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Rumor · Oct 26, 2006, 06:22 PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Researchers are struggling to understand a rare medical condition where sufferers unknowingly demand, or actually have, sex while asleep, New Scientist magazine reported on Wednesday.

Research into sexsomnia -- making sexual advances toward another person while asleep -- has been hampered as sufferers are so embarrassed by the problem they tend not to own up to it, while doctors do not ask about it.

As yet there is no cure for the condition, which often leads to difficulties in relationships.

"It really bothers me that I can't control it," Lisa Mahoney told the magazine. "It scares me because I don't think it has anything to do with the partner. I don't want this foolish condition to hurt us in the long run."

Most researchers view sexsomnia as a variant of sleepwalking, where sufferers are stuck between sleep and wakefulness, though sexsomniacs tend to stay in bed rather than get up and walk about.

While sleepwalking affects two to four percent of adults, sexsomnia is not thought to be as common a problem, according to Nik Trajanovic, a researcher at the sleep and alertness clinic at Canada's Toronto Western Hospital.

But an Internet survey of sexsomniacs carried out in 2005 that drew 219 reliable respondents concluded it was more prevalent than medical case reports alone might suggest.

"Most of the time sleep sex occurs between people who are already partners," Mark Pressman, a sleep specialist at Lankenan Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, told the New Scientist.

"Sometimes they hate it," added Pressman of the reactions of sexsomniacs' partners. "Sometimes they tolerate it. On rare occasions you have stories of people liking it better than waking sex."

With no cure, addressing triggering factors -- stress or sleep deprivation -- can help, while Michael Mangan, a psychologist at the University of New Hampshire in the U.S. has set up a Web site, Sleepsex.org, to help sufferers.

Meanwhile Trajanovic is devising a procedure for diagnosing sexsomnia in legal cases where sufferers have been accused of sexual assault.

I'm not sure what to say about this. I did it once, and was teased about it for a couple of months afterwards.

kick52 · Oct 26, 2006, 06:31 PM

will you have sex with me?

EDIT: OMG! I JUST WOKE UP. I NEVER POSTED THAT

olePigeon · Oct 26, 2006, 06:35 PM

Seems like it'd be a cross between a wet dream & sleep walking or waking dream.

Rumor · Oct 26, 2006, 06:42 PM

It would be interesting to see what triggers it. So far, they don't really seem to know.

G4ME · Oct 26, 2006, 08:28 PM

Is that the same thing as having sex while blacked out?

Railroader · Oct 26, 2006, 09:23 PM

I know a girl who masturbates in her sleep. I wonder if this is the same thing?

SpaceMonkey · Oct 26, 2006, 09:29 PM

Oh, the horror.

"Sometimes they hate it," added Pressman of the reactions of sexsomniacs' partners. "Sometimes they tolerate it.

Sounds kind of like regular sex, to me.

Doofy · Oct 27, 2006, 12:22 AM

Oh dear. This ain't going to sit at all well with the new rape laws (essentially blokes are going to have to get consent in triplicate and a handy doctor to certify that their ~~victim~~ partner is sober and in full control of their faculties every time they fancy a smooch. Not kidding).

Jawbone54 · Oct 27, 2006, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Sounds kind of like regular sex, to me.

Eriamjh · Oct 27, 2006, 06:12 AM

I think it just means you aren't getting enough while you are awake.

awcopus · Oct 27, 2006, 08:03 AM

Sexsomnia, or, how vampyres/werewolves are born.

Dakar² · Oct 27, 2006, 08:06 AM

I suffer from a very sexy learning disorder -- sexlexia.

starman · Oct 27, 2006, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

I suffer from a very sexy learning disorder -- sexlexia.

Careful. You may wind up screwing a donkey.

Dakar² · Oct 27, 2006, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by starman

Careful. You may wind up screwing a donkey.

No, that's badonklexia

MacNStein · Oct 27, 2006, 09:04 AM

It's odd, but it's in that space between being asleep and awake, and it mixes with dreams while it's going on. I think it's outstanding, and wholly enjoy it. Best part is, I completely remember it when I wake up, mixed with all the dream images and physical sensations. It's some of the best sex I've ever had.

Salty · Oct 28, 2006, 01:33 PM

My last room mate got a lil weird when I started offering him blow jobs in my sleep...

(kidding)

JoshuaZ · Oct 29, 2006, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by MacNStein

It's odd, but it's in that space between being asleep and awake, and it mixes with dreams while it's going on. I think it's outstanding, and wholly enjoy it. Best part is, I completely remember it when I wake up, mixed with all the dream images and physical sensations. It's some of the best sex I've ever had.

Thats happened to me once or twice before. Then again, I have conversations in my sleep. Not the best ones, but coherent ones.

wallinbl · Oct 29, 2006, 06:54 AM

Why does the article refer to "sufferers"? Who is suffering? I do it, and my wife doesn't seem to mind. I don't know if she's serious or she's ribbing me when she tells me I'm better at it when I'm asleep.

JoshuaZ · Oct 29, 2006, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Why does the article refer to "sufferers"? Who is suffering? I do it, and my wife doesn't seem to mind. I don't know if she's serious or she's ribbing me when she tells me I'm better at it when I'm asleep.

Clearly its a win win situation. Some people don't know how good they got it.

Salty · Oct 29, 2006, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Why does the article refer to "sufferers"? Who is suffering? I do it, and my wife doesn't seem to mind. I don't know if she's serious or she's ribbing me when she tells me I'm better at it when I'm asleep.

hahaha

You know I imagine if I were involved in a sexual relationship I can see myself doing it. I wake up flat out aroused all the time.

xsphat · Oct 30, 2006, 12:59 AM

It is only a win win sitch if you life with someone. How do you think your dog look at you in the morning?