⚠️ High Risk

🫁 Breath Play

(Erotic Asphyxiation/Hypoxyphilia/Breath Control Play)

💨 Breath Control

(Non-Choking Forms)

⚕️ Sounding

(Urethral Play)

🔪 Piquerism

🩸 Blood Play

(Sanguinophilia)

⚠️ Edgeplay

(General Concept)

😱 Autoassassinophilia

🤯 Vorarephilia

(If Acted Out Physically)

💊 Chemsex

(Chemical Sex)

🫁 Breath Play

🔎 What is it?

Breath play involves controlling or restricting someone’s breathing (via choking, smothering, masks, etc.) to intensify sensation or arousal.

⚠️ This is one of the riskiest types of kink play due to the danger of unconsciousness, brain damage, or death.

🤔 What’s the appeal?

👁️ Heightened intensity and trust

🔥 Edge-of-danger adrenaline rush

🕹️ Control/submission symbolism

💦 Oxygen deprivation can intensify orgasms

🦺 Safety Concerns

💀 Accidental death

⛔ Risk of death or permanent brain damage

🧠 Brain damage (due to oxygen deprivation)

🚑 Stroke (due to damaged blood vessels in the neck)

🚑 Cardiac arrest

🔄 Voice changes,

👨 Neck pain

🧩 Memory loss,

😔 Depression.

Autoerotic asphyxiation (when done alone) is particularly dangerous due to the lack of immediate help if something goes wrong.

🧠 Can trigger trauma/PTSD in clients with past abuse

🫁 Risk of airway collapse, vomit inhalation, or cardiac arrest

❌ NEVER perform if the client is intoxicated, ill, or on blood pressure meds

❌ Avoid all “sleeper holds”

🧰 How to Prepare:

Suggest 4-7-8 breathing, which is a safer way to breathe play. Learn more here.

✅ Both sex worker and client to sign an agreement (like this) before beginning appointment. Please note this is not legal advice.

✅ Use hand-over-mouth, gas masks, or safe-position pillows (NOT neck pressure)

✅ Agree on non-verbal safe words (e.g., tapping out)

✅ Learn about vagal response and safe duration limits (usually <10 seconds)

Information Here

✅ Keep client’s neck clear of pressure points and airways

🤝 How to Conduct a Professional Session

Discuss health risks upfront and require verbal & written consent

Stay completely sober and focused - no multitasking

Use mirrors or direct face-to-face position to monitor signs

Keep water, cold towel, and aftercare kit ready

Decompress with calming, grounding aftercare

📚 Resources

The complete Manual of Breathplay PDF

By Dunter Edition S. Leclerc

Kinks

Rope BDSM

The Duchy

Breath-Play & Risk: What You Need To Know

The Burnett Foundation

Please contact the Kynk 101 team if you'd like to use our content elsewhere.

Kynk 101

Breathless in the Bedroom: The Risks and Rewards of Breath Play

Greatist

The Psychology Behind Breath Play

Psychology Today

Everything You Need to Know About Erotic Asphyxiation

Healthline

What Is A Safe Word, Exactly? Here's How To Use One During Sex, According To Experts

Womens Health

LISTEN:

Hold your breath–why some people turn to choking during sex Podcast