61.3 percent of people admitted in a survey that they'd seen the act depicted in adult videos

A sexual health specialist is raising serious concerns about a growing trend that’s becoming more mainstream in intimate relationships. According to her, there’s just "There's no safe way to do it." when it comes to this increasingly common act, which is turning out to be far more dangerous than many people realize.

Recent studies show that 69 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the U.S. consume online adult content. Of those surveyed, 61.3 percent admitted they’d seen choking featured in these videos, which experts say may be influencing behavior in the bedroom.

The practice, known as sexual asphyxiation, is described by medical sources like Web MD as "the act of choking someone else or yourself for sexual pleasure." This activity falls under the broader category referred to as breath play.

This kind of erotic activity has become a regular feature in adult content, and it's now showing up more often in real-life sexual encounters, especially among young adults.

In an article published by The Guardian today (July 7), experts revealed that choking during sex has become so widely accepted by younger generations that it’s no longer being seen as something risky or harmful.

Commenting on this sex trend that’s associated with serious health risks like strokes and brain damage, Jane Meyrick, a chartered health psychologist who leads sexual health work at the University of the West of England, explained to the publication: "There's no safe way to do it."

A sexual health expert has explained how sexual choking has become so normalised its no longer considered 'problematic'Getty Stock Image

"No safe quantity of blood or oxygen you can cut off from her brain for fun."

Meyrick said that last year, she attended a sexual health conference where scientific data was shared on just how harmful this kind of activity can be.

She recalled the vibe at the event and said: "Usually, at those conferences, people will be talking about the extremes of what everyone is getting up to in a very sex-positive way."

"When this was presented, you could feel the tension, the internal conflict, in the room, with professionals being unable to reconcile the gap between what they were hearing and their usual sex-positivity."

Sexual choking can cause depression, memory problems, and in severe cases, deathGetty Stock Image

A new survey by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation—an organization that was launched with help from the Home Office in 2022 when strangulation became a standalone criminal offense revealed that over one in three people aged 16 to 34 have experienced sexual strangulation at some point.

In contrast, only 16 percent of individuals aged 35 to 54 admitted to trying it, and among those 55 and older, the number drops to just three percent.

Meyrick pointed out: "Larger academic studies of college students in the US and Australia put it at much higher."

"It has become normalized practice among younger people and not viewed as problematic and most older people have no idea."

Experts from Web MD caution that choking during sex can lead to relatively mild issues like red or broken blood vessels in the face, a raspy or hoarse voice, or even difficulty swallowing.

However, they also warn that the long-term consequences can be much more serious. These include mental health problems like depression and PTSD, as well as memory loss and cognitive difficulties.

In extreme cases, this kind of activity can result in death. That can happen if too much pressure is placed on the carotid arteries—the major blood vessels in the neck that are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood to your brain.

If someone who’s engaging in sexual asphyxiation suddenly loses consciousness, has trouble breathing, or becomes unable to speak, it’s critical to call emergency services right away.