Sexsomnia involves sexual behaviors that occur during sleep. While some behaviors may be mild, others can lead to unwanted sexual contact, making treatment important.

Sleep walking, sleep talking, and even sleep driving are all types of sleep disorders you may have heard of before. You may have even experienced one or more yourself.

One sleep disorder you might not be as familiar with is sleep sex, or sexsomnia. Sexsomnia, like sleepwalking, is a type of parasomnia. Parasomnia is the result of your brain being caught between sleep stages. This in-between phase may cause you to act as if you’re awake when you’re still asleep.

People with sexsomnia experience sleep-related sexual behavior. These behaviors range from masturbation to sexual intercourse. Treatment for underlying sleep disorders or behavioral issues may treat sleep sex, too.

Sexsomnia is different from sex dreams. Sex-themed dreams are not unusual for teenagers and adults. These experiences are quite different from sexsomnia. People with this disorder engage in sexual behaviors while asleep, often with other people.

The difficulty with a parasomnia like sleep sex is that the person with the disorder may not realize they have it. Partners, parents, roommates, or friends may first notice the behaviors. The person with the condition may not be aware of it until someone else brings it to their attention.

Common behaviors with sexsomnia include:

  • fondling or inducing foreplay with bed partner
  • pelvic thrusting
  • behaviors that mimic sexual intercourse
  • masturbation
  • sexual intercourse
  • spontaneous orgasm
  • glassy, vacant look in eyes during these behaviors
  • being unaware of behavior later

If the person isn’t aware of the behavior after they wake up, this could be a sign of a parasomnia. The individual experiencing sexsomnia may have their eyes open and act awake. However, they’re experiencing an amnesic episode and won’t remember anything.

Likewise, subtle changes in sexual behavior may be a sign of the sleep disorder. People with sexsomnia may be more assertive (or even aggressive) during episodes of sleep sex than they would be otherwise. Inhibitions may be lower because they’re asleep, so behavior may seem different to partners.

According to 2025 research, 10.5% of adults reported experiencing sexsomnia at some point in their lives, and 6.1% reported experiencing it currently. Research suggests sexsomnia is most common in adult men. However, it can also occur in women and adolescents.

This finding suggests that sexsomnia is more common than initially thought, as it has often been considered rare. The most commonly reported behaviors were masturbation (5.4%) and fondling (4.0%), while full sexual intercourse during sleep was uncommon (1.8%).

It’s not clear what causes some people to develop sexsomnia, but doctors do know of several factors that can contribute to it. These include:

  • sleep deprivation
  • increased stress
  • anxiety
  • fatigue
  • certain medications
  • drinking alcohol
  • using recreational drugs or prescription drugs you weren’t prescribed
  • irregular sleep patterns

Underlying medical conditions may trigger sexsomnia, too. These conditions often interfere with sleep. They include:

Doing things you can’t recall doing while you were asleep can be alarming. Some sexsomnia behaviors may be relatively harmless, such as masturbating during sleep, while others can be serious and harmful, including non-consensual sexual acts such as rape.

Partners of people with sexsomnia may also be concerned that the behavior is a sign of displeasure in the relationship. This can lead to a growing rift between you and your loved one.

These are all valid reasons to seek help for your sleep disorder. If a partner or loved one reports unusual sleep behaviors to you over the course of a few weeks or months, make an appointment with a sleep specialist. If you don’t know one, ask your family doctor for a recommendation.

Before seeing your doctor, ask anyone who has observed your sleep sex behaviors to write down what they’ve seen. You should also keep a journal of your sleep patterns.

A record of these sleep sex episodes may be enough for your doctor to diagnose the condition. If it isn’t, they may request that you undergo a sleep study.

Sleep studies are typically conducted at specialized medical facilities. The test, also called polysomnography, records the following during sleep:

  • brain waves
  • heart rate
  • breathing pattern
  • eye and leg movement

One night in the sleep center may be enough. However, your doctor may also request that you stay multiple nights so they can get a broader understanding of your sleep patterns. If the behaviors occur while you’re in the sleep center, this can confirm your doctor’s diagnosis.

If a sexsomnia episode doesn’t occur while you’re in the study center, your doctor may request additional studies later.

They may also conduct additional tests to rule out potential causes, such as other sleep disorders, medication effects, alcohol or substance use, neurological conditions, or chronic sleep deprivation.

Treating the underlying causes successfully treats sexsomnia in most cases. You may occasionally experience sexsomnia episodes again, especially if your sleep patterns change or you develop additional sleep disorders.

Most people will find relief with treatment. These include:

Treating underlying sleep disorders

If sexsomnia is possibly the result of another sleep disorder, like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, treating the underlying disorder may also stop the unintended sexual behaviors. Sleep apnea, for example, is most often treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

Changes in medication

If you started a new prescription soon before the sexsomnia behaviors began, switching medications may stop the disorder. Sleep medications, including over-the-counter ones, may cause episodes of parasomnia

Medications for underlying causes

Conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress can contribute to sexsomnia and disordered sleep. Medication or talk therapy may be treatment options.

New medications

While some medications can lead to sexsomnia, others may help stop it. Antidepressants and anti-seizure medications may be prescribed.

These lifestyle changes can reduce your risk for sexsomnia and possibly prevent future episodes:

Talk with your partner and family

Sexsomnia can put people in your life at risk. It may also affect personal relationships. It’s important you let your loved ones know of the diagnosis, how you’re treating it, and what they can do to help you. Honesty is the best policy.

Create a protective environment

Until treatments are working, set up a safe environment for you and your loved ones.

  • sleep in separate bedrooms
  • put yourself in a room with a locked door
  • set up alarms that can alert people when you are moving around

Avoid triggers

Drinking alcohol and taking recreational drugs can lead to sleep sex. Identifying those triggers can help you prevent sexsomnia episodes.

Practice good sleep hygiene

Getting regular sleep every night is very important to prevent sexsomnia. Sleep deprivation and changes in sleep patterns can lead to episodes of the disorder. Set a bedtime, and stick to it.

Research suggests that sexsomnia is more common than once believed, and, for many people, it occurs alongside other treatable sleep disorders or life factors like stress, lack of sleep, alcohol use, or medications.

While some behaviors are mild, others can have serious consequences, which is why understanding the condition and seeking medical advice is crucial.

With proper evaluation, open communication, and treatment, it is possible to reduce episodes and regain a sense of safety, control, and peace of mind.