The recent death of David Carradine has brought up serious questions about breath play. What is it? Why do people do it? Can it be done safely? I’ll try to answer these in this short post.
Breath play, or autoerotic asphyxiation, is nothing more than shutting down the oxygen flow to the brain during masturbation. This can be done in many ways. Some people use strangulation techniques, some people will cover the nose and mouth with hands, breasts, sitting on the face and with other props.
People do it because it can lead to a kind of euphoric state during masturbation, and it can intensify the orgasm. It is frequently done in BDSM scenes as a type of fetish play. The intent is only to enhance the orgasm. It is not usually a violent act, though in role play, it may be done to simulate violent sex.
Generally, it is not safe. Men are more likely to die during autoerotic asphyxiation. The idea may seem intriguing, but the dangers can outweigh the rewards. Unsupervised breath play can become lethal without the person doing it being aware that he or she is in danger.
I would advise people to avoid actual breath play. There are ways to “pretend,” but even these can be dangerous if unsupervised. So your best bet is to avoid breath play. A euphoric orgasm isn’t worth the ultimate price – your life.