SEXUALITY WET DREAMS (SEMEN DISCHARGE) I sometimes wake up with a wet, sticky point during puberty and even somespot on my underwear or pajama pants. times as adults. It’s not urine, so what is it? It is normal to wonder about this WET DREAMS - A NORMAL EXPERI- new experience--because it is new. ENCE Before puberty, you did not have this Chances are that you had a “wet experience. dream” — something that can be embarrassing and confusing to teen guys, It is normal to wonder if other teens but is completely normal. A wet dream have the same experience. And most is also known as a nocturnal emission. of them do. The “wet dream,” which is Nocturnal means “at night” and emismedically referred to as a “nocturnal sion means “discharge.” This makes emission” is a very normal experience. It sense because a wet dream is when is a sign that you have entered or are in semen (the fluid containing sperm) is puberty (or even beyond puberty), and discharged from the penis during ejac- that your sex organs are functioning ulation while a guy’s asleep. just as they should. Usually wet dreams occur during dreams that have sexual images. SomeSleep well. This experience is entirely times guys wake up from a wet dream, normal. but sometimes they sleep through it. WET DREAMS BEGIN AT PUBERTY Wet dreams begin during puberty when the body starts making more testosterone, the major male hormone. Although some guys may feel embarrassed or even guilty about having wet dreams, they can’t be controlled and you can’t stop them from happening — most guys experience them at some TEN•TWENTY ADOLESCENT CLINIC www.tentwenty.org