What Are Sexual Dreams

Sexual dreams refer to the phenomenon of engaging in romantic relationships, expressing love, or even having sexual encounters with the opposite sex within dreams. Both men and women experience sexual dreams after reaching sexual maturity, and they may also experience orgasms during these dreams, although not every time. Some individuals may dream of sexual scenarios or situations without experiencing sexual arousal, while others may have sleep-induced orgasms without dreaming about sexual content. Sexual dreams can be either coherent or fragmented in terms of plot, and they can be explicit or metaphorical.

For women, sexual dreams often involve fewer direct sexual encounters and more implicit or suggestive settings.

The occurrence of sexual dreams is closely related to hormone levels and sexual psychology. In particular, male adolescents may experience psychological pressure. After puberty, males face the peak of their sexual abilities.

A survey conducted by Wuhan Tongji Medical University on 700 males aged 13 to 16 regarding sexual dreams revealed that the occurrence rate of sexual dreams among male adolescents is approximately 19.8%. Moreover, there is a noticeable age difference in the occurrence rate of sexual dreams, generally increasing with age. For instance, the occurrence rate of sexual dreams for the 13-year-old group was around 67%, increasing to 237% for the 15-year-old group, and 271% for the 16-year-old group.

The occurrence of sexual dreams in male adolescents is closely related to nocturnal emissions, as no individuals experiencing their first nocturnal emission were found to have had sexual dreams. Nocturnal emissions are a significant indicator of male sexual maturity, and sexual maturity may be a crucial physiological factor in the occurrence of sexual dreams. The occurrence of sexual dreams can also be influenced by sexual culture. The survey found that the occurrence rate of sexual dreams among male adolescents of the same age group is significantly higher in urban areas compared to rural areas. For example, the occurrence rate of sexual dreams for the 14-year-old group is 184% in urban areas, while it is only 56% in rural areas. This difference may be attributed to slower dissemination of sexual information and culture in rural areas.

Similarly, many women also experience sexual dreams, with a higher frequency occurring between the ages of 30 and 50. However, the number of sexual dreams experienced by women each year is much lower compared to men. Women typically have 3 to 4 sexual dreams per year, while men can have 2 to 3 times more. The phenomenon of having sexual dreams is widespread.

Modern psychophysiological research suggests that sexual dreams are a normal manifestation of sexual psychology and physiology. The occurrence of sexual dreams is closely related to hormone levels and sexual psychology. During adolescence, both young boys and girls, as well as individuals experiencing a state of "sexual hunger," may have sexual dreams as a form of self-adjustment to alleviate excessive sexual tension.

As young boys and girls gradually mature, their physiological and psychological aspects of sexuality also develop, leading to feelings of admiration and occasional sexual impulses towards the opposite sex.

Love is an eternal human theme, and scientists have discovered that the "Cupid's arrow" that generates sexual impulses in men and women is essentially hidden in the deep recesses of the brain, specifically the hypothalamus. The reason why love can be so captivating is due to the effects of "love stimulants" in the hypothalamus, which are the innate sexual instincts of human beings. These love stimulants, according to studies by American experts in mental research, include dopamine, norepinephrine, endorphins, and particularly prominent among them is phenylethylamine, which is an excitatory substance in the nervous system.

While these sexual impulses are suppressed by reason in a waking state, they are not restrained by rationality during subconscious dreams at night. The principle guiding these dreams is the pursuit of sexual pleasure, and the activation of specific brain areas in the cortex during dreams leads to the creation of fantasies involving kissing, embracing, and sexual intercourse with the opposite sex.

Sexuality holds great importance for individuals, so it is not surprising that sexual or symbolic imagery frequently appears in dreams.