"Requesting Sexual Relations from Anyone While Half-Asleep"…The Illness Affecting a Woman in Her 50s

A Type of Sleep Disorder... Attempted Sexual Activity While Asleep
Occurs Frequently During the 'Delta Sleep' Stage
"Suffering from Sexsomnia" Leads to Acquittal in Rape Case

A woman in her 50s from the UK was diagnosed with a rare sleep disorder called 'sexsomnia.' The Sun, UK

A woman in her 50s from the UK has been reported to be struggling with a rare sleep disorder.

According to foreign media including The Sun on the 12th (local time), a 50-year-old British woman named Lauren Spencer was diagnosed with 'sexsomnia,' a condition where individuals engage in sexual activities unconsciously during sleep. Sexsomnia is a type of sleep disorder, a word combining 'sex,' referring to sexual intercourse, and the English root 'somni,' meaning sleep. Patients attempt sexual acts while asleep but do not remember their actions upon waking. Professor Carlos Schenck from the University of Minnesota Medical School explained, "Sexsomnia can be seen as a state where cognitive functions are deeply asleep, but the body is activated," adding, "It is truly dangerous that the body can perform all sorts of actions without proper activation of cognitive functions."

The exact cause of sexsomnia is not clearly understood, but experts believe external factors such as other sleep disorders, alcohol consumption, and stress may play a role. Professor Jennifer Mount from Northwestern University stated, "These phenomena often occur during the 'delta sleep' phase, which is the slowest and deepest stage of sleep," explaining, "It is like an alarm or trigger going off in the central nervous system, causing a sudden movement from the basement to the roof." She added, "Most people do not fully understand the state of sexsomnia," but noted, "Through education, patients can reduce anxiety and stress by understanding their condition, which may lead to improvement." Furthermore, she emphasized, "It can pose significant risks to the individual and those around them, so urgent measures are needed."

Earlier in April, CNN also reported stories of people suffering from sexsomnia. A woman in her mid-20s, referred to as Ms. A, would tear her clothes and masturbate during sleep but had no memory of it after being awakened by her husband. A 31-year-old man, Mr. B, sometimes injured his groin while masturbating during sleep. Mr. B’s symptoms reportedly persisted for 12 years. In September 2022, a man in Sweden was found guilty of rape in the first trial, but during the appeal, his claim of having sexsomnia was accepted, resulting in an acquittal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.