A slumber party is one thing, but some things can happen while you’re asleep that get out of hand, so to speak and that may or may not be how you get pregnant

It depends on the circumstances.

A 35-year-old man was convicted of the rape of a sleeping woman at a party in Haparanda in northern Sweden in April, despite claims that he was also fast asleep at the time.

The court heard expert witness testimony from Per-Axel Karlsson, a senior physician at the psychiatric clinic in Öjebyn, who argued that it was extremely unlikely that the man would have been able to commit the rape while asleep.

Karlsson argued that as the man’s actions were “complex and goal-orientated” there is no way the man could have been mid-slumber.

As you might expect, comments on this article ranged from immediate reaction;

Well its extremely funny Glamshek

I doubt if the victim thought it was funny. JulieLou40

to personal experiences confirming the phenomenon from SarahRF and Waajid

In fact, the condition was defined in a paper called “Sexsomnia — A New Parasomnia?” published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry in June 2003. The first doctor to coin the term “sleep sex” was Dr. David Saul Rosenfeld, a neurologist and sleep doctor from Los Angeles, California.

And because sleep sex now has proper credentials, a watchdog site is there to warn us “Some people seem to enjoy it and view it with a sense of humor. However, it can be disturbing, annoying, embarrassing and is a potentially serious problem for some couples and individuals.”

Well, of course it’s not funny, but some of the advice given is. Take this tip on

how to avoid sleep sex from The Independant;

“American Academy of Sleep Medicine, recommends sleeping every night 7-8 hours if you are an adult”

Avoid having sex in your sleep by sleeping for 8 hours. Good one.

Another tip is provided by a 43-year-old virgin, who has revealed how she fastens a wire chain around her upper thigh every night to ensure she remains celibate.

Apparently, the Manchester University physics graduate, who is a senior female figure in Opus Dei, attaches a cilice to her upper thigh for two hours every night.

Off-putting,no? Surely there are better ways for safer sex?

If you’re not careful, it’s revelations like these that can lead to international best-sellers about shadowy Catholic organisations and their secret sexual practices.

Related Articles

• Slumber Secrets (psychologytoday.com)