6/20/2006 10:11 am
Last Read:
6/25/2006 3:46 pm
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At Sleep 2006, the annual joint meeting of the Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, researchers reported that an extreme form of sleep-walking -- sexomnia -- is probably much more common than physicians have previously suspected.
"People walk in their sleep, they talk in their sleep, they drive motorbikes in their sleep, they eat in their sleep, and they have sex in their sleep," according to Colin Shapiro, M.B., ChB, Ph.D., of the University Health Network in Toronto. "It's a more common problem than people have hitherto recognized."
Dr. Shapiro and colleagues reported the results of an anonymous 28-item Internet survey that had 219 validated responses. Of those, 105 respondents -- 24 women and 81 men -- said they had had sexual intercourse while sleeping.
More than 92% said they had experienced multiple episodes of sexomnia, and a variety of sexual behaviors were reported. The most common precipitating factor, reported by 64 of the respondents, was physical contact with a bed partner, but other factors included alcohol, drugs, fatigue, and stress.
"It's not huge," Dr. Shapiro said, and like all Internet research it has limitations, "but for me it's a proof of principle." A more directed survey, among 300 patients at Dr. Shapiro's Toronto sleep clinic, is under way, he said.
Sign me up! 
Seriously, though, how many of you have ever had sex while you were asleep? Do you believe it can happen?
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467 posts 6/20/2006 5:53 pm |
I have sexsomnia!!!! I saw a segment on CNN about this. This was specifically about people taking prescription sleep meds and then having sex, driving cars, cooking meals, and all sorts of wild things in their sleep. It's crazy!
I go COMPLETELY OUT OF MY MIND when I take Ambien or Sonata. I wake up with no memory of what I did, but I look around and find...food in the microwave that I forgot to eat?? Christmas cards with empty Sonata pill cases glued on (don't ask, I have no idea)?? 10 gazillion messages in my "Sent Messages" folder sent, at 4am, to people I haven't spoken to in 10 years?? Used condoms all over the floor and a very satisfied-looking husband in bed????
Ambien & Sonata also give me the coolest halluciations, too. But the best part is the sex! I get uncharacteristically touchy feely and affectionate, even exhibitionistic -- again, no memory of this, but one time I supposedly pulled up the curtains and tried to give pedestrians a strip show.
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 3:24 am:
I have heard of the side effects of Ambien. But WT, you make it sound FUN! |
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17400 posts 6/20/2006 6:01 pm |
Define 'sleep'.
Define 'have sex'.
You betcha!It's the only way to have sex all night and still thrive the next day  Intermittent sexual encounters while drifting through varying stages of sleep is incredibly sensual and I can not possibly understand why that would be outside the realm of 'normal' human sexual behavior. Of course, our society has a strict code of defining sleep, and 'proper sleep' these days...something about a 'right' to 8 hours of uninterupted deep sleep-we'd have perished as soon as the bears sniffed the scent of humans from outside the cave and babies would have starved within weeks? THAT isn't necessarily realistic...the sexy sleep is ;o)
Many nursing mothers know this is true. Some don't really 'wake' to 'feed' the baby, the baby suckles, mom twilight sleeps.
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 3:26 am:
I've been wondering about those prescribed 8 hours of sleep. In the winter I seem to need 8 hours, but in the summer I don't. |
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13099 posts 6/20/2006 6:03 pm |
A few months ago, I've blogged about sexmonia ( Are you sexsomniac?  ), a story that CNN originally ran. I think it was also from the same Canadian doctor, Dr. Shapiro.
Ahhh, those Canadians, we're oversexed. Cough cough.
There's something frustrating about having sex while sleeping.
What's the point of having fun... if I can't remember a thing?
Cheers!
-E
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 3:28 am:
I agree. It would be too bad to eat a lot of great food or have great sex... and not be able to remember it whatsoever.
