Seriously, we’re talking about blood here. It really can be dangerous (even if it sounds mad fun). LaMorgese tells us that blood play can involve cutting each other or oneself, licking blood off your partner, or even drinking it.
It’s probably important to note that it doesn’t necessarily involve real, human blood every time, though. It depends on what you’re looking to do up in here. You can enjoy blood play using blood capsules, menstrual blood, or even something you pretend is blood such as red wine or strawberry sauce.
It’s called being imaginative, guys.
Read: For the Love of Period Sex
Why are people into blood play?
We’re animals at our very core. Hunting, killing and eating things is pretty f-ing feral … which can be sexy. Obviously not everyone is going to be turned on by this, but it makes sense why some people would be. We’re a sexually dynamic breed when we’re left to our own devices.
LaMorgese says that blood play is fundamentally no different than other forms of BDSM: It’s about control and power. “People are curious and it makes them feel edgy and sexy,” she says.
You’re not a freak if you like blood during sex. You’re not square if this is making you queasy. Everyone is different.
Where do you start?
Before you even think of getting started, LaMorgese suggests watching some erotic blood play movies with your partner to establish if this is something that turns you on. We’re not all guaranteed an experience like mine, wherein both of us randomly happened upon blood-lust.
If you’re looking to try blood play, it is probably best not to try real blood during your first experiments - if at all. BDSM takes a ton of trust. Allowing someone to cut your skin? That’s next level, you know? It also carries significant risk of transmission of STIs and other diseases, like HVI and hepatitis. You have been warned.
Plus, emotionally speaking, blood play is not your run-of-the-mill vanilla sex. It can be … vexing, both emotionally and physically.
“I highly recommend starting with fake blood. Blood play can be very emotionally intense, and it's best to build up to the real thing to give everyone time to adjust and feel comfortable,” LaMorgese says. “ Actually cutting each other is, of course, OK too, as long as both partners are consenting and ready.”
Fantasy Blood Play
Check out your local costume store (or Amazon Prime) and get some Halloween blood capsules. They have the color and texture of real blood (for the most part), without involving the worry of physical pain, scarring, or possible screw-ups. If you do decide to cut your skin or someone else’s, you must make sure the implement is sterilized. Personally, I don’t think you should be cutting anyone or yourself without professional blood play experience. The question is, where does one learn how to do that? Is there a blood play finishing school somewhere?
Seriously, let me know if you hear anything.
How do you keep it “clean?”
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the only thing more likely to keep you away from blood sex other than a fear of blood is a fear of mess.
Women’s health brand FLEX conducted a survey of over 500 people, asking them their thoughts on period sex. Eighty-six percent of respondents noted that "the mess and cleanup” were the biggest reasons to keep them from having period sex. Forty-five percent of those asked said that period sex is “kind of gross.”
Read: Bloody Hell! Is Period Sex Really a Big Deal!
So, if you want to do blood stuff but cringe at the thought of a bloody handprint on a white wall, here are two pointers:
Get some red towels. For obvious reasons, red towels are ideal for this kind of play. Spread them out wherever you’re going to be getting bloody and have at it.
Stay off the bed. Blood (real or otherwise) will seep through towels to some degree. If you are bothered by the idea of staining your mattress, keep it off the bed. We suggest the floor. It keeps the animalistic qualities of blood sex alive, you know?