What Are Wet Dreams? The Science of Sleep and Hormonal Changes

An individual witnesses a wet dream when he orgasms involuntarily during his sleep. It is also known as nocturnal emission.

What are wet dreams!! If you are oblivious to wet dreams, you might become confused, shocked, or embarrassed while experiencing them for the first time. A spontaneous orgasm while you sleep that is usually accompanied by sensual ideas and visuals is called a “wet dream.” Even light stimulation of the genitalia and hormone levels can also trigger these so-called nocturnal emissions.

A person belonging to any gender can experience wet dreams after hitting puberty, but they are mainly common in the teen years. Everyone doesn’t need to encounter wet dreams, but their occurrence is normal for anyone.

This article goes into detail about what are wet dreams, what occurs during a wet dream, and what makes them happen.

Other Names For Wet Dreams

Wet dreams are also called, nightfall, sleep orgasms, or nocturnal emissions. A wet dream is a spontaneous orgasm during sleep that involves male ejaculation, vaginal lubrication, or a female orgasm.

What Are Wet Dreams

A dream in which you discharge while sleeping is called a wet dream. “Discharge” signifies the release of semen (the fluid containing sperm) from your penis. To have a wet dream, it is important that you have hit puberty and that your testes can produce sperm.

Generally, you see a wet dream while dreaming about sex, but this is not the case always. You may not recall the dream – research suggests that wet dreams occur naturally.

Wet dreams are referred to as “nocturnal emissions.” Nocturnal signifies “around nighttime.” Emissions denote the meaning “discharge”. In some cases, they are also known as “sleep orgasms.”

Masturbation is not necessary to have a wet dream. Without touching your penis, you can discharge too.

Grown-ups and adolescent young ladies can have wet dreams, as well. Even though girls can’t ejaculate, they can experience an orgasm during a dream. However, girls don’t have such dreams as frequently as young men.

By and large, 8% of dreams have some sexual substance, according to research. In similar cases, people belonging to both genders revealed having an orgasm in around 4% of their sensual dreams.

What Age Do Wet Dreams Begin

Nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) on a regular basis denote the start of pubescence in young men. This usually happens around the ages of 13 to 14, with the average age being about 14.5 years. It’s interesting to note that around 38% of teenage boys experience a wet dream before realizing what it is.

Boys don’t hit puberty with an unexpected occurrence, similar to the start of menstrual periods in girls. The human body goes through a few emotional and physical changes during pubescence, which ordinarily starts between the ages of 9 and 15. The body also produces a greater amount of the hormone testosterone; hence begins making more sperm and allowing your genitals to develop. Your facial and pubic hair also show up, and your voice deepens.

Can Women Have Wet Dreams

Nocturnal emissions are not only meant to occur to teenage boys. Contrary to people associating wet dreams with boys, females can also experience it. According to a recent study, 66-85% of men and almost half of women have had wet dreams in their lives. Among those women, some had even experienced wet dreams before the age of 13, and many encountered wet dreams a few times each year.

It is necessary to be aware of the fact that less research on wet dreams in women than in men has allowed males to distinguish wet dreams as they have more actual proof: semen. When females are awake, just 10% of them discharge (spurt out fluid) during orgasm.

As nocturnal emissions of men are more self-evident, numerous researchers characterize their wet dreams more freely than women’s. For a female to consider a wet dream experience, she needs to be awakened in the middle of an orgasm, whereas a male doesn’t require this condition. It might be a big reason for many men report wet dreams than ladies.

Everybody’s body is unique, so no matter which age or gender you belong to, it’s totally common that you experience wet dreams consistently — or not by any stretch of the imagination.

Causes of Wet Dreams

Among many reasons for wet dreams, most of them are not destructive, and the vast majority of them are known to disappear with age. Yet, when the issue becomes relentless and keeps upsetting you, then, at that point, it turns into a questionable matter, and you ought to look for some clinical help. Some of the causes of wet dreams are listed below:

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes play a pertinent role in the occurrence of wet dreams.

Testosterone Levels

Testosterone levels in men increase during puberty, causing a spike in nocturnal emissions. When hormone levels get stable in adulthood, wet dreams generally occur less often.

