Can You Sleepwalk Your Way to Sex?

August 30,2023 by Dr.Samreen Asad

You might have just heard the word “sexsomnia” for the first time and are wondering what it means. It is a type of sleep condition that is also called “parasomnia.” Sounds intriguing? Well, we’ll know all about it soon enough.

What is “sexmnia”?

There are many different kinds of sleep problems, but sleep talking and sleepwalking are the most common ones. Parasomnia is an odd behaviour in which different things happen while a person is sleeping. Sexsomnia is a condition in which a person has sexual thoughts or acts while asleep. The sexual action could include fondling, pelvic thrusts, making noises, orgasms, masturbation, sexual contact, and even rape. The person is stuck between sleep states and doesn’t know what’s going on. Sleep sex is a rare sleep problem, and not many studies have been done to find out how common it is. It could be because of the shame that comes with the disorder or because some people don’t even notice the strange things they do when they sleep. Some studies, though, have shown that it is more common in men than in women, and most women only do it when they are masturbating.

Sexsomnia can make both the person who has it and their partners look bad. It might not come to your attention until someone else does. Once someone knows about this strange behaviour, they might be too careful, which can hurt their mental health.

Sexsomnia Signs and Symptoms

Sexsomnia isn’t just wet thoughts; it’s more than that. Teenage boys often have wet dreams or poop at night, but adults can also do this from time to time. It only happens when you ejaculate while you sleep. It is not a sleep problem in and of itself. On the other hand, a person has sexsomnia if they are sleeping but act awake and do sexual things.

Some other signs of sexsomnia are:

starting up foreplay
Making love
Pushing into the pelvis
Having sexual contact
Assaults on the sex
Eyes with no expression
Not being able to remember what happened later

It could be a sign of parasomnia if the partner doesn’t remember what happened last night. The person may look like they are awake, but they are actually asleep and don’t know what they are doing. During this time, they might act sexually in different ways, which their partners might notice.

Why people can’t sleep

Even though sleep problems are rare and it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s wrong, there are a few good reasons for the strange behaviour. Sexsomnia is thought to be caused by:

not enough sleep
A stressful situation
Feeling worried
The blues
Plan for the night shift
I’m tired
Drinking alcohol
Use of drugs for fun

Sexsomnia is more likely to happen if you have any of the following sleep disorders:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Seizures caused by sleep
Restless leg disorder
Walking in your sleep
lack of sleep
Narcolepsy: a sleep disorder
The Bruxism
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Hurts to the head
Having a migraine

How to diagnose sexsomina

If you or your partner notice that you are acting strangely at night and it goes on for a while, you should see a sleep expert. If you don’t know one, you can ask your family doctor for help. It is a good idea to keep a detailed record of your life. You can ask your partner to go over what happened and help you keep track of it. It will help your doctor figure out what’s wrong with you and make a decision. You might not want to accept the situation and ask for help, but it would be best for you to do so. A doctor will give you a complete physical exam and look at your medical background. If they need to, they can also ask you to get some tests.

Polysomnography is a tool that is often used to look into sleep problems. It looks at your brain waves, heart rate, how you breathe, and how your limbs move. It can only be done in very special places, and the whole test is caught on video. Most of the time, you would only need to stay in the hospital for one night. However, your doctor may ask you to stay longer than one night. It helps the doctor clear up any questions and figure out what’s wrong.

Sexsomnia and What It Means

Now that you know what the signs of sexsomnia are, you can see that things are not so great. Some women have said that the best sex they have with their partners is when they are sleeping. It doesn’t bother them; it happens at odd times, and it meets their special sexual needs. Other women, on the other hand, say that their partners get so angry that they have to leave the house. Sleep sex could also happen in strange places and not with a partner nearby. It could be awkward and embarrassing. Some people have been raped after having sex in their sleep, and in some cases, sexsomnia has been used as a defence. So, sexsomnia is harder to understand than it seems.

How to Treat Sexsomnia

Sexsomnia could make your life hard. It could make you question everything you do and make you afraid to go to sleep. Any person would feel this way, and the shame and guilt that come with it make it even harder to deal with. But you should know that there is hope and that the sleep problem can be treated. If you want to understand the problem, you should talk to an online sexologist. Going through something like this can be hard for anyone. Most of the time, the first step in treating sexsomnia is to treat the underlying sleep problem. A sleep expert can help with things like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy. Sleep apnea can be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or a device that moves the jaw forward. If sleep problems are caused by seizures, anticonvulsant treatment could help. Sleep problems need to be taken care of by taking care of mental conditions like depression and anxiety. The root problems can be treated with the right medicines, which would get rid of the problem and stop sleep sex.

How to Cure Sexsomnia

After you understand what sexsomnia is, you need to know how to deal with it. Talking to an expert will help you figure out the risks, causes, and triggers for your case. It’s important to know what they are and work on getting rid of them. Sleep sex can make your life hell, and it could also affect your partner. Consent goes out the window, and the partner may feel used to or hate the sex that wasn’t wanted. If someone from your family or neighbours sees you making the first move, it could lead to other embarrassing situations. Your partner may always question you, which could hurt your relationship even though you did nothing wrong.

Sexsomnia is real, and when it happens, the person is asleep and doesn’t remember what they did the night before. In some cases, they may get angry and hurt their partners. They have a hard time keeping themselves in check, and they might not be who they become during the event. Talk to an online sexologist right away if you or your partner do strange things at night and don’t remember them the next day. They might be able to point you in the right direction and help you understand what’s going on. If your flatmate or a friend is acting strangely, talk to them and tell them to get help.

Motivation to Find the Solution

Getting better might start with talking to your partner, friends, and family. Accepting that you have a sleep problem is the first step to getting rid of it. It will give you a boost of confidence and make you more motivated to find a solution.

Set up locks and alarms around your home to make sure it is safe. If you move at night, you will be forced to wake up if you do this. Ask your partner to stay in a different room until you feel better. Find out what makes you upset, and try to avoid those things. The most common triggers are drugs and alcohol, which you should stay away from if you have ever done sleep sex.
Both partners may be affected by sexsomnia, and treatment could help you deal with your feelings. Psychological counselling helps you figure out what’s going on and how to talk to people in an open way.
Taking care of your sleep habits can also help you deal with the effects of sexsomnia. Good sleep habits can be kept up by
Getting to bed at the same time every night
Do something physically active.
Work on your health and eat meals that are well-rounded.
Don’t drink and smoke.
Don’t drink anything with coffee after lunch.
Don’t talk about difficult things after dark.
Try not to sleep during the day.
Don’t look at a screen an hour before you go to bed.
It would help you deal with sleep problems, like sexsomnia.

Conclusion

Sexsomnia is very rare, but for someone who has it, living a regular life might be like pulling teeth. Learning about the signs, how to diagnose the problem, and how to treat it will help you deal with the situation. If your partner does something sexually out of the ordinary at night, you can ask an online sexologist what it is. Even if you have sexsomnia, you should know that it can be treated and you can lead a normal life again. Move forward and get the respect you need.