Alarming Normalisation of Sexual Choking Among Young Britons
Disturbing new research reveals that nearly half of sexually active young people in the UK have experienced strangulation during intimate encounters, despite the potentially fatal consequences. The study conducted by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (Ifas) shows that 43% of sexually active 16- and 17-year-olds have engaged in what's commonly known as 'choking' or erotic asphyxiation.
The Scale of the Problem
The survey findings paint a concerning picture of sexual habits among younger generations. More than two in five sexually active individuals under 18 have either been strangled or have strangled someone else during sex. The prevalence increases with age, with over half of people under 35 having experienced this dangerous practice.
Perhaps most worrying is the widespread misunderstanding about safety. Nearly one third of respondents incorrectly believe there are safe ways to strangle someone during sexual activity. Medical experts strongly contradict this misconception, emphasising that there is no safe method of restricting oxygen to the brain.
Physical and Psychological Consequences
The research uncovered a crisis of distress among those on the receiving end of strangulation. 36% of participants reported feeling scared during the experience, while 21% suffered dangerous physical symptoms including dizziness and loss of consciousness.
The physical effects documented in the study are severe and widespread:
- More than one fifth experienced neck pain, dizziness and coughing
- One in 50 people lost consciousness
- The same proportion experienced bladder incontinence
- One in 100 respondents lost bowel control
Medical director Professor Cath White from Ifas warned that even a fleeting moment of strangulation could lead to lifelong health problems. She explained that the sensation often mistaken for enhanced pleasure may actually be the result of brain cells being deprived of oxygen.
Consent Issues and External Influences
The study revealed significant consent gaps in sexual choking practices. More people who had strangled someone believed their partner had consented in advance compared to those who had experienced it. Alarmingly, 1% of recipients said they had explicitly not agreed to it the last time it happened.
Gender differences were notable in the research. While both men and women reported similar rates of being on the receiving end (47% men and 52% women), men were considerably more likely to have carried out strangulation. Among those who had strangled someone else, 5% admitted to doing it more than 50 times.
The influence of mainstream pornography was identified as a major factor. Respondents cited porn as their biggest source of information about the practice. Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University, described how depictions of strangulation in pornography have become increasingly brutal, involving belts around necks and plastic bags over heads.
Legal Changes and Medical Warnings
In response to growing concerns, the UK government is taking action. Pornography featuring strangulation and suffocation will be outlawed by the end of this year, with legal requirements placed on tech platforms to prevent users from accessing such material.
The medical evidence supporting these measures is compelling. Numerous studies have shown brain changes in women repeatedly choked during sex, including markers for brain damage and disruptions linked to depression and anxiety. Nearly half (47%) of survey respondents reported experiencing anxiety during or after being strangled.
Harriet Smailes, the report's author and research manager at Ifas, emphasised that the findings should raise questions about influences and feelings of choice in practising strangulation during sex. She noted that many individuals still believe it to be a normal part of sex and worry about partner or friend reactions if they decline to participate.
The seriousness of this issue is reflected in legal changes. Non-fatal strangulation became a stand-alone criminal offence in 2021, and the law recognises that someone cannot consent to serious harm or death for sexual gratification. This legal development responded to the rise in 'rough sex' defences used by men who murdered women during sexual encounters.
The tragic reality of strangulation dangers is underscored by femicide statistics. According to the Ifas femicide census, strangulation was the cause of death in 27% of cases where women were killed, with 550 women in the UK strangled to death since 2014.
