Violence

Open Access: Yes.

Abstract

This report lays out the findings of the UK’s first in-depth survey of 4,175 individuals aged 16-34, exploring the experiences and perceptions of strangulation during sex.

Relevance

Among those respondents with sexual experiences, 66% reported have been strangled at least once during sex. More women than men had been strangled, and more non-binary and transgender people.

Among those with sexual experience, too, 45% had strangled someone else during sex. Men did so almost twice as often as women.

More than one-quarter of those who were strangled during sex (27%) “reported that strangulation either had not been discussed…or it had been discussed but that they had not agreed to it taking place.”

Almost one-quarter (21%) who had been strangled “reported having experienced negative physical symptoms or feelings as a result of strangulation.” A higher percentage reported likewise among those who had not given prior agreement.

The most common physical symptoms during sexual strangulation included neck pain, dizziness, and coughing. Two percent lost consciousness, 2% were “incontinent of urine,” and 1% were “incontinent of faeces.” The most common negative psychological experiences were fear and anxiety. Five percent sought mental health services afterwards; 4% went to a medical practitioners; and 10% were prescribed medication.

The single greatest source of information on sexual strangulation was pornography (40%) – followed by social media (38%).

The words most commonly associated with the practice included rough, painful, frightening, violence.

Citation

Smailes, H., Munro, V. E., & Tonkin, M. (2025). Strangulation During Sex in the UK: A report of the prevalence and experiences of strangulation during sex amongst 16-34-year-olds across the UK. Institute for Addressing Strangulation. https://ifas.org.uk/strangulation-during-sex-in-the-uk/