You’ve probably heard the term “wet dream.” Maybe you’ve had one before and liked it, or perhaps you didn’t. Whatever the case, here is everything you need to know about wet dreams, including a few tips for having a wet dream whenever you like.
What Is a Wet Dream?
Whether you call it a “wet dream,” “nocturnal emission,” or “sleep orgasm,” a wet dream is any dream where you ejaculate or secrete vaginal fluid during the dream. In most cases, but not always, the dream itself will have a sexual context.
On the other hand, some people define a wet dream as a dream with arousing sexual content. In many cases, such dreams are associated with arousal, or evidence of external arousal, upon waking. Which, for men, means that you might wake up with an erection but without having ejaculating. For women, this means that you’ll wake up feeling aroused and wet.
Who Can Have Wet Dreams?
Technically, anyone! Both men and women can have wet dreams, and while they are most common during puberty, they can definitely also happen in sexually active adults. In theory, wet dreams are more common in teens because of the hormonal changes that occur during puberty. Once hormones stabilize, such as seen in adults, wet dreams can become less common.
Likewise, the possibility of having a wet dream decline with advancing age as hormone levels tend to drop, and sexual activity is often limited. Keep in mind that, while wet dreams are rare at this stage of life, they are still certainly possible.
It is also important to note that while men might find secretions after their wet dreams that usually signify that they’ve had an orgasm, it’s a little different for women; with women, secretions may signal sexual arousal, not necessarily reaching an orgasm.
Facts vs. Myths: Wet Dream Addition
Before we dive into how to potentially have a wet dream, there are a few myths that we want to address:
Myth #1- Wet dreams are wrong: There’s nothing wrong with having wet dreams. Likewise, there’s nothing wrong with not having wet dreams.
Myth #2- Demons cause wet dreams: In the olden days, we’re talking Middle Ages, it was thought that nocturnal emissions were caused by incubi and succubi, or sex demons. Fortunately, science tells us that wet dreams have nothing to do with demons.
Myth #3- Wet dreams lower your sperm count: This is another popular myth that has been proven to be false by science. There is no evidence that nocturnal emissions are somehow bad for your penis, sperm count, or sexual performance.
Myth #4- Nocturnal emissions are only caused by sex dreams: While many wet dreams involve dreams with a sexual context, you can also accidentally stimulate your genitals in your sleep via fiction from clothing. To avoid unwanted nocturnal emissions, make sure that you are sleeping in loose clothing.
Controlling Dreams
Remember that dreams are an extremely personal thing and can vary widely. Not everyone has wet dreams, and some people only have these dreams as teenagers but not as adults. Because there are so many potential options, your case- whether you’ve had a wet dream recently or not- is probably perfectly normal.
Controlling dreams, on the other hand, can be tricky. However, it is not completely impossible. In fact, the idea of lucid dreaming where you, as the dreamer, have control has existed for some time now.
How to Have a Wet Dream
While there’s no guarantee that you can control your dreams, there are a few things that can theoretically help you have wet dreams. While these tips aren’t entirely scientific, they can be fun to try:
1) Get comfortable with the idea: Having a wet dream is perfectly normal and harmless. So, if you want to have a wet dream, you shouldn’t feel guilty or shy about it.
2) Sleep in a prone position: For some reason, sleeping prone, as in on your stomach, is more likely to yield more wet dreams than sleeping in other positions. While scientists aren’t quite sure why this happens, research does correlate sleeping on your stomach to an increased potential likelihood of wet dreams.
3) Practice lucid dreaming: Several techniques can help you lucid dream, including reality checks, journaling, and even trying to come back to a specific dream. While lucid dreaming may not give you full control of your dream, it can help you remember your dreams from the night before.
4) Get in the mindset: Thinking of someone you’re attracted to, or even a scenario that’s sexually arousing for you, can get you in the right mindset before you go to sleep, which can be pretty helpful.
5) Daydream: While dreams can be hard to control, fantasizing about the perfect erotic scenario can be a little bit easier to achieve. All you need is a comfortable place to sit or lie down and a few minutes of quiet time. Simply settle down, close your eyes, visualize your scenario, and let your mind wander from there.
How to NOT Have Wet Dreams
While wet dreams can be fun, they can also be messy, and if you want to avoid wet dreams, that’s your call. Here are a few tips:
1) Come before bed: Getting an orgasm in before bedtime can help you relax, and according to some scientists, reduce the chances of nocturnal emission
2) Think non-sexy thoughts: As you drift off to sleep, focus on things that don’t have a sexual context.
3) Practice lucid dreaming: Another benefit of realizing when you’re dreaming is that you can change the context of the dream or wake up if you don’t like what’s happening
4) Change position: Avoid sleeping on your stomach and sleep on your back instead to avoid friction against your genitals. Likewise, wear loose clothing to bed.
Talking About Wet Dreams WIth Your Partner
Having wet dreams is a personal thing, and you don’t have to tell your partner if you feel uncomfortable. However, if you are sharing your bed with a partner, you do want to keep in mind that wet dreams can be messy- especially if you are a man- so having an open conversation with your partner can help make things less awkward.
Takeaways:
- Nocturnal emissions are perfectly normal and non-harmful.
- Both men and women can have wet dreams.
- You can increase your chances of having a wet dream by sleeping on your stomach.
- Controlling your dreams is tough; don’t be too hard on yourself.
