Study Reveals prevalence of Strangulation During Sex & Associated Health Risks
A new survey by Ifas, part of the faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, has revealed a concerning prevalence of strangulation during sex in the UK. The study found that more than a fifth of respondents reported experiencing physical effects following strangulation, including neck pain, dizziness, and coughing.
The data indicates a significant risk, with one in 50 respondents reporting loss of consciousness and the same proportion experiencing bladder incontinence during or after the act. A further one in 100 reported losing bowel control. alarmingly, the majority of those experiencing these physical symptoms did not seek medical attention, often unaware of the potential severity of the issues.
Research highlights the potential for serious, long-term consequences.Numerous studies have demonstrated brain changes in women who have been repeatedly “choked” during sex, including markers indicative of brain damage and disruptions in brain hemispheres linked to depression and anxiety.
The survey also revealed a high incidence of psychological impact, with nearly half (47%) of respondents reporting anxiety during or after being strangled.
“Even a ‘fleeting moment’ of strangulation could lead to lifelong health problems,” stated Prof Cath White, a medical director at Ifas. She explained that sensations perceived as pleasure during strangulation may actually be the result of oxygen deprivation to brain cells, which, once damaged, cannot regenerate. “The truth is that strangulation – and especially repeated strangulation – increases the risk of nerve damage, damage to the brain, stroke and even death. What might feel like a fleeting moment can have consequences that last a lifetime.”
The study also explored motivations behind the practice. While 38% of those who engaged in strangulation reported doing so for their own enjoyment, the most common reason cited was their partner’s enjoyment (46%).sexual partners were identified as the primary source of encouragement for the practice.
Harriet Smailes, the report’s author and research manager at Ifas, emphasized the need to examine the dynamics at play. “There are still many individuals who believe strangulation to be a ‘normal’ part of sex, worry about what their partner or friends will say if they don’t engage in it, are strangled during sex without prior agreement and are physically or psychologically harmed during the practice.” She added that the research should “raise questions around influences and feelings of choice in practising strangulation during sex”.
Legally, non-fatal strangulation was established as a standalone criminal offence in 2021, recognizing that consent cannot be given to inflict serious harm or risk death for sexual gratification. This legal change was prompted by a rise in the use of the “rough sex” defense in cases of femicide and sexual assault.
The severity of the issue is underscored by data from the Ifas femicide census, which indicates that strangulation was the cause of death in 27% of cases where women were killed. A total of 550 women in the UK have been strangled to death since 2014.
