A Research Survey of
� Sleep-Related
Female Orgasms and Sex Dreams�
Conducted
by Franceen King, Ph.D.
This
page contains some partial, preliminary results from the first 200 responses to
this Survey for those of you who have been waiting.� The most important point is that these
responses are neither uncommon nor unhealthy!
I recently published a much larger
collection of statistics and anonymous commentary from survey respondents in
book form, Waking
into �The Big O� � a New Look at Sleep-Related Female Orgasms
(2012).� The Table of Contents is
posted below. Truthfully, I think the information is really ground-breaking, if
not revolutionary!� I am profoundly
grateful to all the women who have completed this survey in the past.� They have made a huge contribution to the
understanding of women�s sexuality.� I am
continuing to run this survey, nonetheless, to gather more information since
this response has not been studied with women above college age since Kinsey�s
time (1953).���
�����������
Due
to increased interest, I also published my doctoral dissertation entitled Sleep-Related Female Orgasms: A
Survey of Biological, Psychological, sociological, and Cultural Factors (2006),
in book form. The abstract, introduction, and Table of Contents are posted here.� Both of these books are available at my
e-store for $16.00 plus postage by clicking on the titles, or by ordering from Amazon.com
(SRFOs) or Amazon.com.
(Waking).�
After completing the survey, I will send you a discount code which can
be used for purchasing Waking into �The Big O� at my e-store.� If you have any questions,
please contact me at 813-971-8808, or DrFranceen@aol.com.
PARTIAL� RESULTS � first 200 responses:
The
first 200 respondents ranged in age from 15 to 85.� Overwhelmingly, they were SRFO experiencers looking for information online.� Consequently, they represent the largest
group of SRFO experiencers to be studied since
Kinsey, and the only group of healthy women above college age to be studied at
all since then.
96.5%
of respondents reported experiencing erotic or overtly sexual dreams.
91.5%
reported having dreams in which they were having sex with someone else.
�� 46% reported dreams in which they witnessed
others having sex.
94.5%
reported awaking from sleep feeling sexually aroused at some time.
79%
of respondents reported that they sometimes experience lucid dreams, in which
they are aware that they are dreaming and able to influence the content of the
dream.� Interestingly, of those who
experience SRFOs, 69% said they did not think SRFOs were more common with lucid dreams.� Of the 21% who have never experienced a lucid
dream, over half have experienced SRFOs.�
91%
of respondents report that they are able to experience sexual orgasm when they
are awake:
��������� 74% through masturbation
��������� 75% through masturbation and fantasy
combined
��������� 65% through manual stimulation by a
partner
��������� 60% through oral stimulation by a
partner
��������� 48% through vaginal penetration by a
partner
39%
of the respondents reported that they are sometimes able to experience orgasm
as a result of waking sexual fantasy alone without any physical stimulation.
87%
reported waking into a physical orgasm at some time in their life.� Since this survey is not a representative
sample of women, one cannot say that 87% of women experience these SRFOs.�� In Kinsey�s
extended sample of almost 7789 women on this topic, he found that 22% had
experienced �sex dreams with orgasm� at some time in their lives.� Of women who sometimes dream about sex, he
found that 37% would likely dream to orgasm by age 45.� He estimated that only 70% of women would
ever dream about sex; but today it appears that almost 100% do.�� Later research (Wells 1986) suggested that
this figure was probably getting much higher due to the influence of social and
cultural factors.� From the narrative
responses it is clear that most respondents were actively experiencing these
and looking for information online.��
Interestingly, I found two very short online surveys which have appeared
since the time of my dissertation.� Both
simply ask women if they have ever experienced a sleep-induced orgasm.� Both surveys show a YES response rate of
around 80%...consistent with this survey.
Of
the 87% in my survey who have experienced SRFOs (SRFO
experiencers), 90% reported times when these have
been preceded by awareness of an erotic dream; 50% report times when there has
been no preceding dream awareness at all; and 36% report times when the
preceding dream has had no obvious erotic content.
95%
of experiencers had had a SRFO within the previous
five years.
Of
the SRFO experiencers, 28% reported that they
experienced their VERY FIRST orgasm this way, at ages ranging from under 10
(5%) to mid 50s (1%).�� Kinsey had
reported that 5% of his overall population experienced their first orgasm as
dream-related.�
Of
the SRFO experiencers, 10% reported that SRFOs are the ONLY orgasms they have ever experienced at
any age.�
When
asked if they were aware, prior to this survey, that women sometimes experience
SRFOs, 91% of respondents said yes, while 9% said
no.� I have included in this 91% the 18 experiencers who had never heard of these and thought they
were unique, or that something was wrong with them.�
When
asked how they first learned about SRFOs, 93% of the experiencers learned by experiencing one.� This is not surprising since this topic is
not covered in sex education classes and is only rarely covered in discussion
or print.
