Sexsomnia: What It Means & How To Get Treatment For It

You've likely heard of sleep disorders such as sleepwalking or somnambulism, which causes people to wake up in the middle of the night and walk around while sleeping. On the other hand, there's another sleep disorder that people tend to be less familiar with: sexsomnia (or sleep sex). This sleep disorder falls under the category of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnias, a branch of sleep disorders associated with unusual or unexpected physical behavior during the NREM sleep stage.

"Sexsomnia is a type of sleep disorder that causes one to engage in involuntary behaviors in their sleep," sexologist Rebecca Alvarez Story told Psych Central. "This usually occurs when part of the brain is awake and the other part is asleep, allowing an individual to still act out activities without being fully conscious of their actions." Therefore, an individual with sexsomnia might engage in sexual activity such as masturbation, dirty talk, or sexual intercourse despite remaining asleep.

In recent years, experts in sleep medicine have spoken out to help spread awareness for this rare disorder, which affects an unknown percentage of individuals but is more prevalent in younger men, per a 2016 study published in Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. That said, a 2010 Norwegian study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that of the randomly selected adults who took part in the survey, 7.1% reported experiencing sexsomnia at least once in their life, while 2.7% currently live with the disorder. Though rare, sexsomnia can often be treated by targeting the underlying conditions that cause it and removing triggers.

There's no way to predict the likelihood of someone developing a sleep disorder. However, experts have found a connection between childhood occurrences of sleepwalking or sleep talking and adult sexsomnia, senior staff psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota's Hennepin County Medical Center Dr. Carlos Schenck told CNN. "We don't know the ultimate cause, but there is a genetic component," he said. "If you have at least one first-degree family relative with a parasomnia, you are more likely to develop one. Then the more first- or second-degree relatives that have a parasomnia, the more likely the condition may persist into adulthood or reoccur." Obstructive sleep apnea is also a potential causing factor, Dr. Schenck added. Northwell Staten Island University Hospital's Institute for Sleep Medicine director Dr. Thomas Kilkenny explained to Everyday Health that "any condition that can cause stress or sleep disruption can trigger the disorder."

Moreover, sexsomnia is an involuntary behavior, so many individuals don't remember what occurred at night unless they wake up during one of these unconscious sexual acts. This makes sexsomnia difficult to research, as individuals may, understandably, feel reluctant to admit to having the condition. That said, this rare — albeit serious — disorder can affect sleep quality, mental health, and personal relationships. Therefore, individuals are encouraged to speak with a health professional to address the disorder. Those with sexsomnia should also address related conditions, relationship concerns, and feelings of psychological distress brought on by this behavior, such as arousal non-concordance or physical injury to the affected individual or others.

Not all people who experience sexsomnia want to seek help. "There are some people who will engage in sexual activity with their partner, and it's not bothersome to either one of them," assistant professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine Jennifer Mundt told CNN. Others may feel too embarrassed or ashamed to speak up, but if left unaddressed, this poses several risks for the affected individual and those around them. Sexomnia can lead to aggressive and unwanted sexual advances, according to a 2018 study published in The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. For example, on the "sexsomnia" Reddit forum, one user wrote, "Last night [my husband] sexually assaulted me in his sleep and doesn't remember any of it." 

As such, it's important to get help if you or someone close to you has this condition. Treatment includes sex therapy to identify triggers, sleep remedies, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnea, medications for co-morbid conditions, and most importantly, stress management. "Both internal and external things that make you uncomfortable or half wake you up can trigger episodes, so you should avoid them," sleep specialist and neurologist Dr. Marri Horvat told the Cleveland Clinic, adding that addressing any underlying issues affecting your sleep can help. It may also be necessary to protect those around someone with sexsomnia by modifying sleeping arrangements or implementing a sleep safety routine during treatment.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).