nocturnal emission

Nocturnal emission, also known as a wet dream, is the involuntary ejaculation of semen during sleep. While it can occur at any age, it is most common in adolescent males and young adults, typically happening once a month during the teens and 20s. These emissions are not usually associated with recalled dreams, though erotic dreaming may be involved.1

It is important to distinguish nocturnal emissions from other sleep-related phenomena such as nightmares, sleepwalking, or night terrors, which are generally unrelated to ordinary dreaming and do not involve ejaculation.1