make it impossible for a man to keep an erection.

Other things that affect erections are: the amount of sleep a guy gets, how active he is, and in general, age causes changes in hormone levels, like testosterone.

Erection problems

If a man can't keep an erection for 25% of the time, he may have erectile dysfunction, or ED. Treatments for erectile dysfunction can include penile injections, vacuum pumps, surgery, prosthetic devices, Viagra, hormone therapy, counseling, and natural penis exercises.

Some of these methods try to physically help a guy get an erection, while others improve his sex drive so he can perform better.

Methods like injections, prosthetic devices, and vacuum pumps do not require arousal, as they are based on an automatic response.

Other methods like pills and the natural exercises improve the blood flow into the penis, and make erections possible upon sexual arousal. Some pills work each time you take them, while others work for more long lasting benefits.

Regular erections are a natural part of good male sexual health. The ability to get erections decreases with age, but there are things men can do to improve themselves.

Erection problems can be forever cured with modern methods like surgery, counseling, pills, and even exercises.