Sleepsex.org Sleepsex.org About sleepsex.org Share your experienceWhat is "sleepsex"? Sleepsex, "sleep sex" or "sexsomnia" as it is referred to in clinical settings, is sexual behavior that occurs during sleep. Some people seem to enjoy it and view it with a sense of humor. However, sexsomnia can be disturbing, annoying, embarrassing, and is a potentially serious problem for some couples and individuals. Read the following experiences provided by two visitors to this site: "I noticed your site on the internet off of a link from MSN.COM , me and my fiancee is experiencing a problem with sleep sex. Most nights that she falls asleep for a few hours she starts moaning and soon is masturbating and acting out sexual acts in her sleep. She has spoke to her dr and he doesnt seem to think anything serious about it she was put on an anti psychotic pill that only seemed to change the pattern for a couple weeks and then went back to her usual sleep sex. She discontinued the pill at this point. If you can offer any suggestions or help it would be greatly appreciated." "Me and my wife have been having a very difficult time since our marriage began four years ago. At night I become a very aggressive person in bed only to awake to a horrified wife that knows all to well what I have on my mind. It is only when she awakes that I do realize what is going on. I do have a very difficult time a night sleeping getting up every night. She has been so patient with me until recently the unwanted ness has become more aggressive. Our marriage is on the brink of divorce because of this obsession. She brought in an article that explains sleep sex! I read this and to my surprise I am astonished at what I was reading. I am looking a mirror image of what is happening to me. Is this just a stipulation or a convenience excuse with men with a sex obsession? If there is more information about sleep sex I would really like to know. I am in desperate need of answers to the question of what is going on."Is there any scientific research on sexsomnia? [last updated: 7-28-03] If you have ever experienced sleepsex, please tell us about it! [click here]. Your story is important and will contribute to my ongoing research into this disorder. All submissions are entirely anonymous. 1996: Shapiro, Fedoroff, and Trajanovic first advanced the notion that sexual behavior during sleep may be a new type of "parasomnia." Shapiro, C.M., Fedoroff, J.P., & Trajanovic, N.N. (1996). Sexual behavior in sleep: A newly described parasomnia. Sleep Research, 25, 367. 1998: Some experts later suggested that SBS may be a variant of sleepwalking. Rosenfeld, D. S., Elhajjar, A. J. (1998). Sleepsex: A variant of sleepwalking. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 27(3) , 269-278. 1999: Brazilian researchers (Download article PDF) showed that sexual behavior in sleep can be successfully "treated" pharmacologically. Alves R, Aloe F, Tavares S, Vidrio S, Yanez L, Aguilar-Roblero R, Rosenthal L, Villalobos L, Fernandez-Cancino F, Drucker-Colin R, Chagoya De Sanchez V. (1999). Sexual behavior in sleep, sleepwalking and possible REM behavior disorder: a case report. Sleep Res Online, 2(3), 71-2. 2002: Researchers at Stanford University suggested that "violent" or problematic forms of sleepsex are a medically treatable "conditions." Guilleminault C, Moscovitch A, Yuen K, Poyares D. (2002). Atypical sexual behavior during sleep. Psychosom Med. 64(2), 328-36. 2003: The most recent research suggests sleepsex, or "sexsomnia" can be distinguished from all known parasomnias, and thus is likely to be a distinct clinical entity. Shapiro, C.M., Trajanovic, N.N., & Fedoroff, J.P. (2003) Sexsomnia: A new parasomnia? Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48(5), 311-317.Is there a clinical diagnosis for sexsomnia? Many people for whom sexsomnia has become problematic are too embarrassed to seek help because they think no one will believe them. I have received many reports from individuals who have sought the help of physicians, counselors, and psychologists only to have their complaints dismissed. Why? Because many professionals are uninformed about sexsomnia. I suggest printing copies of the research abstracts (linked above) prior to seeking help. Bring them with you when you seek help from a healthcare provider or other professionals (including clergy).Are any books on sexsomnia available? Useful information on sexsomnia (sleepsex) is hard to find. To remedy this, Dr. Mangan wrote "Sleepsex: Uncovered," the first book to be published on sexual behavior that occurs during sleep. Writing in a frank, down-to-earth style, Dr. Michael Mangan sheds light on many questions surrounding sleepsex such as, "How many people "have" sleepsex?" "What causes it?" "What can be done about it if it is a problem?" "What are the legal implications