Major rise in rough sex among teens, such as choking, prompts warning from doctors

Experts warn that the increase is the result of rough sex becoming normalized in pop culture, which is made easier by the broad availability of pornography and social media.

The survey, conducted by Dr. Debby Herbenick, researcher on American sexual behavior, asked 5,000 students at a midwestern university about their sex lives, per the New York Times.

Among the respondents, two-thirds of the women surveyed said they had been choked by a partner during sexual intercourse. 40 percent of respondents said it happened for the first time between the ages of 12 and 17.

A previous survey that asked the same question showed that 25 percent of respondents said that they have been choked.

Choking is a term used to describe a type of strangulation when pressure is applied to the neck to restrict oxygen flow to the brain.

Herbenick told the New York Times that she is worried about how common rough sex has become among young people and that all caregivers—parents, teachers, and other adults—should be aware of the trend and potential risks associated with it.

The woman is usually the one on the receiving end of forceful sex, and the man is almost always the one choking, slapping, or suffocating the woman during sexual activities, according to Herbenick's observations in her book.

Her findings seem to indicate that a lot of young people think sex should be rough.

According to Herbenick, when college students are asked why they engage in rough sex, they typically respond that it's thrilling or daring. She also believes that a constant barrage of pornographic material and exposure to rough sex creates preconceptions about what sex is supposed to be like and that appropriate sex education is not being provided in homes or schools.

Herbenick states that young people fear that if they don't participate, they will be called dull or "vanilla-shamed." She says that some young men are afraid that if they don't smack or choke their partner they won't be seen as manly.

According to Herbenick, young women learn about rough sex from TikTok and social media memes, while young males learn about it from pornography. Ideas about rough sex are also picked up by both sexes from friends and popular media, such as TV shows and music, she said.