Why do men get random boners? It’s something almost all men experience, but it can be embarrassing sometimes. Here’s all you need to know about it.
Most boners usually come on cue and men are usually aware of why the boner is right there. But with random boners, their arrival can be a mystery as much as a nuisance. They come uninvited at the most inappropriate and inconvenient of times, giving way for some awkward and embarrassing moments. Today, we look into the several answers to why men get random boners.
Boners are a fact of life for all men. We are capable of having an average of eleven boners every day plus three or five more while asleep. Men have grown quite familiar with these erections during the course of their day that they have given names to some of them.
For example, there’s the morning wood that makes the morning pee difficult, the classic pre-sex boner, the “masturboner,” and the most notorious of the bunch, the random boner. [Read: 10 reasons why your penis is being a total dick]
How do erections happen?
In order to know why men get random boners, we need to understand the overall process and factors that contribute to getting an erection. To put the process simply, think of it as a burglar alarm. It goes off when a specific kind of situation takes place.
Boners occur when specific kinds of stimuli trigger certain physical mechanisms, telling the male body that it’s time to get a boner.
1. Presence of sexual stimulus
These can be visual, auditory, tactile, or even from a recollection of a previous sexual encounter. Nature has made sure that men are always ready for reproduction at the flip of the switch. That’s why his penis is prone to stand in attention when these stimuli are present.
Sexually-associated stimuli such as the sight of a naked woman, the sound of a woman’s enthusiastic moans, or getting one’s penis touched in a suggestive way are a few examples of what triggers the male body to produce a boner. [Read: Understanding why guys get morning wood]
2. The brain and the nerves
The brain and the nerves play an important role in the process of getting an erection. The brain is the organ that processes all incoming stimuli and interprets whether it is sexual or not.
If the stimulus gets interpreted as sexual, the cerebral cortex of the brain sends the necessary signals through the nerves towards different parts of the body getting the male in a state of sexual arousal. [Read: How to get rid of an unwanted erection]
3. The circulatory and respiratory system
Once the brain gives the go signal for sexual arousal, the body’s circulatory and respiratory system goes to work to prepare the body for sexual activity.
As the tissues in the body crave more oxygen and energy, the man’s heart and breathing rate consequently increase.
4. The penis
When the brain signals reach the genital area, the penis’ blood vessels dilate to accommodate the increased flow of blood and the connective tissue around these blood vessels gets all filled up to the brim giving way to a full erection.
5. Testosterone
Behind every successful erection is the male hormone testosterone. While not directly involved in the process, it plays an important role in keeping the penile smooth muscles and connective tissue healthy to be able to perform an erection. Not only that, it helps generate libido which allows men to maintain longer and harder boners.
This hormone is mainly produced in the man’s testes. It gets circulated by the blood all over the body for synthesis. [Read: Signs of high testosterone in men]
Why do men get random boners?
Now that we know how erections happen, and why, let’s try to understand random boners and why that happens!
1. Random arousing thoughts
Sometimes, a man’s mind does wander into deep, dark places. In your daily dose of musings, your memory might stumble upon the image of your crush wearing a skimpy bikini or a really arousing video.
These kinds of fleeting images easily trigger a boner at an inconvenient time if your imagination decides to take a naughty turn.
2. Testosterone fluctuations
As we said earlier, testosterone is considered to be the “lubricating oil” that keeps the boner mechanism in tip-top shape. The man’s testes produce a fresh supply of testosterone daily. The old supply gets synthesized by the cells every day.
As a result, testosterone levels in the body fluctuate and vary at different times of the day. The peak of production usually happens when men are asleep while the body is in a relaxed state.
This explains why men get morning boners after they wake up. So when men get a random boner, it is a sign that their testosterone level is at its peak for the day. [Read: 30 alpha male characteristics that make you a real alpha]
3. Penis accidentally gets contact in a “certain” way
The penis, especially the glans at its head, can be quite sensitive. After all, it is home to millions of nerve endings making it very sensitive to the touch. Some random erections can be the result of your penis rubbing into a surface such as the insides of your underwear or pants while you’re going about your day.
Other times, it could be the accidental brush of the hand. Once you realized the weird sensation, it’s already too late. Your boner is well on its way.
4. Involuntary control by the brain
As mentioned, the cerebral cortex is the one giving the go signal for the body to do an erection. There are instances when the cerebral cortex causes involuntary erections for stimuli not usually perceived as sexually arousing.
This is still a mystery. Most researchers speculate that it is a way that the body exercises the penile muscles and the arousal response to keep it healthy and responsive.
5. Being relaxed, excited, or happy
This may come as a surprise, but these emotions may sometimes trigger an unexpected boner. The aforementioned emotions may sometimes bring a dose of happy hormones such as endorphins and bring your pants to life. [Read: How to be a penis know-it-all]
Is it normal to get random boners?