Estrogen Levels

Hormone levels in females, especially estrogen, are the chief reason behind wet dreams. Higher estrogen levels during adolescence cause wet dreams to occur. These levels typically balance out in adulthood.

Dream Content And The Body’s Physical Reactions

An actual response in the body might start due to an erotic dream, leading to a wet dream. But every wet dream is not an outcome of an erotic dream. Many other factors, like the manner of sleeping, also play a crucial role.

Erotic Dreams

The sort of dreams while sleeping may also influence our body’s reaction. It might also prompt a wet dream occasionally.

Sleep Positions

Wet dreams can also influence our normal sleeping patterns.

Certain Medications ‌‌

Specific drugs or ailments can also bring about wet dreams, like urinary tract or prostate infections.

Stomach Sleeping

The likelihood of a wet dream rises with sleeping on your stomach. Due to contact with the bedding, this position might bring about more genital stimulation, prompting a wet dream.

Daytime Erotic Stimulation

Wet dreams can also be caused by the feeling of erotic stimulation during the day, affecting nighttime dreams.

Influence on Dreams During the Night

High daytime sensual excitement, such as watching erotic stuff and having intimate imaginings, may result in more extreme and endless wet dreams. The extraordinary excitement might pour out into sleep and allow wet dreams to occur more often.

Individual Variation

Your lifestyle and genes may also have an impact on the occurrence and frequency of wet dreams.

Genetic factors

A few people may be more inclined to experience wet dreams hereditarily. Accordingly, these individuals might have more wet dreams than others, paying little attention to different other elements.

Lifestyle factors

Your way of life, for example, stress levels, anxiety, diet, and sleeping patterns, may likewise impact how frequently you encounter wet dreams. If you take great care of your physical and psychological well-being, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of wet dreams.

Wet Dreams Side Effects‌‌

Although wet dreams don’t cause any harm and are natural, they can cause a few side effects in specific cases. Some possible side effects of wet dreams are:

Discomfort or Embarrassment‌‌

For certain people, wet dreams cause distress or humiliation, which might affect their self-confidence and quality of life.

Effects on Energy Levels

A general feeling of lethargy, weakness, and fatigue might result in frequent or extreme wet dreams. Loss of semen containing fundamental nutrients and energy can be the reason behind this fatigue.

Erectile Function Concerns

Unreasonable, excessive, or frequent wet dreams might give rise to erectile dysfunction in rare cases, causing trouble in accomplishing or keeping an erection.

Impact on Sleep Patterns

Sleep disturbances can occur in certain individuals due to wet dreams, bringing about sleeping disorders or poor sleep.

Unless wet dreams become the source of discomfort or distress, it is critical to consider them as a normal and natural process.

Wet Dreams Treatment – Can You Prevent Wet Dreams?

Some remedies to reduce wet dreams are listed below:

Amla‌‌

Amla, otherwise famous as Indian gooseberry, is a fruit rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C. It might assist with controlling hormone levels and minimizing the recurrence of wet dreams.

Reduce Stress‌‌

Stress increases the chances of having wet dreams. Hence, the recurrence of wet dreams can also be achieved by reducing stress. Various practices like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises might assist you in relieving stress.

Ashwagandha‌‌

The herb, Ashwagandha, ordinarily utilized in Ayurvedic medication, is extremely useful in relieving stress and assisting in general well-being. It might aid with controlling hormone levels and lessen the recurrence of wet dreams.

Lucid Dreaming

Considering all facts, as indicated by research, you might have the option to impact your fairyland narrative. It is called lucid dreaming, and some strategies might be useful for you to make it happen. Simply remember that trying these strategies doesn’t mean you’ll really control your fantasies effectively. It’s basically impossible to ensure that you can truly prevent a wet dream from occurring.

Kegel Exercises‌‌

Kegel activities can assist with fortifying the pelvic floor muscles, in turn preventing and controlling wet dreams. To perform Kegel workouts, hold and tighten the muscles used to stop the flow of urine. Then, relax and repeat the process.

Chamomile Tea‌‌

A natural sedative called chamomile tea can assist with decreasing stress and promoting relaxation, which might aid in lessening the recurrence of wet dreams. The habit of drinking chamomile tea before bedtime might assist with encouraging a tranquil night’s sleep and lessen the probability of wet dreams.

