About BDSM, Body Chemistry & Hormones

The very thought of having a little bit of kinky sex can be very arousing, but why. And what happens to our brains and hormones during BDSM playtime?

When we engage in the act of consensual sex, our bodies release an exciting cocktail of chemicals that enhance pleasure and arousal, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and just for the men vasopressin. But with kinky sex and BDSM this already scientific recipe for delight doesn’t stop there.

So, why is kinky sex so exciting and pleasurable?

BDSM & Endorphins

BDSM has been linked to boosted levels of endorphins. Feel-good endorphins are released when the body is experiencing or engaging in sex, exercise and perhaps the most interesting of all, pain. So, it’s no surprise that the happy little hormones will have an extra special effect on those practising BDSM. And what is also rather interesting for BDSM practitioners is that the endorphins are also producing a natural form of morphine. This means that people tend to have a slightly higher pain tolerance when experiencing these highs, which could explain why kinksters can come across so tough and hardy. With all those extra pain reducing endorphins floating around, they can handle a little more sexual pleasure/pain.

When the body experiences high-levels of endorphins, you can reach a state that feels like a dreamy, floaty stupor, in the kink world we call this Sub-Space. It occurs when your body, coursing with all those raging endorphins experiences a deeply pleasurable state of arousal, which temporarily suspends all known sense and you become so utterly relaxed you reach a totally natural and very blissful high.

Adrenaline Makes Kink Exciting

BDSM and the very thought of subs and doms with all those exciting toys and tools is quite exhilarating, so maybe you won’t be too surprised to hear that during kinky sex you can expect a big release of adrenaline.

Adrenaline is a wonder chemical which is a crucial part of the bodies fight-or-flight response. It’s naturally preparing us for some kind of action. A rush of adrenaline can decrease the body’s ability to feel pain as well as causing a noticeable increase in strength and performance, while creating heightened awareness, with the effects lasting for up to an hour.

BDSM & the Love Hormone Oxytocin

So with such wonderful heightened senses, orgasms can feel quite literally out of this world. BDSM has also been linked with extra boosts of the chemical oxytocin, which is known as the love hormone and can help build strong bonds between those engaging in BDSM playtime.

BDSM Can Reduce Stress & Improve Moods

It’s easy to see why so many people practice BDSM. All of these wonderful natural chemicals can reduce stress, and help improve moods. It’s now been scientifically proven that kinksters are less likely to struggle with depression, PTSD, psychological sadism, and paranoia. Which if you read the press doesn’t sound like the average stereotypical BDSM practicioner does it?

In one of my recent blogs Are Kinksters crazy? You can read more about how a study from 2013 revealed that people who practice BDSM scored better on a variety of personality and psychological tests compared to those who did not have sexual fetishes. Woop woop Kinksters!

For those new to the kinky community I know that shame and embarrassment can play a big role in denying yourself further exploration. I’m hoping that with all these new studies which support safe BDSM, the veil of shame will finally be lifted. Experiencing pleasure from pain is a common element of BDSM. Now it’s not just talk: it’s backed by science! And nobody wants to mess with science, right?