Sexual Choking May Cause Brain Damage

In recent years, choking during sex has become much more common, especially among younger adults in the United States. One nationally representative study found that:

• 31.9 percent of women ages 18-24 reported ever being choked during sex
• 40.6 percent of women ages 25-29 reported the same
• Only 5 percent of women in their 50s reported this experience

This rise is part of a broader increase in “rough sex,” particularly among younger generations, and has been observed in multiple countries.

Where Are People Learning This?

Research shows that many young people are exposed to rough sex—including choking—through media such as:

• Pornography
• Social media
• Memes and online content

However, most people engaging in these behaviors have little formal education about sexual safety, consent, or kink practices. As a result, boundaries and expectations are often not clearly discussed beforehand.

People describe sexual choking as a mixed experience. For some, it can feel intense, euphoric, exciting, or pleasurable. But it can also be frightening. Importantly, choking restricts air and/or blood flow to the brain, which raises serious safety concerns.

What the New Study Found

A recent study looked at 31 college-aged women who had experienced sexual choking. Researchers compared their physical and psychological responses after sex that involved choking and sex that did not involve choking. The participants were not told that the study focused on choking, which helped reduce bias.

Most participants reported that their experiences were mild to moderate, with only about 10 percent describing severe choking. Typically, choking occurred 2-4 times during a sexual encounter; for about one-third of participants, it was just once in an encounter.

Source: Helmut Strasil / Pixabay

Measuring Brain Effects

Researchers used a simple neurological test called near point convergence (NPC). This measures how close an object can get to your eyes before your vision doubles.

NPC is commonly used to detect mild brain injuries, such as concussions. Normal NPC is about 6-10 cm; a larger distance indicates possible neurological impairment

This study found that NPC increased after sex in general but that the increase was significantly larger after sex involving choking

In simple terms, participants showed more signs of mild neurological impairment after being choked.

Researchers also noted that these effects can last for days or weeks. This means that even the results from non-choking encounters might have been influenced by earlier choking experiences.

Mental Health Effects

The study also examined emotional outcomes:

• Sex without choking was linked to reduced depressive symptoms
• Sex with choking did not show this benefit

Previous research has also found that people who frequently experience sexual choking report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

However, the findings were not entirely negative or straightforward:

• Both types of sex reduced stress
• Choking was associated with a decrease in anxiety (but not non-choking sex)

Researchers suggest this may be due to the intensity of the experience. About two-thirds of participants reported experiencing some feelings of pleasure or euphoria during choking. Other studies have also linked consensual choking with increased feelings of intimacy and connection.

Why This Matters

This is some of the first research showing that sexual choking may cause mild brain injury. While more research is needed, the findings raise important concerns.

At the same time, the emotional effects—both positive and negative—help explain why people engage in this behavior despite the risks.

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Takeaway

Sexual choking is becoming more common, especially among younger people. While it may feel pleasurable for some, or emotionally intense, it carries real physical risks, including potential brain injury.

These findings highlight the need for:

• Better education about sexual safety
• Clear communication and consent
• Greater awareness of the risks involved