Stop Watching Pornography‌‌

Wet dreams also result from watching pornography. Hence, exposure to obscene material must be lessened or eliminated to assist with the recurrence of wet dreams.

Fenugreek Seeds‌‌

Fenugreek seeds are accepted to assist with regulating chemical levels and lessen the recurrence of wet dreams. Soak one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in water for the whole night, then drink in the first part of the day while starving.

Nutmeg‌‌

Nutmeg is a natural aphrodisiac that also aids in reducing the frequency of wet dreams. You can grind a few nutmeg seeds and make a fine powder. Then mix it with warm milk and drink it before bedtime.

Bitter Gourd‌‌

Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon, works like magic as it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of wet dreams. Drink bitter gourd juice daily or eat the vegetable in dishes.

Myths About Wet Dreams

We definitely realize that individuals with male anatomy have wet dreams, yet there are a ton of different confusions and misapprehensions about what are wet dreams that can cause youngsters to lose confidence and hurt their mindset. For instance, certain individuals imagine that wet dreams lessen your sperm count, assuming you have a penis, which is bogus.

Another myth is that masturbation can control wet dreams. While it ensures people that it can be true, it’s not generally a definite approach to preventing wet dreams from occurring. Nocturnal emissions aren’t limited to only youngsters. They can continue to happen also into adulthood. Due to the hormonal changes, wet dreams are more normal in youngsters typically because when we enter adulthood stage, our hormones have almost settled. But this is not the case always.

Certain individuals believe that having wet dreams is an indication of something being ‘off-base’, or a health problem. This is completely false, wet dreams are an indication that everything is working perfectly.

Wet dreams are frequently connected with erotic or sensual dreams. But this isn’t generally the situation regarding wet dreams. An individual can have a wet dream without having a dream about sexual activity and may become excited because of different elements, including a feeling of friction with the bedding.

Moreover, wet dreams won’t contract your penis. Curiously, the reality is far different from this myth about wet dreams. If you lie on your stomach and sleep in that position, you are bound to have wet dreams, but if you need to keep them under control, lie on your back.

Does Wet Dreams Smell Like Urine

Wet dreams don’t ordinarily possess a scent like pee. Upon encountering involuntary ejaculation, an individual experiences wet dreams, otherwise called nocturnal emissions, during sleep. The released liquid during a wet dream is semen, which is somewhat tacky. Urine is altogether a different substance in comparison to semen.

Semen’s smell cannot be considered similar to the scent of pee as it is totally different from urine. It’s vital to note that a person can encounter different experiences, but generally, the smell of urine and wet dreams should not be similar.

Coping With Wet Dreams

Although wet dreams occur during human sexual growth and are natural, people often might find them uncomfortable and awkward. Some tips to deal with wet dreams are listed below:

Cleaning after a Wet Dream

You should clean yourself and any spots on your bed sheets or clothing after a wet dream. After a wet dream, you should clean yourself and any impacted spots like clothing or bed sheets. It might curb you from stains, uneasiness, or odors.

Dealing with Embarrassment

Wet dreams might cause people to feel embarrassed, particularly in shared living spaces. Remembering that they’re an integral part of human sexual growth is imperative. Hence, one should not feel humiliated or remorseful.

Understanding the Normalcy of Wet Dreams

One useful strategy for coping with wet dreams is to comprehend their normalcy. They are mostly found among teenagers and grown-ups. Therefore, they ought not to be viewed as an indication of a lack of self-control or unusual behavior.

A Quick Review – What Are Wet Dreams

What are wet dreams, and why do they happen; it is a natural process, but not everyone knows about it. It is normal for individuals of any age and sensual orientation to experience wet dreams. Males discharge semen, and females climax and release vaginal liquids during wet dreams. Sexual dreams frequently cause nocturnal emissions, but not every time.

As a matter of fact, wet dreams won’t hurt you. You just have to tidy yourself up, get changed, and wash spots on your dress or covers. If you think that nocturnal emissions are interfering with and upsetting your life, there is always an option to discuss with a counselor, therapist, or healthcare provider about your problem.