Sleep sex

Heather Little-White, Ph.D., Contributor

Some persons may find it absurd that a person could be asleep and still engage in sex. This is a reality in a condition called sexsomnia or sleep sex. This is related to sleepwalking and will cause people to engage in masturbation, sexual intercourse and fondling of the genitals. Some people enjoy it and view it with a sense of humour, while, for others it is disturbing, annoying and embarrassing.

The consequences of sleep sex can be quite unpleasant as sexual acts of aggression may include sexual abuse and rape. If rape is committed, the individuals, though devastated, may use sleep sex as a defence during rape trials. Persons involved in sleep sex may feel depressed, embarrassment and ashamed after the act.

Violation

Paulettecould not believe that soon after her marriage, her husband would aggressively pursue sex with her after they both went to sleep and, at times, even after making love before retiring. She said she felt so violated and annoyed with her husband's actions and his denial. She sought the advice of her doctor who explained the condition closely related to sleepwalking.

Sleep sex is listed in the current edition of International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) and the condition is still being researched so its forensic and clinical implications can be better understood by physicians, counsellors and psychologists. The ICSD discusses sexual behaviour in sleep as a variant of an existing sleep disorder known as 'confusional arousals'. It is recognised by leaders in sleep medicine as something that can and does occur in some people (www.sleepsex.org) People still have to accept that sexual behaviours do occur during sleep just as walking, talking and eating.

Sex with strangers

In the medical condition known as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnia, persons suffering from sleep sex will have arousals which have them confused, and they usually have no memory of the occasion. It has been shown that sexsomniacs, both males and females, have other sleep disturbances like sleep walking or sleep talking. Reports indicate that women may and do engage in sleep sex with strangers. The act was only detected the morning after through semen stains on the bed and used condoms.

Consumption of alcohol, lack of sleep, sleep-related epilepsy or deep snoring, may increase episodes of sleep sex. The actual contact with a bed partner may trigger sex movements during sleep. These movements may include thrusting and orgasms. At times, sexual acts may be harmful as they injure themselves in sadistic acts of masturbation, or rubbing themselves on inanimate objects.

Suffer in silence

A number of sexsomniacs will be aware of their condition, but will refuse to seek help because they feel ashamed and embarrassed. As such, they suffer in silence with the condition. They often remain silent because they think that no one will believe them, so they refuse to seek help. Partners who are romantically involved with sexsomnias should encourage them to seek help. How does someone know if they are suffering from sexsomnia? Diagnosis is done by polysommography carried out during the night in a sleep lab, where sex acts performed during sleep can be observed. Diagnosis of sleep sex is difficult as most people do not want to come forward because they are ashamed of their nocturnal activities. It is only when criminal charges are filed that some persons can be evaluated.

The history of sleep sex dates back to research published in 2003 in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry when researchers Shapiro and Trajanovic defined the problem as medically treatable. Neurologist Dr David Rosenfield was the first doctor to coin the term 'sleep sex'. Sexsomnia was defined as a sleep disorder out of research which made polygraphic and video recordings of persons with the condition while they are asleep, and observed unusual brain wave activity during sleep sex episodes.

Fifteen year-olds

Canadian research indicates that sexsomnia is more widespread than expected and affects a wide range of persons. They may be as young as 15; and it is reported that close to a third are mainly heterosexual women, ages 15 to 67, who engage in a variety of behaviours from self-pleasuring to oral sex and intercourse. Some unconsciously engage in sexual acts with children which gets them in trouble with the law. While some sexsomniacs accept the condition as a normal part of their life, there are others who may have other psychological problems, like depression. (www.canada.com/story_print)

Half of sexsomniacs engage in intercourse while sleeping and coming in contact with a person's body. Another third had vocalised expressions like moaning, and others reported having oral sex while asleep. The chief factors that trigger sexsomnia include fatigue and stress similar to other sleep disorders like sleepwalking and night terrors. The most common trigger, however, was contact with a partner's body in bed. A solution to avoid the behaviour may be to sleep alone.

If one discovers that he or she has engaged in sleep sex, it is best to meet with a qualified sleep expert or a psychologist. Advances have been made where even the violent and problematic forms of sexual behaviour in sleep can be pharmacologically treated.

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