A
total of 9% of respondents had no previous awareness of SRFOs
at all prior to this survey.� Only 12% of
respondents, including some experiencers, learned
about SRFOs from a book or magazine, the internet, a
friend or relative, or school.� Only one
participant mentioned a sex education class.
When
asked about subjective reactions to SRFOs, experiencers were allowed to check all that applied, therefore the following responses do not equal
100%:
��������� �
5% feel worried about them
��������� �
16% are confused about them
��������� 10% are embarrassed by them
��������� 56% are curious about why they occur�������
��������� �
2% feels afraid of them
��������� 77% enjoy them
��������� 13% used to feel worried, confused,
embarrassed or afraid, but no longer are
��������� 41% find them amusing or entertaining
��������� 50% look forward to them
��������� 19% actively try to make themselves
have one
When
asked when they first experienced a SRFO, experiencers
reported as follows:
� 5% under age
10
15% between ages 11 and 15
22% between ages 16 and 20
37% between ages 21 and 30
12% between ages 31 and 40
� 7% between
ages 41 and 50
� 1% between
ages 51 and 60
��������� �
1% can�t remember
Obviously
this spread is influenced somewhat by the numbers of respondents in each age
category, as were the responses to Question 17d and 17f.
17d:� During which age periods have SRFOs been most common for you?� Overall, in response to 17d, women reported
whatever age decade they were in to be the peak frequency range.� Older women reported more frequency in older
age ranges; i.e., women in their 60s often reported peak frequencies in their
sixties, with the 50s as a close second place.�
17f:� During which of the following conditions have
SRFOs been more frequent for you?� Respondents could check as many situations as
applied; however, some of these situations; i.e., pregnancy, menopause,
widowhood, etc. are somewhat age-related.�
These responses clearly suggest that there are a variety of factors�
physiological, psychological, and social� which influence the occurrence of SRFOs.
���������
���������������� 33% During
the premenstrual stage of your monthly cycle
���������������� 16% During
your menstrual flow������������������ ��
������������� 19.5% During
the beginning of your monthly cycle, after your menstrual flow
�������������
9% During pregnancy�
��������������� 2.8% During
nursing after giving birth
����������
8.6% During recovery from pregnancy
����������
8.6% During the beginning of menopausal
symptoms
�������������
9% After menopause
�������� 14.3%
At the beginning of a new romantic relationship
���� ��� 30.4% During
periods of frequent waking orgasms or sexual arousal���������������������� ����
�������� 38.5%
When between, or without, a sexual relationship
������������
.5% After death of spouse or sexual partner
�������� 21.8%
During periods of anxiety or worry
���� ������ 16% Could not
notice any common situations
Other situations mentioned:
�������������
2% When ovulating
������������� 2%
At the end of a relationship
�������������
2% When feeling aroused before sleep and not
masturbating������������������������������
�������������
3% When meditating a lot/kundalini
active
�������������
3% When withdrawing from antidepressants or
discontinuing birth control pills
�������������
2% When flirting, feeling attractive/romantic
�������������
1% During IVF treatments�����������
Only
ten women reported ever having discussed this topic with their physician or
gynecologist (4), psychological counselor or therapist (5), or spiritual
advisor/minister (1).
More
analysis and commentary will be forthcoming.�
Please encourage your women friends and family members to participate in
my survey.� I am so grateful for your
assistance.
