Sexual Masochism Disorder

Sexual masochism involves acts in which an individual experiences sexual excitement from being humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise abused.

Sexual masochism disorder is sexual masochism that causes significant distress or substantially interferes with daily functioning.

Sexual masochism is a form of paraphilia. Most individuals with masochistic tendencies do not have sexual masochism disorder.

Some amount of sadism and masochism is commonly play-acted in healthy sexual relationships, and mutually compatible partners often seek one another out.

For example, the use of silk handkerchiefs for simulated bondage and mild spanking during sexual activity are common practices between consenting partners and are not considered sadomasochistic.

Most masochists interact with a consenting partner, who may have sexual sadism (that is, who experiences sexual excitement from inflicting physical or psychologic suffering on another individual). In these relationships, the humiliation and beating are simply acted out, with participants knowing that it is a game and carefully avoiding actual humiliation or injury.

In contrast, sexual masochism disorder involves one or both of the following:

• Individuals are distressed by their behaviour or unable to function because of their behaviour.
• Acts result in severe bodily or psychological harm and even death, as can occur in asphyxiophilia.

Treatment of masochism is usually ineffective.

Asphyyxiophilia (Autoerotic Asphyxiation)

Asphyxiophilia is considered a sub-type of sexual masochism disorder.

Individuals with asphyxiophilia partially choke or strangle themselves by applying a noose around their neck, or they allow a partner to do so.

Typically, individuals use articles of clothing (such as scarves or underwear) as the noose. They may attach the noose to an object in the room (such as a doorknob or bedpost).

A temporary decrease in oxygen to the brain at the point of orgasm is sought as an enhancement to sexual release, but the practice may accidentally result in brain damage or death.