of sleepsex?" In plain language, the author summarizes what sleep experts have written on sleepsex, and provides a detailed and thoughtful analysis of over 60 persons" first-hand experiences of sleepsex. Dr. Mangan"s analysis reveals what direct experience with sleepsex is like, and how it affects those involved. "Your book will be of great value to the general public, patients, sleep medicine professionals, and to the legal profession. Nice job." Mark Mahowald, M.D., Prof. of Neurology, Universit of Minnesota Medical School, Director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, Past President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "Thanks for sending me your book. I enjoyed reading it, especially because it includes so many first-hand accounts. The use of the Internet to collect data is original. I would interpret all of these accounts as sleep-wake dissociations akin to sleep walking, sleep talking, and nocturnal eating." J. Allan Hobson, M.D., Prof. of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School To Purchase a Copy: eBook (PDF) Version: US $5.99 Buy it at ClickBank . Once you make the purchase, you will be able to get your copy immediately. If you do not have it already, You will need Adobe Reader to read the eBook. ISBN:1-4010-3767-4 Page Count: 108 Print Version: US $17.84 Buy it at Xlibris.com, at Amazon.com (keyword "sleepsex")and at most popular online bookstores. Search ADDALL.com for the best price for "Sleepsex: Uncovered." ISBN: 1-4010-3766-6 (Trade Paperback) Book Size: 5.5 x 8.5 Type of Binding: Softcover Page Count: 108 More Endorsements: "Thank you so much for sending your book to me. I have used it already in teaching our residents about the topic of parasomnias. I am delighted to have it as a reference as this is an area on which I frequently get consulted by defense attorneys and have already given one such person your name and how to find a copy of the book. We have had a few of these cases here at Rush. I must admit that on the first one I missed cold and had no help to offer until I realized that this was part of the same picture as the other parasomnias. The book is certainly valuable in filling the niche for the legal profession and for sleep medicine and for sleep clinicians to whom such patients refer themselves for help." Rosalind Cartwright Ph.D., Prof. of Psychology, Chair of the Department of Psychology, Director of the Sleep Disorder Service and Research Center Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke"s Medical Center, Rush University Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I think it will be quite useful for laypersons suffering from this disorder. Thanks again for sending me a copy. David S. Rosenfeld, M.D., Neurologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist, Los Angeles Kaiser-Permanente Medical Center Florence Cardinal at "About.com." Lynn Lamberg reviews "Sleepsex: Uncovered" appearing in "Books for Sleepless Nights" book review site on The Sleephomepages. Lamberg is an expert on sleep and sleep-related disorders (read more about her). To Purchase a Copy: eBook (PDF) Version: US $5.99 Buy it at ClickBank . Once you make the purchase, you will be able to get your copy immediately. If you do not have it already, You will need Adobe Reader to read the eBook. Print Version: US $17.84 Buy it at Xlibris.com, at Amazon.com (keyword "sleepsex")and at most popular online bookstores. Search ADDALL.com for the best price for "Sleepsex: Uncovered." Sexsomnia Bulletin: January, 2004 Dear visitors: I welcome visitor"s contributions (e.g., news, editorial comments, opinions, personal stories, etc.) to the newsletter: www.sleepsex.org. An article on sexsomnia appears in the January issue of Redbook Magazine. If you"re interested in learning more about this disorder, pick up a copy. An article by Michael Mangan, Ph.D. titled A Phenomenology of Problematic Sexual Behavior Ocuring in Sleep will be published in Archives of Sexual Behavior sometime in 2004. Archives of Sexual Behavior is the journal of the International Academy of Sex Research and is a leading, peer-reviewed academic publication in the domain of sex research. Hopefully, the article will help to advance this topic into the realm of "common knowledge" among healthcare practitioners. One of the first clinical case studies of sleep sex appeared in Archives in 1998 (see links to research above). Disclaimer: This site has been established for the sole purpose of disseminating information about sleepsex/sexsomnia. Any information found on the site should not be construed as constituting medical advice. Advice about sexual behavior during sleep or any related problems should be sought from a physician or other qualified medical/health professional. Site maintained and edited by: Michael Mangan, Ph.D. Click Here to Learn More