CNN reported on a rare sleep disorder called sexsomnia, including the case of a 38-year-old man who forced sexual intercourse on his wife while asleep and did not remember his actions upon waking.
Sexsomnia is a symptom where individuals attempt sexual intercourse or masturbation in an unconscious sleep state. Although research on this symptom is still limited, it is known to occur more frequently when intoxicated.
It is considered a type of parasomnia, which includes sleepwalking, sleep talking, and sleep eating, and patients often feel shame and misery once they become aware of their actions.
After analyzing 72 parasomnia-related papers published from 1909 to 2023, a research team from Northwestern University School of Medicine stated that “in sexomnia, cognitive functions are deep in sleep, but the body remains active.”
Professor Jennifer Mundt from Northwestern University’s Department of Neurology mentioned, “Sexomnia, like sleepwalking, is a type of parasomnia disorder. It can be a significant risk to oneself and others, so immediate measures are necessary.”
CNN introduced the case of a woman in her mid-20s who tore her clothes and masturbated in her sleep but could not remember it after her husband woke her up. Another case involved a 31-year-old man who masturbated in his sleep and occasionally injured his groin area, a condition that persisted for 12 years.
Mundt explained that these phenomena often occur during delta sleep, the deepest and slowest stage of sleep, likening it to an alarm triggering a rapid movement from the basement to the roof in the central nervous system.
According to a study conducted in Norway in 2010 on 1,000 adults, about 3% were found to be suffering from sexsomnia.
The media reported, “In extreme cases, sexsomnia can lead to various sexual violence, such as rape. There were also instances where relationships broke down because someone called out another person’s name during sex while asleep.”
The research team noted that the lifetime prevalence of parasomnia events is estimated to be 6.9% for sleepwalking, 10% for nightmares and panic (night terror), 18.5% for confusional arousal (feeling confused while lying in bed), 7.1% for sexsomnia, and 4.5% for sleep-related eating disorder.
The team also mentioned that “the prevalence of sexsomnia indicates the probability that an individual will experience it at least once in their lifetime. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, as well as reducing stress and anxiety, can help alleviate symptoms.”
Meanwhile, in September 2022, a Swedish man who was initially convicted of rape in a lower court was acquitted on appeal after claiming he suffered from sexsomnia. His ex-girlfriend testified that he had attempted to have sex with her while asleep and was confused upon waking when she resisted.
In October of the same year, in the UK, a lawsuit against a man filed by a woman in her twenties alleging rape was dismissed, citing her sexsomnia condition. Ms. A was also unaware that she suffered from this disorder.
