Although wet dreams are often laughed about as a common problem for puberty stricken boys, it is more common in women, and male adults, than most people realize.
Noticeable in males due to ejaculation, and thus an orgasm, many women orgasm in their sleep as well. This experience is caused by a variety of factors, hormones notwithstanding, but the bottom line is yes, women have wet dreams.
Read on to read why this might be, and how it indicates a healthy body function.
Female Sleep Orgasm
Early studies reported women as indicating their awareness of nocturnal orgasm at 37%, but through the years even more studies have suggested this is a much higher incidence since many women are unaware it occurs.
Just like boys going through puberty, fluctuations in hormones create the same types of body responses in females during the same time. Boys have a physical indicator of their orgasms, but girls do not, and this is a difficult area to study due to that fact.
During adulthood drastic changes in hormones are not as evident, but hormones as well as mental and physical stimuli drive wet dream occurrences. For some women, nocturnal orgasm may be the only time their body responds in such a manner if they have never explored their own climax.
Psychology and Orgasms
Orgasms are highly psychological and for women often require some trial and error to discover what works best for them. Many women become overly self aware with their partners and may have trouble immersing themselves fully in the experience as well, hindering their ability to relax and reach climax.
Lack of orgasm is also often tied to anxiety, depression, and stress. Even though sex can alleviate all of these feelings, it also can cause them as well.
During sleep women can ignore any self-conscious issues they may have, and the psychology of dreaming provides the environment for many women to reach climax – even without their knowledge. There are ways to facilitate this occurrence, however, and many women find the more their body experiences orgasms, the easier it is for them to reach one later.
Why You Orgasm in Your Sleep
Although there are many studies surrounding this, they are observational and theory based since there is no real way to schedule spontaneous orgasm based on unconscious results.
During sleep we cycle through various sleep stages. Our body temperature drops, respirations lower, and blood circulation rises to enhance mental and physical healing. Genital arousal may be similar to how lungs function while we sleep, it is a brain process that occurs to help keep blood and oxygen flowing through the genital tissues.
The REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep is marked by increased brain function and blood flow. This is when you dream, and if you have any erotic dreams at this time you have the perfect scenario to easily reach climax. Also, some studies suggest sleeping on your stomach provides increased blood flow and physical stimulation to the genitals.
Stress and excitement, two things that stimulate brain function and can force more active brain activity, can also influence the REM stages of sleep for active dreaming.
Ways to Support Sleep Orgasm
As mentioned earlier, the more your body practices something, the more likely it is to repeat it easier at a later time. This is especially true of orgasm and even if you aren’t remembering your climax, your body does. Therefore, to support orgasms while you sleep – especially if you struggle achieving one while awake – is good practice.
Mental stimulation is a great start via video, erotic reading, and erotic thought before bed. The stimulation on your brain and body may be reflected in REM sleep stages. Also, aim to have more orgasms while awake, even if you have to depend on self-stimulation. This helps to relax your body and allow it to recognize the responses when you practice them.
Sleeping on your stomach is also a possible way to help with this. But, even if you aren’t a stomach sleeper, you can influence a stomach sleeping position by laying on your side and using a body pillow to support your front while you lean forward in a modified side sleep position.
Ways to Try and Stop Sleep Orgasm
If sleep orgasms are uncomfortable or distracting, there are some steps to help stop them from occurring. Since stress or excitement can stimulate brain function, work towards a healthy, stress free lifestyle and sleep environment. Of course this isn’t always possible, but you can take steps to help, such as getting the proper amount of rest each night, exercising regularly, and keeping a good sleep schedule.
Avoiding stimulants, such as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine should be avoided prior to bed. These are mentally and physically stimulating and can create stressors.
Also, avoid sleeping on your stomach and wear loose fitting clothing to avoid physical stimulation. A cool shower before bed also pulls blood to the center of the body and can help you fall asleep quickly and more deeply, but also helps to keep genital stimulation from occurring.
Wrapping It Up
Women most definitely have wet dreams, and just because it isn’t as noticeable as men’s experiences, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen almost as frequently. Sleep orgasm is a completely natural and normal event, and is a sign of healthy sexual function.
It can be supported by taking certain steps, and can even be influenced through healthy self-awareness as well. If it is a distracting occurrence, other steps may be made to help reduce the incidences that you are aware of.
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