asphyxiophilia: a paraphilia of the sacrificial/expiatory type in which sexuoerotic arousal and facilitation or attainment of orgasm are responsive to and contingent on self-strangulation and asphyxiation up to, but not including loss of consciousness [from Greek,
asphyxia,[asphyxin,?] no pulse + philia]. Employing partial asphyxiation, as by hanging, strangulation, plastic bags or gags, in order to achieve or maintain sexual arousal or to facilitate or enhance orgasm. Usually seen in an adolescent male, but reported in older males. When the ritual is autoerotic, split-second failure to release the noose or gag at the onset of orgasm results in death. There is no technical term for the reciprocal paraphilic condition which is subsumed under the general category of
sadomasochism with the dominant partner supervising, in control of, or presiding over the ritual.
See also autoerotic death;
hypoxyphilia;
erotic self-strangulation.
Dictionary of Sexology Project: Main Index