What is Autoerotic Asphyxiation?

With the recent death of David Carradine, many are seeing this term for the first time and asking what is it? Why would someone do this to themselves? Obviously, one of the potential risks is death. So what would make this so appealing to some?

Autoerotic asphyxiation is a type of sexual play where one cuts off their airways to enhance their sexual pleasure. It can take many forms and has many softer words such as chokers, breath play, edge play, and others. It can be done through hanging, suffocation, and smothering. It is where you allow your partner to shut off your airways for a brief period of time during sexual activity.

The practice of autoerotic asphyxiation has been around since the 1600's. It was even used in older days and other countries as a possible treatment for erectile dysfunction. It has become more widely spread and talked about today due to the rising popularity of BDSM. BDSM can stand for several things, bondage and discipline, or submission and mastery, or dominance and submission. There are several ways to identify each individual community within the ever growing BDSM groups.

Those interested in the BDSM lifestyle or play practices, may engage in edge play. Or dangerous, risky erotic behavior designed to thrill both parties. Not everyone engaged in a form of BDSM practices edge play and not everyone who edge plays practices autoerotic asphyxiation. It is important to distinguish that while this happens within a very small portion of the community, it is not something everyone within that community condones. However, this growing popularity is due to the fact that there is a gaining interest in this type of sexual play.

Autoerotic asphyxiation has serious risks involved when choosing to experiment with this behavior. Some may even compare the risk of a high with an illegal drug and the consequences as being similar to toying with autoerotic asphyxiation. It carries the same amount of risks as injecting too much heroin in your bloodstream or indulging in an overdose of any kind.

There are usually rules set up with this type of erotic play to make it seem safer. However, no matter what safety precautions are taken accidents can and do happen. When people are exposed to the thrill of something, they are rarely given all of the information as to the consequences should something go wrong.

This type of erotic play can cause someone brain damage. It cuts off the air in your body and anytime you do that you are shorting your brain oxygen it needs to function correctly. If one becomes addicted to this style of play, they are taking a risk with their brain cells every time they indulge themselves. But the greater risk than this is in the case of an accidental death. Unlike a drug injection however, you have no control over your airways when you engage in this practice. Despite safe words, there is no guarantee that you will not die will engaging in this type of play.

Those considering the risks and thrills of this type of sexual play should become informed. Read up on the practice of it. Read up on the common "safe" rules. Read about how despite all the rules, it can still go wrong. As adults, everyone makes their own choices but a choice such as this can be akin to standing on a bridge and deciding to jump rather than live. Is the brief erotica pleasure really worth your life? There are many other thrills available to those looking for pleasure, why choose one that carries such a big risk?

Sources: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51776
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/carradine-had-rope-around_n_211689.html
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1866.html