Why Do Men Get Random Boners? The Science Behind the Untimely Bulge

Getting a boner is an experience all men relate to but sometimes can be puzzling and inconvenient, leaving you wondering, why do men get random boners?

Most boners usually come on cue and men are usually aware 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 do men get random boners.

Boners are a fact of life for all men. We are capable of having an average of eleven boners everyday 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 do 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 increases.

#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 of 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?

#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 good porn scene. 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 mentioned, 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 your 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]

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.

[Read: How to keep an erection up for longer in 20 ways]

However, stop worrying about why do 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.