HGC -- off for a week, suddenly morning wood

[sirgawain]

I took a trip back east and couldn't really drag my HCG along, so I skipped it for this week...I'm about 7 days into not taking it and I'm suddenly getting more morning wood. I find that odd, and maybe unrelated, but am curious about what effect HCG could have there in the negative sense?

 

[FunkOdyssey]

I took a trip back east and couldn't really drag my HCG along, so I skipped it for this week...I'm about 7 days into not taking it and I'm suddenly getting more morning wood. I find that odd, and maybe unrelated, but am curious about what effect HCG could have there in the negative sense?

Estrogen too high will kill your boners. Your E2 will have dropped significantly without the hCG.

 

[sirgawain]

interesting. Last visit with my doctor, he felt my E2 was too high and asked me to restart the AI (I had stopped) so I take a half tablet twice a week now, the day after my shots. Since I also stopped the HCG, how do I know if I am *too low* on E2? What should I be looking for body wise? I was only taking HCG to retain ball size and now I just don't care and my wife doesn't care. More reliable penis -- that we care about.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Since I also stopped the HCG, how do I know if I am *too low* on E2? What should I be looking for body wise?

Depressed mood, loss of libido, joint pain, dry skin, fatigue, irritability.

 

[Jucaro]

My experience is that there must be something more to HCG killing erection (and libido, depending on dosage) than just E2.
I have been on an odyssey for almost 4 years with HCG (and sometimes Clomid) trying to get my wife pregnant while battling very severe ED and loss of libido as a result of the increased HCG. E2 has not increased significantly for quite a while, but ED and low libido were still present with HCG (500 IU EOD). We have finally gone through in vitro fertilization, then I have reduced the HCG to 500 IU every 4 days and already see a huge difference, much better libido and erections and morning woods without Tadalafil or Sildenafil. Over the next few months, if all is well with the pregnancy, I will reduce the HCG to 250 twice a week like I used to do when all was well.

 

[Systemlord]

LH receptors weren’t meant to be constantly stimulated, but in a pulsatile fashion. HCG provides near constant stimulation of the LH receptors.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Testosterone is only one of the factors involved in morning wood.

Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), commonly known as "morning wood" or sleep-related erections, is a complex physiological phenomenon involving several factors. Here's a comprehensive overview of the key elements involved:

## Neurological Factors

### Brain Activity
NPT primarily occurs during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when certain areas of the brain are activated[2]. This activation leads to:

- Stimulation of parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nerves
- Suppression of sympathetic ("fight or flight") nerves
- Dampening of areas producing serotonin

### Spinal Regulation
The spinal cord, particularly the cervical region, plays a critical role in nocturnal erectile activity[1].

## Hormonal Influences

### Testosterone
- Testosterone levels are highest in the morning, enhancing the frequency of nocturnal erections[2].
- However, testosterone has less impact on erections induced by visual stimuli or fantasy.

### Other Hormones
Various endocrine system components contribute to the complex interplay governing NPT[2].

## Vascular Factors

### Blood Flow
NPT relies on healthy blood flow to the penis, involving:

- Relaxation of blood vessels
- Trapping of blood in penile muscles, causing expansion[2]

## Autonomic Nervous System

### Parasympathetic Activation
During REM sleep, there's a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance, driving the erectile response[2].

### Acetylcholine Release
Parasympathetic nerve branches release acetylcholine, triggering nitric oxide production in trabecular arteries[1].

## Sleep Cycle Dynamics

### REM Sleep Correlation
NPT episodes typically coincide with REM sleep periods, with an average of 5.15 episodes occurring during REM per night[1].

### Duration and Frequency
- Average tumescence time per night: 159 minutes
- Average number of episodes: 6.85 per night
- Duration: 30.8 minutes during REM, 11.75 minutes during non-REM[1]

## Age-Related Changes

As men age, the frequency and duration of NPT tend to decrease, though they often persist well into older age[2].

## Physiological Purpose

While not definitively known, NPT may serve several purposes:

- Maintaining penile health through increased oxygenation
- Potentially alerting to a full bladder (though this is debated)[2]

## Chemical Pathways

### Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide release from endothelial cells in trabecular arteries plays a crucial role in causing tumescence[1].

### Dopamine
While not directly involved in NPT, dopamine is significant in erections induced by visual stimuli or fantasy[2].

Understanding these factors is crucial for diagnosing erectile dysfunction and distinguishing between psychological and physiological causes. The presence of normal NPT often indicates that the physical mechanisms for achieving erections are intact, pointing to potential psychological factors in cases of erectile dysfunction[1][2].

Citations:
[1] Nocturnal penile tumescence - Wikipedia
[2] Why men wake up with erections
[3] Nocturnal Erections: What is It, Clinical Significance
[4] Nocturnal penile erections: A retrospective study of the role of RigiScan in predicting the response to sildenafil in erectile dysfunction patients
[5] Sleep Related Painfull Erection: What is it, Symptoms and Treatment