A sex worker is issuing a stark warning about a potentially dangerous sex trend that has become popular with couples.
Katija Cortez is certainly no stranger to kinks in the bedroom, in fact she's probably heard it all over the years in her job as a professional escort.
However, the 29-year-old from Sydney, who also co-hosts her own podcast about the adult industry, was just a teen when she first experienced one particular act that completely took her by surprise.
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In an interview with news.com.au, Cortez said the move was 'unexpected' and that she wasn't sure quite how to 'react' to it.
She said that it came down to a lack of experience and confidence to assert her boundaries, given she was just 16.
Now, she warns the practice is increasingly common, particularly for couples who may like to spice things up, but can be pretty dangerous.
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She is of course talking about choking during sex, which she said is a 'common kink and a form of submissive and sensory play'.
Yet Cortez struggled to see the fun side during her first experience, as she hadn't discussed it with her sexual partner beforehand.
"Keep in mind this was over a decade ago when consent was not a topic of conversation like it is today," she explained. "Had he asked me beforehand if I’d let him choke me, I’d probably have said no.”
In her adult life and career, Cortez says she's had more encounters and requests of the act, leading her to believe it has snowballed in popularity and accelerated due to pornography.
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Cortez added: “When I was younger, a lot of guys had started doing it, which I think definitely came from seeing it in porn. Choking during porn is very, very common and is becoming increasingly more common.”
Yet just because it's popular in adult movies, doesn't mean it's risk-free, she warns as she stressed porn is simply a 'fantasy.'
“Just like movies, porn stars are trained professionals working in controlled environments where many things are all agreed upon beforehand. Even porn actors discuss dos and don’ts before a scene,” she said.
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“Sex outside of porn should be no different. It’s all about communication.”
Not only can choking be uncomfortable for anyone who didn't previously consent to it, but Professor Heather Douglas, of Melbourne University Law School, warned: "Placing pressure on the neck is not safe."
Speaking to news.com.au, she continued: "Only a small amount of pressure can cause serious harm, and potentially death.
“Particularly concerning is that this behaviour can lead to brain injury, and the more often people engage in strangulation, the more likely brain injury is. Often, people will be unaware of this.”
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Cortez also commented: “It needs to be understood that this particular kink can be scary and should not be done without asking.
“Something [like] choking may even bring up past trauma for some people. So, this definitely needs to be kept in mind.”
Meanwhile, WebMD states sexual choking is 'dangerous physically, mentally and emotionally.'
Minor health risks can include broken blood vessels in the face, a hoarse voice or trouble swallowing, while on the severe end, death caused by too much pressure on the carotid arteries that supply blood to your brain.
The site further notes more than half of women have reported being choked by their partner during sex with the act being most common among women, transgender and non-binary people.
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, Australia, World News
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