Do you think the sex is really as good when you are asleep? I don't think it can be... or I'd wake myself up. |
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15965 posts 6/20/2006 9:19 pm |
Sexual sharing while half-asleep is Fabulous!
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 3:30 am:
Not half asleep... totally asleep... waking with, as wiretherapy describes, only condom wrappers to provide the clue. No memory of the act. |
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191 posts 6/21/2006 4:14 am |
This gives new meaning to "sleeping in", which is my absolute favorite. Wake up multiple times throughout the night to realize where you are and play a while only to fall back asleep, then finish in the morning. Those doctors do such good work!
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 7:33 pm:
Sleeping in! I LOVE it! |
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13099 posts 6/21/2006 5:45 am |
| "Do you think the sex is really as good when you are asleep? I don't think it can be... or I'd wake myself up." |
I've been thinking about that. I had steamy dreams which at the point I'm dreaming of the mighty Big O is about to arrive, bingo I wake up fully aroused, sweating heavily, and frustrated!
At that point, it's difficult to resist to NOT jump on the bed partner... like an octopus on its prey! Maybe that's what going on, after all!
I'm known to have slept through violent thunderstorms, earthquakes and even on a bed which its base partly broke off during my sleep, so there was one end of the bed that was much lower than the other end, and that didn't wake me up! (But I remember dreaming that I was on a sailboat and it was banking heavily. Howdy!)
However, It seems to be that if the big O is coming, I wonder how I could sleep through THAT!
On the other hand, it might explain why I feel sooo relaxed when I finally wake up!
-E
PS: We're joking about it (and it's all ok! It's fun to collectively dream of naughty things to do! ),
However, as I remember the CNN story, it was *NO* laughing matters. People with sexsomnia are rude while having sex during their sleep, and mhhh... for the spouse, to be suddenly coax to have sex, it's not exactly fun.
That being said, as a role playing between consenting spouses, of course, this can be a great fantasy to share!
-E
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 7:34 pm:
I don't see how anyone could sleep through the big O. So, maybe sleepwalking sex is not so great afterall.  |
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3318 posts 6/21/2006 8:55 am |
Don't wait until it's over: wake me before it starts!!! 
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 7:34 pm:
I agree. I'd prefer to have all my faculties ... um... engaged! |
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4951 posts 6/21/2006 9:54 am |
In my entire life, I've had maybe four nights, while asleep, an unknown person came to me in a dream and had his delightful way with me. Who were these men? I don't know. I wake in an instant, so sexomnia, a half-asleep Encounter with a male in my bed, would never happen! Eyes open.
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 7:35 pm:
ah, NoTV, that is a different blog topic altogether. The lover who comes to us in a dream! |
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17400 posts 6/22/2006 12:27 am |
ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 6:26 am:
I've been wondering about those prescribed 8 hours of sleep. In the winter I seem to need 8 hours, but in the summer I don't.
The pineal gland (near the centre of your brain), responsible for producing melatonin, is stimulated by darkeness and inhibited by light. Melatonin, a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan, contribtutes to regulation of circadian rhythms...and creates the drowsies/sleepies. More daylight, less melatonin, less sleep.
ipodgrl replies on 6/22/2006 3:02 pm:
I'm sure the pineal gland must have something to do with my winter depression that comes on about November and lifts about March. |
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8861 posts 6/22/2006 2:35 am |
Hmmmm...I wonder if I have done it and don't remember at all?
Now THAT is something to think about!
* B
Joie de Vivre! *BB*
ipodgrl replies on 6/23/2006 1:37 pm:
Nah! You would remember!! |
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13099 posts 6/24/2006 6:30 am |
"ipodgrl replies on 6/21/2006 10:34 pm:
I don't see how anyone could sleep through the big O. So, maybe sleepwalking sex is not so great afterall."
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Fake it! Fake... sleepwalking! You'll have the greatest excuse to have sex to your liking... and you'll remember everything. E-VERY-THING! California earthquakes, here I come!
So to speak, of course. 
-E
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