One sleep disorder you may not be as familiar with is sleep sex, or sexsomnia. Sexomnia, like sleepwalking, is a type of parasomnia. A parasomnia is the result of your brain being caught between stages of sleep. This intermediate stage can make you act like you’re awake while you’re still asleep.
People with sexsomnia experience sexual behavior associated with sleep. These behaviors range from masturbation to sexual intercourse. Treating underlying sleep disorders or behavioral problems can also treat sleep sex.
Sexomnia is different from sexual dreams. Dreams about sex are not uncommon for teenagers and adults. These experiences are quite different from sexsomnia. People with this disorder engage in sexual behavior while sleeping, often with other people.
The difficulty with parasomnias such as sleep sex is that the person with the disorder may not realize they have it. Partners, parents, roommates or friends may notice the behavior first. A person with this condition may not know it is happening until someone else brings it to their attention.
# caressing or causing foreplay with a partner in bed
# thrusting the pelvis
# behaviors that imitate sexual intercourse
# masturbation
# full relationship
# spontaneous orgasm
# glassy, blank look in the eyes during these behaviors
# unaware of the behavior later
If the person is not aware of the behavior after waking up, this may be a sign of a parasomnia. A person experiencing sexsomnia may have their eyes open and act alert. However, they experience an episode of amnesia and will not remember anything.
Likewise, subtle changes in sexual behavior can be a sign of a sleep disorder. People with sexsomnia may be more assertive during sleep-sex episodes than they would otherwise be. Inhibitions may be lower because they are asleep, so behavior may appear different to partners.
It’s not clear what causes some people to develop sexsomnia, but doctors know of several factors that can contribute. These include:
# lack of sleep
# increased stress
# anxiety
# fatigue
# certain medicines
# drinks alcohol
# you use drugs or prescription drugs that are not prescribed for you
# irregular sleep patterns
Underlying medical conditions can also cause sexsomnia. These conditions often disrupt sleep. This includes:
# concurrent sleep disorders, including sleep talking or sleep walking
# restless leg syndrome
# obstructive sleep apnea
# sleep-related epilepsy
# gastroesofagealna refluxna bolest (GERD)
# head injuries
# migraine
It is not clear how common sexomnia is, but it is considered a rare disorder. One study found that 8 percent of people at a Canadian sleep disorder clinic showed symptoms of sexsomnia. Men were almost three times more likely to have the disorder than women. Women with sexsomnia masturbate more often.
Note that the study results only included people at a specific sleep disorder clinic. The condition is probably much less common in the general population.
People who have this disorder may not report their symptoms because they may feel ashamed or embarrassed or unaware of their condition. This could mean that more cases occur than are known. Of the 832 participants in the Canadian study, only four expressed concerns about sexsomnia during consultations with sleep specialists.
Doing things you don’t remember doing in your sleep can be alarming. Some sexier behaviors can be harmless, such as masturbation. For others, they can also be quite serious. In fact, sexomnia has been used as a defense in rape cases.
Partners of people with sexsomnias may also be concerned that the behavior is a sign of dissatisfaction in the relationship. This can lead to a growing rift between you and your loved one.
These are all valid reasons to seek help for a sleep disorder. If your partner or loved one reports unusual sleep behavior over several weeks or months, make an appointment with a sleep specialist. If you don’t know it, ask your family doctor for a recommendation.
Before you see your doctor, ask anyone who has noticed your sexual habits in your sleep to write down what they saw. You should also keep a diary of your sleep patterns.
A record of these episodes of sleep sex may be enough for your doctor to diagnose the condition. If not, I may request that you undergo a sleep study.
Sleep studies are usually performed in specialized medical facilities. The test, also called polysomnography, records the following during sleep:
# brain waves
# of heartbeats
# breathing pattern
# eye and leg movement
One night in a sleep center may be enough. Your doctor may also ask you to stay more nights so they can get a better understanding of your sleep patterns. If the behaviors occur while you are at the sleep center, this can confirm your doctor’s diagnosis.
If a sex-somnia episode does not occur while you are at the study center, your doctor may order additional studies later. They may also try other tests to rule out possible causes.
Treatment of sexsomnia is often very successful. These include:
Coping with basic sleep disorders
If sexsomnia may be the result of another sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, treating the underlying disorder may also stop the unwanted sexual behavior. Sleep apnea, for example, is most often treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
If you started a new prescription shortly before the sexsomnia behavior began, switching medications may stop the disorder. Sleep medications, including over-the-counter medications, can cause episodes of parasomnia
Conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress can contribute to sexomnia and sleep disturbances. Medication or talk therapy may be treatment options that can end the sexual behavior.
While some medications can lead to sexsomnia, others can help stop it. Antidepressants and anti-seizure medications may be prescribed.
Treating the underlying causes successfully cures sexsomnia in most cases. You may occasionally experience episodes of sexsomnia again, especially if your sleep patterns change or you develop additional sleep disorders. Most people will find relief with treatment.
These lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of sexsomnia and possibly prevent future episodes:
Sexomnia can endanger the people in your life. It can also affect personal relationships. It’s important to let your loved ones know about your diagnosis, how you’re treating it, and what they can do to help. Honesty is the best policy.
Until the treatments work, set up a safe environment for you and your loved ones.
# sleep in separate bedrooms
# put yourself in a room with a locked door
# set alarms that can alert people when you’re moving
Drinking alcohol and taking recreational drugs can lead to sex in your sleep. Identifying these triggers can help you prevent episodes of sexsomnia.
Getting regular sleep every night is very important to prevent sexsomnia. Lack of sleep and changes in sleep patterns can lead to episodes of the disorder. Set a bedtime and stick to it.
Source: www.sitoireseto.com
