Choking is sold to teens as a safe sexual practice. The research says it never is

Only a small percentage of adults in midlife and beyond reported being choked in a survey by Dr Debby Herbenick a decade ago; but for those aged 18-39, ‘more than a third of them had reported being choked during sex’. Photograph: Getty Images

When touching someone’s throat, it can only take the pressure of a handshake to cause serious injury, unconsciousness or death. These injuries, which include brain damage and stroke, are often internal and invisible, showing up days or even months after the initial incident occurred. Experts say many who participate in sexual choking are not aware of the risks.

Choking or sexual strangulation is common among young people, says Prof Heather Douglas of the Melbourne Law School. In a 2024 survey of 4,702 Australians aged between 18 and 35, she and her research team found that 57% reported ever having experienced sexual strangulation; 51% reported ever having strangled a partner and 43.9% reported participating in both.