Yes, it is normal for men to experience random erections every once in a while. This type of boner is achieved without sexual stimulation. They can occur at any age, but it’s most common in teenagers and young adults. Random boners that only occur in the morning can happen to men of any age, and that’s normal too.
Don’t worry, random boners are a good sign!
Random boners may be inconvenient and frustrating to hide. In the end, it is your body telling you that you are a healthy and sexually capable male down under. You may hate it now but cherish it. You’re going to lose it eventually by the time you become old and gray.
How to stop getting random boners
Regardless of whether or not getting random boners are normal and healthy, sometimes it can be annoying and embarrassing. So, here’s how to stop getting them. [Read: How to get harder erections – 11 tips and tricks for a rock hard tool]
1. Distract yourself
It’s not easy to distract yourself from your random erection when all you want to do is get rid of it. But if you can find some way to focus your mind on something else – like your grandma – it will get rid of it pretty quickly. The point is that it’s actually difficult to think and have an erection at the same time.
Some other things you can try thinking about are paying your bills, your grades *if you’re in school*, sports, going into outer space, or anything else that is irrelevant and will get your mind off of it.
2. Go for a walk or run
Walking forces your body to pump blood into your limbs in order for them to move. That’s why if you go for a walk or run, it could get rid of your unwanted boner.
The cause of the erection is blood pumping into your penis, so if your blood had to be re-routed into the rest of your body, it will eventually drain your erection. [Read: Unwanted erection – how to get rid of a boner ASAP before anyone notices]
3. Put ice on your lap
Okay, you don’t always have access to ice at any given moment. But if you have something else that is cold, putting it in your lap can help.
Any cold object will restrict your blood flow, and that will make you a lot less excited because it also won’t feel very good!
4. Go to the restroom
Whether or not you actually have to pee or not, just make up some excuse to go to the restroom. When you’re there, you can try to focus your thoughts on something else. Being in private will also make you less self-conscious. You can also try splashing cold water on your face or jogging in place for a little bit until it goes away.
5. Don’t think sexual thoughts
The last thing you want to do is to get more excited. So, avoid rubbing it with your hand or another object. This stimulation might make it worse because it will feel good.
And definitely don’t think about anyone you find attractive. That will guarantee that you will never get rid of your random boner! [Read: 15 big dick problems that guys with a smaller penis have no idea about]
How to hide getting random boners
If nothing you do is getting rid of your erection, then you can try to hide it. This is the next best thing and might be the only thing you can do at times. Here’s how you can do it.
1. Reposition your body
It doesn’t matter whether you are sitting or standing, you can change the position of your body in a way that will hide it. If you’re standing up, face them head-on and not from the side.
It’s easier to see it if you’re on the side. If you’re sitting, then try to cross your legs. When you do this, your pants around your erection will get bunched up and it will help cover it up.
2. Put your hands in your pockets
Most people put their hands in their pockets a lot, so it’s a normal gesture and it won’t call too much attention to you.
If you put both of your hands in your pockets, you can either pull your pants out farther from your crotch or try to hold your member closer to your body. [Read: How to have good sex with a small penis – when smaller can be better]
3. Cover your crotch
This is a popular way to hide your boner. If you don’t have pockets in your pants or you can’t reposition yourself, then look for something to cover what’s happening down there.
You can use anything such as a book, a table, a jacket, or even your hand. Regardless, it’s easy to find something to put over your erection.
4. Tuck it away
You can also tuck your boner under your belt from having your hands inside your pockets. If you can’t do this in a way that no one will notice, then it’s better to find an excuse to be alone, like going to the restroom.
If you can’t do that, at least turn away from the people so no one can see what you’re doing. Or, conversely, you can untuck your shirt if it’s long enough to cover your penis.
5. Distract people with something else
If there is something else going on in a room, you can point to it so that no one has their eyes on you anymore.
You could say something like, “Did you see that person walk by?” or “Look at that bird!” When you do that, everyone will turn their heads and stop looking at your boner, at least for a minute! [Read: The average penis – Answers that will make you a know-it-all]
Should you worry if you don’t get random boners?
If you don’t get random boners, it’s probably not a problem. A lot depends on your age. If you’re young and you’re not getting them, then maybe you do have some sort of problem. In that case, you should check with your doctor.
But if you’re older, it isn’t uncommon for men to stop having random boners. Testosterone decreases as you age, so that is one factor. As long as your penis works when you want it to, you shouldn’t worry too much.
[Read: How to keep an erection up for longer in 20 ways]
However, stop worrying about why men get random boners. Those random boners are the ultimate sign that your body is capable of producing a good supply of testosterone essential for a man’s sexual performance.