How To Stop An Unwanted Erection: 7 Remedies - Medical News Today

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Cold showers, meditation, and other tips for getting rid of an unwanted erection

Medically reviewed by Aaron R. Block, MD MPH CPH DABFM MSCP — Written by Lana Burgess — Updated on June 9, 2025

Waiting calmly
Meditation
Distraction
Repositioning
Showering in cold water
Having a warm bath
Gentle exercise
Talking with children
Contacting a doctor
Summary

There are various things a person can do if they want to get rid of an erection. These include repositioning, meditating, showering in cold water, and more.

The most obvious way to stop an erection is to ejaculate. This is not always possible or appropriate, so it can be helpful to understand other ways to get rid of one.

Read on for more information about how to get rid of an unwanted erection. As erections start in early life, this article also details how parents can talk with their children about erections.

Waiting calmly

A simple way to manage an unwanted erection is to wait for it to go away. The following may help:

sitting down
breathing slowly
remaining calm

To reduce embarrassment, covering the erection with a long jacket, shirt, or laptop may help. It is important to remember that, while the erection may seem obvious to the person experiencing it, most people will not have noticed.

Meditation

Meditation can help to get rid of an erection and stop a person from focusing on arousing thoughts. To try meditation, a person should:

breathe slowly and deeply
focus on the sound of the breath
try repeating a word or phrase over and over to focus the mind
acknowledge distracting thoughts and then imagine letting them go, refocusing on the sound of the breath

Meditation can aid relaxation and is accessible to everyone. Some people find meditation difficult when they first try it, but there are meditation classes and apps that may help.

Before relying on meditation to get rid of an erection, it is a good idea to practice it throughout the day.

»Learn more:What are the physical and mental benefits of meditation?

Distraction

Just as distractions can make it more difficult to get an erection, distracting the mind with other thoughts may help get rid of an erection. The following may help:

avoiding thinking about anything arousing
focusing on solving a mathematical problem
recalling a speech or poem or solving a riddle

Repositioning

Changing a sitting or standing position may also help a person get rid of an erection. Doing so may help move clothing that may have been touching the penis and stimulating it.

Switching positions may also help to hide the erection if the individual is in a public or uncomfortable situation.

Showering in cold water

Taking a cold shower is a traditional remedy for getting rid of an erection.

If showering is practical in the moment, this may be helpful for some people. It can also be useful for priapism, a condition that causes prolonged erections.

»Learn more:Are there any health benefits to a cold shower?

Having a warm bath

Although some people use a cold shower, others find that a warm bath helps get rid of an erection.

A warm bath can help a person relax and reduce arousal.

Gentle exercise

Some people find that gentle exercise can help get rid of an erection. For example, it may help to run on the spot or do squats.

How to talk with children about their erections

If a person has children, it is important that they talk openly with them about erections. Understanding their bodily functions can help children’s physical and emotional development.

Boys start having erections at a young age, so it is important to give them simple words to use to explain what is happening. This helps them ask questions and discuss things openly.

Helping children learn ways to manage erections that may occur in public can help them avoid embarrassment.

Children and adolescents may use a distraction technique, such as counting or reciting songs, to help them manage unwanted or uncomfortable erections.

When to contact a doctor

It is best to contact a doctor if a person frequently experiences unwanted erections. The doctor can determine whether there is an underlying cause and advise on ways to manage the erections.

If a person has a long-lasting erection that goes on for more than 3 to 4 hours, they should seek immediate medical advice. This could indicate a condition called priapism. Priapism may require emergency treatment.

Summary

Tips for getting rid of an unwanted erection include taking a cold shower or warm bath, waiting calmly and trying meditation, repositioning, finding distractions, and doing gentle exercises such as squats.

An erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours may indicate priapism. If this happens, a person should seek medical advice.

Speak with a doctor for more information on ways to manage unwanted erections. A doctor can also help determine whether there is an underlying cause for frequent unwanted erections.

Fertility
Men's Health
Sexual Health / STDs

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Gravel J, et al. (2019). Management of priapism with a trial of exercise in the emergency department.https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/995C620F0FD4511F2A26399BD8261DE6/S1481803518000039a.pdf/management-of-priapism-with-a-trial-of-exercise-in-the-emergency-department.pdf
Priapism. (n.d.).https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/priapism/
Priapism (painful erections). (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/priapism-painful-erections/
The role of the mind in erections and erectile dysfunction. (2021).https://www.smsna.org/patients/blog/the-role-of-the-mind-in-erections-and-erectile-dysfunction

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Medically reviewed by Aaron R. Block, MD MPH CPH DABFM MSCP — Written by Lana Burgess — Updated on June 9, 2025

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Waiting calmly

Meditation

Distraction

Repositioning

Showering in cold water

Having a warm bath

Gentle exercise

How to talk with children about their erections

When to contact a doctor

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