A WOMAN who comes across like your average happily married mum has revealed she’s actually a secret ‘sexsomniac’.
Lauren Spencer, 50, has been diagnosed with a rare sleep disorder that causes her to initiate sexual intercourse while asleep – sexsomnia.
Her husband Charlie has been on the receiving end of her suggestive touches.
According to Charlie, Lauren will snuggle up to him or try to have sex by stroking him to get him going.
The mum-of-two, from Devon, said while her episodes don’t occur too often, she has to put cable ties on the door if she stays overnight somewhere.
She said: “If I stayed at a friend’s house and ended up in bed with her partner, I’m sure I wouldn’t be very popular.
“As it goes, I’m a homebody, so it’s not an issue thankfully. I live alone with my husband, and he doesn’t complain.
“My daughters are 25 and 30 years old and neither live with me nowadays.
“I have no recollection or awareness after an episode, so it can be confusing.
“The lack of control is embarrassing, but fortunately it’s not something that happens that often.
“Charlie, of course, leaps at the opportunity and sometimes things progress.
“We’ve discussed my condition at length and I’ve decided that I’m happy to have sex when this happens – it’s completely consensual.”
Scientists discover a new type of sleeping disorder called ‘sexsomnia’, where you have sex during your sleep
Lauren was diagnosed with the condition after visiting her doctor in 2021.
At first, the content creator and model was concerned she had a neurological issue, as she has also had problems with sleepwalking, sleep talking and sometimes falling out of bed.
Lauren has to take special precautions if she stays away for the night.
She said: “I take a cable lock to wrap around the door handle if I stay away for the night.
“Then I can’t open the door in my sleep and wander into somebody else’s bedroom. That generally is enough to save my blushes.
“I also use Nytol to help me sleep more deeply in the hope that I won’t get out of bed.”
I take a cable lock to wrap around the door handle if I stay away for the night.
Lauren Spencer
Lauren said episodes are more likely if she is feeling particularly stressed, but hasn’t found the triggering factor.
Aside from initiating sex, Lauren also claimed she has gotten out of bed to clean, as well as sending text messages, with no recollection the next morning.
As it’s relatively unheard of, she often keeps quiet about her condition – but has piqued the interest of her friends and their husbands.
Lauren added: “I generally don’t tell people about my condition, because I wouldn’t want them to think I was crazy, and it’s something that most people haven’t even heard of.
“I did mention it to one friend, and her husband chipped in saying he wouldn’t mind if she had that problem.
“I think it would be fascinating to watch myself doing something that I’m not aware of.”
What is sexsomnia – what are the symptoms and how is it treated?
Sexsomnia is a sleep disorder characterised by engaging in sexual activities during sleep.
Also known as ‘sleep sex’, it’s a type of sleep disorder known as parasomnia.
Parasomnias refer to unusual sensations and behaviours, such as sleepwalking, that people may experience or exhibit while asleep, falling asleep, or waking up.
In the case of sexsomnia, people engage in sexual behaviours, such as masturbation, sexual movements, sexual aggression, or initiating sex with another person.
The causes aren’t clear, but experts believe it could be related to other sleep disorders, or external factors like stress and alcohol.
Treatment for sexsomnia depends on the underlying cause, but often includes medication, improving sleep hygiene, and reducing stress or triggers.
Source: Sleep Foundation
The content creator and model from Devon said the episodes don’t occur too often, but her husband, Charlie, doesn’t seem to mind