Some men do it while they sleep
Sexomania affects both sexes and can be treated
Sexomania can vary in severity from just troublesome moaning to sexual, and sometimes violent, acts during sleep.
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FOR some women there is nothing more annoying than a partner who has sex while he sleeps.
This is not an uncommon problem and experts call the condition sexomania.
It can involve masturbation or initiating sexual contact with a partner while asleep.
The condition is more common in men though women do suffer from sexomania too.
It can vary in severity from just troublesome moaning to sexual, and sometimes violent, acts during sleep.
Research shows that having sex while sleeping is more prevalent than previously thought.
It is believed that it might affect about one percent of the population, but it's hard to get an accurate idea because many sufferers are too embarrassed to report it, or just have no memory of their sleep sex habits.
Sexomania has also been widely discussed and reported in the media as a devastating disorder that can lead to a break-up of relationships to being a humorous measure of one's sex drive.
David Simba, a physician practising in Johannesburg, says while people might think this type of behaviour is funny, it can be disturbing, annoying, embarrassing and a potentially serious problem for some individuals and couples.
"Most people afflicted with sexomania often go for years without notifying their doctors of the symptoms for fear of being ridiculed by friends and family," Simba says.
"Some don't know that it's a medical disorder, while others think it is a spiritual problem," Simba says.
He says though the disorder is relatively harmless, some people attempt sex acts with a bed partner without their consent.
For most people the worst effect of sleep sex is embarrassment between the sufferer and their partner.
Simba says this needn't be the case, as long as the sufferer talks it through with the partner and they are honest with each other.
"There's nothing weird about it, it's just like sleep-talking. It is important to know that it's treatable. A doctor can do a family history and a partner's sleep history," he says.
Most patients who suffer from this condition have a history of parasomnias such as sleepwalking and sleep talking.
How can you stop sexomania?
- Simba says the first level of treatment will usually be therapy. In this treatment, the intention is to ascertain whether there is an underlying psychological reason for the behaviour and, if so, to help the sufferer address and correct these issues.
Therapy will also help reduce any stress and anxiety that might be contributory factors to the disorder.
If the sufferer is in a relationship, the therapy sessions may include the partner, as much to make sure they are aware of the issues of the disorder as for any other reason.
- The second aspect of treatment will be to ascertain whether there is a need for lifestyle changes to help alleviate the disorder. For example, there could be a alcohol-related issue that is adding to the problem and the removal of this might help.
Similarly, reducing stress and anxiety levels in the person's lifestyle can be beneficial.
- Thirdly, there is the option of medication and this will be considered in extreme cases of sexomania to reduce the problem, while other remedies are given time to have an impact on the disorder.
In trials medication such as clonazepam has been found to help some sufferers of the disorder.
MamaZen
Eish, now this is hectic ka nnete. @Kuku ke dumelana le wena on the part ya gore what if o robetse le tokoloshe, phela rona bo-darkie re dumela gore you are not supposed to dream about making love to someone faceless while you sleep. Hmmmm...ke mathata fela. But I guess it goes with one's belief.Report Abuse
Giyani
The benefits of having sex while sleeping are very high, 1 You cannot contract Aids. 2 No one will fall pregnant, 3 You still enjoy sex, 4 Rape is completely ruled out, 5 the list is endless!Report Abuse
MISSTHANG
and now this is confusing to ones mind , i wonder what really causes it .Report Abuse
LeratoBonolo
Phew! that is hectic. As long as he doen't call another woman's name... at least you can forgive him for his nocturnal activities.Report Abuse
Tatiana
Hey banna, so why are showing a pic of a black man when u talking about this issue?Report Abuse
MTT
@ Tatiana-it happens to everyone black/white,this paper is read by mostly black so they got a pic that we can relate to,as you can see @ the pic he is looking at his wet undies......heheheReport Abuse
tpaz
@giyani ...sad part is you dont have memory of it.These are tokoloshis....
Report Abuse
Somashishini
@MTT... Ya they should sleep with the condom on coz otherwise they'll wake up with a nice skhokho on their undies...ha ha haReport Abuse