autoasphyxiation

An extreme example of sadomasochism is autoerotic autoasphyxiation. Many people enjoy ther sensation of being partially strangled or hung - though it is a risky business. The practice has been popular for some years, and some men find it difficult to get an erection any other way.

In 1793, a wealthy man from Bristol came to London to see if a bout of 'suspension' could cure his impotence. He hired the services of a young prostitute in Charlotte Street, and a few minutes' hanging produced very gratifying results. However, the man took a turn for the worse, and the young woman ran into the street to seek help, and the man was saved.

It is not just men who enjoy asphyxiation. A U.S. police training manual cites a case in the 1980s where a woman was found crouched in her closet with a ligature around her neck and a vibrator up her vagina. Although foul play was suspected at first, subsequent investigation pointed to accidental self-asphyxiation during an elaborate masturbation ritual.

People practicing autoasphyxiation usually apply pressure to the noose around their necks by crouching and letting the rope slowly take their body weight. The danger is that pressure on the carotid arteries in the neck will interrupt the blood supply to the brain and cause unconsciousness. Once this happens, the victim slumps, and the pressure from the rope causes death by strangulation. In the United States, around 700 people die each year from this type of sex game.

Also known as: autoerotic asphyxia

Also see:

Have a Say?
Submit additional information | Correct Errors