Sexual choking, also known as erotic asphyxiation, has grown in popularity among young adults and teens in the U.S., and now, appears to be gaining traction overseas, including in Australia. While some individuals report finding it pleasurable, health experts are sounding the alarm about the serious physical and legal risks associated with the practice, regardless of where it occurs.
A landmark July 2024 study conducted by researchers from Melbourne University Law School and the University of Queensland took a look at 4,702 Australians ages 18 to 35 and found that sexual strangulation was a widespread practice among young people, yet most were unaware of the potential dangers or legal implications. The research revealed that 57% of participants had been strangled during sex at least once, while 51% had strangled a partner.
Despite the prevalence of this behavior, few respondents knew that even consensual strangulation can cause serious harm, and many were unaware that it is a criminal offence in every Australian state and territory. Notably, in the U.S., choking is considered a felony offense in many states, typically in domestic abuse cases.
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What are the risks of sexual choking?
According to WebMD, individuals who experience sexual choking may face several serious health issues, such as trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, and memory problems. More alarmingly, cutting off the air supply to the brain can result in brain damage or even death. The pressure exerted on the neck during strangulation can damage blood vessels, reducing the oxygen reaching the brain, leading to irreversible brain damage or fatality. Other consequences include incontinence, seizures, issues with memory, concentration, decision making, depression, anxiety, and miscarriage, the New York Post notes.
Professor Heather Douglas, an educator at Melbourne University Law School and a co-author behind the shocking study, said that while many sexual choking experiences may not result in death, the person being choked may experience small amounts of damage over time, leading to health complications long term.
“It doesn’t matter if there are no apparent injuries or whether the person consented. Brain injury can also be incremental – getting a bit worse with each choking – and the person may not know they have suffered a brain injury,” she explained in a press release published July 2, 2024. The effects of repeated strangling are insidious and build over time, like the effects of repeated concussions on footballers.”
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