A Guide to Safe BDSM Practices

BDSM is an acronym that refers various sexual practices that fall under the categories of bondage and discipline (BD), dominance and submission (DS), and sadism and masochism (SM). BDSM is considered a kink, and there is a fairly large community of people who enjoy partaking in it. Because BDSM often involves the use of physical…

A Guide to Alternative Sex Toys

Alternative sex toys are a great tool to use when exploring all the exciting sensations of sex. These toys may not be as mainstream as some other sex toys, but they can be just as pleasurable and fun. Many people who practice kinky sex enjoy using alternative sex toys. Kinky sex includes, but is not…

An Overview of Kinky Sex

“Kink” is loosely defined as anything outside normal sexual activity. What is considered “kinky” or unconventional is often subjective and informed by cultural norms, thus, there is no universal definition of kink. In this article, we will identify kinky sex based on cultural norms in the United States; however, we acknowledge that every individual has…

Sex Work

Sex work is defined as the “commercial exchange of sex for money or goods,” and sex workers are individuals who are employed in the sex industry.1 Sex work differs from sexual exploitation, or sex trafficking, in that sex workers are not forced into any act by coercion, violence, or deception. The broad category of sex work includes specific jobs…

Paraphilia

The term paraphilia is approximately 100 years old, but its meaning and definition vary.¹ The word itself can be broken down into two parts; the first part of the word ‘para-’ means beyond, abnormal, or irregular and the second part ‘-philia’ means love. The term itself acts as a clinical and scientific umbrella term that…

Necrophilia

Necrophilia describes a paraphilia in which an individual is aroused or attracted to fantasies of or potentially direct sexual contact with the dead. Contact between the necrophile and the corpse can take the form of penile-vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral sex, or masturbation in the presence of a corpse, but can also solely manifest as fantasy. Experts and lawmakers consider the explicit practice of necrophilia as…

Coprophilia

Coprophilia is an erotic fascination with feces and general filth and uncleanliness.1 When a person experiences some type of sexual pleasure associated with feces, they are called coprophiliacs. Coprophiliacs enjoy either watching people defecate, defecating on someone themselves, being defecated on, smearing feces (scatolia), and sometimes eating feces (coprophagia).1  In some adults, coprophilia may manifest…

BDSM (Bondage, Dominance, Sadism, Masochism)

The acronym BDSM includes various sexual practices that fall under the category of bondage and discipline (B-D), dominance and submission (D-S), and sadism and masochism (S-M).1 The practice of BDSM has recently gained more exposure than ever before, but its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations.2 Today, BDSM is considered a kink, with a fairly large…

Swinging

Swinging is a polyamorous practice in which both singles and partners engage in sexual activities with other partners. Swinging is also referred to as comarital sex, wife swapping, husband swapping, and partner swapping. Although traditionally swinging has been used to refer to couples in committed relationships engaging in sexual activities with other couples, single people and non-committed…