Table of Contents � Waking
into �The Big O� � A New Look at Sleep Related Female Orgasms
AUTHOR�S NOTE ��������������������.��������..�..��.iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS���.��.��������.�������..�...�����...iv
ABOUT the
AUTHOR�����������.������������..�v
DEDICATION�����������������������������.vi
INTRODUCTION���������������������.��.����1
CHAPTER 1:� LIFTING THE VEILS ON ANOTHER SEX SECRET���.7
���
CHAPTER 2:� HOW DO WOMEN LEARN ABOUT THESE SRFOs?. 13
�
CHAPTER 3:�� WHAT SHALL WE CALL THESE?�� SLEEP-RELATED
��� FEMALE ORGASMS (SRFOS)�������������.��..�..�21
���������� Examples of SRFOs����������������������25
����
CHAPTER 4:� IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME?��..�.31
����
CHAPTER 5:� HOW COMMON ARE THESE SRFOs?��.���.......39
��� Survey Data from
Kinsey���.������������..............39
��� My Survey�������.�����.����������������40
��� Age of
Onset�����������.��..����������.���43
��� First Orgasms�������������.�..���...�������..45
��������
CHAPTER 6:� HOW DO I KNOW IF I�M HAVING AN ORGASM?..49
���� Elements of
Orgasm����������������������..50
���� The Experience of
Orgasm������������������...52
����
CHAPTER 7:� WHY ARE MY SLEEP ORGASMS SO INTENSE?��..57
���� Lack of Inhibitions and Voluntary Muscle
Control��..���.57
���� Nerve Pathways��������������..�������.........59
���� Mapping the Vagina..���������..�.�.���������..61
���� Orgasms Through
Fantasy Alone � �Thinking Off���.���.63����������������������� ���������������
CHAPTER 8:� IS IT POSSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO EXPERIENCE
����� SLEEP ORGASM EMISSIONS OR �WET� DREAMS?������69
����
CHAPTER 9:� WHAT CAUSES SRFOs?........................................75
���� Old Theories�����������������������..��....77
����������� Demons���������������������.��..�.��77
����������� Pathology������������������������.��80
����������� Biological Compensation��������..������..��..80
����������� ����
Frequency���������������������..........81
����������� ���� Active
Incidence Throughout the Life Span�.����..85
����������� The System Check Theory����������..������..90
���� Newer
Understandings��������������..�����.�90
����������� Brain Activity During
Sleep�����������������91
����������� ���� The Human
Sleep Cycle�����������������.91
����������� ���� Sleep
Disorders Related to Sex�������..��.���93
����������������������� Sexsomnia����������.����������..�.93
����������������������� Epilepsy����.������.���������.���..95
����������������������� Sleep Paralysis�������..�����������.�96
����������� Hormonal Fluctuations������.�����������....98
����������� ����
Puberty�������������.�����������....99
����������� ���� Luteinizing
Hormone��������������.���.100
����������� ���� Oxytocin������������������������..105
����������� ���� Cortisol�����������������....�������106
����������� ���� Dopamine����������������..������...108
����������� Behavioral Factors������������..������..�.110
����������� Cultural Factors����������������������.112
����������� Psychological Factors�����������..��.�����114
����������� ���� Anxiety and
Arousal�����������..�.���..�.114
����������� ���� Physiological
Stimulation & Excitation Transfer��...115
����������� ���� Healthy
Homeostasis or Excitation Integration���.120
����������� ���� Spiritual
Interests and Practices�����������..124
����������� ����
Education/Intelligence�����..�����������128
CHAPTER 10:� WHAT DO DREAMS HAVE TO DO WITH
���� SRFOs?............................................................................133
���� Sex Dreams �
Frequency����������������..��.133
���� Theories of
Dreaming������������.�..�������136
����������� Dreaming as a Psychological Process���������.�136
����������� The Empiricists����������.����������.�...137
����������� The Neurophysiologists���������������....�.138
����������� The Consciousness Researchers������.�..�����141
���� Sex Dreams �
Content��������������������..142
���� Lucidity and Volition����������������..����...149
����������� Background�������������������..���..�150
����������� Lucidity and SRFOs�������������..�����..�152
CHAPTER 11:� WILL I EVER EXPERIENCE AN ORGASM WHILE
����� AWAKE?..........................................................................159
���� Orgasm
Training�������������.����������..163
����������� Masturbation��������������..����.����.167
����������� Fantasy���������������������������168
���� Penis-Vagina Intercourse
(PVI)�����������.���.�170
CHAPTER 12:� HOW DO I STOP OR START HAVING THESE
����� SRFOs?............................................................................175
���� Stopping���.������������.������������..175
���� Starting�����.�������������.����������.177
CHAPTER 13:� EPILOGUE -EMBRACING THE INNER
����� GODDESS������������������������.��...183���������
Table of Contents of Sleep-Related
Female Orgasms �
����� A Survey of Biological, Psychological,
Sociological, and
����� Cultural Factors�.������������������.����.186
APPENDIX � B
A Research Survey of
Sleep-Related Female Orgasms
and Sex Dreams conducted by Franceen King, Ph.D�����.189
REFERENCES�������...����������.��...������199
Figure
3. Fluctuations in Duration of
Sleep & REM periods
���� by age������������������������������93
Dr.
Franceen King is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Board Certified
Clinical Sexologist in private practice near
�
2012 Franceen H. King