9 Effective & Safe Ways to Get Rid of an Erection

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Get rid of an unexpected erection quickly & discreetly

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: February 23, 2024 Fact Checked

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Preventing Erections

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Getting Rid of Erections

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About Random Erections

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When to See a Doctor

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Q&A

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Tips

Erections are a completely natural bodily function, but they can be an unwanted surprise when you aren’t in the privacy of your home. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to both prevent and get rid of a boner without anybody else realizing it. Read on to learn plenty of easy tips and tricks to keep your morning (or evening) wood at bay. We’ll even take a closer look at why random erections seem to happen, and when it’s a good time to mention them to your doctor.

Things You Should Know

Meditate to help keep your mind off an impending erection, or distract yourself with something unrelated to your arousal.
Take a cold or warm shower to get rid of an erection right away, or get a little bit of exercise to help the process along.
Head to the bathroom and urinate—this may help eliminate your ongoing erection.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Not Get an Erection

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1
Meditate when you feel an erection coming on. Meditating is a great way to clear your head and get relaxed, which is incredibly helpful if you’re struggling to suppress or control a boner. There are lots of different meditation varieties to choose from, including:
2
Do or think about something distracting. A boring history lecture. An episode of your favorite TV show. When it comes to self-distraction, the sky’s the limit, as long as it gets your mind off your erection (and any arousing thoughts that might be causing it).^{[1]
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- If you get an erection in the middle of class, try focusing on something else in the classroom, like something written on the whiteboard or a page in your textbook.
- If you get an erection in public (like while you’re on the bus), focus on something else that’s happening nearby, like a conversation someone is happening.
- If you get an erection randomly, think of a really gross sensation, like stepping in dog poop barefoot or drinking milk that’s gone bad.
- Enjoying a quick snack or meal is a great way to distract yourself from an ongoing boner, and may even help it go away.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Get Rid of an Erection

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1
Take a warm or cold shower. People everywhere agree—nothing quite stops an erection in its tracks like some water. If you’re at home, take a warm shower to wash your erection away.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source

National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK

Go to source} If you’re at a pool or waterpark (where a boner could be especially obvious), take a dip in the water instead.
- Some people swear by cold water, while others find warm water work best. Try both to see what works for you.
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Use the bathroom. Head to the nearest restroom and try urinating. With any luck, your erection may start to go away after you relieve yourself.^{[3]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK

Go to source}
- When you're erect, your body closes the opening to your bladder so that semen won't enter it. Trying to pee can trick your body into easing the erection to allow for urine flow.
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Give your thigh a gentle pinch. Pinch your thigh firmly to cause a distracting sensation and get your attention to focus elsewhere. Only do it for a second or two, and then stop if it doesn't work.
- Never pinch or otherwise injure your genitals to stop an erection. You may stop the erection, but you could do some serious damage in the process.
4
Get a little exercise. Go for a quick walk around your neighborhood, or do some other type of activity that helps you break a sweat. Getting your blood pumping is a great way to get those feel-good chemicals flowing.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Plus, it may help your blood pump a little less down there.
- Jogging in place and doing some squats can be helpful exercises to try.^{[5]
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  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  
  Go to source}
5
Sit down and cross your legs to hide the evidence. If you aren’t able to sit, try using a jacket, backpack, or other bulky item to disguise your boner.^{[6]
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- If you feel comfortable doing so (and can find a private place to do so), try to reposition your boner so it’s a little less obvious to the naked eye. You’ll probably have to sneak away to the restroom to do this.
While this is hardly the ideal option, it’s possible to simply wait out your erection (though this admittedly isn’t the most comfortable option). Erections can stick around for up to a couple hours, so you might need to be patient.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
7
Masturbate. Masturbation is the most natural way to relieve yourself and eliminate an erection at the source. While this obviously isn’t an option when you’re in public, some quick me-time can clear up your boner if you’re trying to suppress or get rid of an erection while you’re at home (or in another private setting).^{[8]
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- Alternative: Make sure that your clothes aren’t rubbing up against your boner in a way that could make it worse.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 4:

Can erections happen randomly?

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Erections can most definitely be reflexogenic or psychogenic (related to physical or mental arousal), but they can also be nocturnal—in other words, they happen during the night. It’s completely normal for a penis to switch between erect and flaccid while a person sleeps, which is why some people wake up with a random boner (often known as “morning wood”).^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}

Section 4 of 4:

When to See a Doctor

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See a doctor if your erection lasts longer than 4 hours total. Some people’s erections may last longer than others, but they should never be painful and last for really extended periods of time (like 4+ hours). If you experience an extended, uncomfortable erection, see your doctor as soon as possible.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Long-lasting erections are a major symptom of priapism, a condition that can lead to long-term genital damage without the proper treatment.

Community Q&A

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Question

Is it natural to get erection at the age of 12 to 15?

Socialist Tsar

Community Answer

That is the time when puberty starts to occur, so yes, it is natural.

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Is it true that I get an erection when I see attractive girls because I'm a virgin?

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No, all young males get erections when they are sexually attracted to someone.

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Will an erection go away if I'm completely submerged in water, for example, a pool, bath, or beach?

Tom De Backer

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Cold water will help, yes, though it's not a guarantee. Use the other tips and tricks in this article simultaneously.

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Tips

If you have a young child who is starting to learn about their developing body, take some time to explain exactly what erections are and what your child can expect. Make it clear that erections are totally normal, but that they should only explore their bodies by themselves in a private setting.^{[12]
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If you’re worried about getting erections in public, wear clothes that can help disguise the evidence, like dark pants/shorts, longer shirts, and comfortably fitting underwear and bottoms. Tight or light-colored clothing can make an erection more obvious.

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Keep in mind that there’s nothing physically dangerous about having an erection or practicing healthy masturbation (unless the erection lasts for several hours continuously).

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If the situation seems right (like if you're exercising), pretend you have a cramp. This way you can stretch and bend over to conceal it.
Take deep breaths and count down/up to a certain number repeatedly. This may help get your mind off your erection and make it go away.
Shift your erection so it is pointing straight up towards your belly button. This can make it easier to hide/disguise.
Flex one muscle for 60 seconds (1 minute) and then relax it. This can help an erection go away pretty quickly.
Put your hands in both pockets and make fists—this hides the bulge of your erection.

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