Although Dangerous, Choking During Sex Is Common Among Young Adults

Nov. 22, 2025

Choking during sex has moved from the margins to the mainstream for many young adults, but the risks have not changed.

New research reveals the prevalence of the practice and the confusion many people have about what makes it hazardous.

A survey commissioned by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IfAS) has found that more than one-third of people aged 18 to 34 have been choked or strangled at least once during consensual sex. IfAS is a UK-based organization that aims to reduce harms from strangulation in domestic abuse, sexual contexts and forensic settings -- environments where injuries are examined for legal, evidential or investigative purposes.

The survey findings suggest that pornography featuring choking is helping to normalize strangulation during sex among young adults. The report was published as the UK government prepares to ban such content in the upcoming crime and policing bill.

While many participants reported positive experiences, others described deeply negative experiences, and just over one-quarter said they had been choked without agreeing to it first. This raises particular concern because choking during sex sometimes intersects with domestic abuse and non-fatal strangulation is a known predictor of serious harm in intimate partner violence.

When a behavior that is well-documented in coercive and violent relationships becomes normalized in consensual settings, the boundaries can blur. Young people may struggle to distinguish experimentation from harm and may feel pressured to accept acts they do not want. The survey's accounts of distress and lack of consent highlight how these boundaries can erode.

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READ MORE: Phys.org