Nightfall (Wet Dreams)

Nightfall or wet dream is a common condition in which a person (usually adolescent boys or adults) has an erotic dream due to which, semen is discharged unknowingly during sleep. It appears as a white, sticky discharge on the undergarments which may lead to wetting of bed as well. Generally, the dream is completely forgotten. It is the moment in the erotic dream over which a person has no control that causes ejaculation without masturbation or even without stimulation of the penis in any way. It can happen in females as well.

There are generally no other signs and symptoms associated with nightfall as it is not a medical disorder. It is a natural phenomenon which occurs in adolescent men or women.

• In males, there is a sticky discharge seen on the undergarments or on the bed sheet in the middle of the night (generally during deep sleep).
• In females, it appears as a vaginal discharge on the undergarment or as a lubricant that is secreted due to sexual arousal.

Causes

During puberty or adolescence, the body undergoes a lot of hormonal changes. One of the significant changes is the maturation of sex organs and associated hormonal changes. It leads to increased sexual urges, which occur either due to being in contact with the opposite sex, watching pornographic videos among others. Nightfall is a result of increased sexual urge and lack of sexual activity. During sleep, sometimes erotic and sexually arousing dreams cause the ejaculation of semen in males or vaginal secretions in females. All these changes are due to the constant action and secretion of sex hormones like testosterone in men and oestrogen and progesterone in women. Semen build up in the sex organs is also another important cause of wet dreams in males.

Risk factors

There are no risk factors associated with nightfall as it is not a disease and doesn’t affect the health in any manner.

There are no known methods to prevent nightfall. Since it is a natural phenomenon, prevention is not necessary. Preventive measures are advised if the frequency of nightfall is high (2-3 times a week). To control the episodes of nightfall one can try the following methods:

• Understand when and why such dreams occur.
• Understand the myths associated with it and don’t blame yourself for it.
• Seek help from a doctor to clear any doubts.
• Avoid or decrease your stress level.
• Sleep on your back.
• Avoid spicy food.
• Avoid things that cause sexual arousals, such as pornographic videos or sex-related programmes.
• Have healthy sexual relations with your partner or masturbate regularly. (Read more: Benefits of sex for men and women)

The only way to diagnose nightfall is to observe the presence of a sticky discharge on the undergarments at night or in the morning. It is a purely clinical diagnosis made on the basis of the person’s history. No blood tests or imaging tests can help diagnose nightfall.

There is no treatment plan or regime to treat nightfall. Counselling is advised to individuals who have encountered nightfall frequently and who feel disturbed by the episodes.

Lifestyle management

No pre-defined lifestyle management changes are suggested to limit nightfall. However, a few things can help reduce its frequency, such as:

• Stress management by indulging in yoga or physical exercises can be opted for.
• Masturbation and indulging in healthy physical relationships with the partner is advised. (Read more: How to have safe sex)
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Overexposure to sexually explicit content like pornographic videos and other activities, which increase the sex drive of a person should be limited.

Some home remedies might help in reducing the frequency of nightfall. These include:

The outcome is generally good for nightfall as it is a naturally occurring phenomenon in males and sometimes in females. There are no recorded complications encountered due to nightfall. Low self-esteem, emotional disturbances and behavioural changes can occur in some people who are unable to discuss the episodes with anyone.