By JADA BAS

Published: 11:48 BST, 29 April 2025 | Updated: 11:57 BST, 29 April 2025

An escort has issued an urgent warning about a potentially deadly bedroom trend that is becoming popular with couples.

Katija Cortez, 29, from Sydney, Australia, was only a teenager when she first experienced the ‘scary’ sex act in an unexpected move from her partner.

Now she says those who like to spice things up in the bedroom should avoid choking—a common kink that’s known to increase the risk of lethal brain damage.

The Australian sex worker has said she has seen a surge in requests for the act and believes this is a result of men watching it in porn.

‘When I was younger, a lot of guys had started doing it, which I think definitely came from seeing it in porn. Choking during porn is very, very common,’ she told news.com.au.

She stressed couples should clearly communicate beforehand to be as safe as possible.

‘Just like movies, porn stars are trained professionals working in controlled environments where many things are all agreed upon beforehand. Even porn actors discuss dos and don’ts before a scene,’ she said.

She added: ‘It needs to be understood that this particular kink can be scary and should not be done without asking.’

Katija Cortez, 29, from Sydney, Australia, has issued an urgent warning about a 'scary' deadly bedroom trend is becoming popular with couples

Katija Cortez, 29, from Sydney, Australia, has issued an urgent warning about a ‘scary’ deadly bedroom trend is becoming popular with couples

She says those who like to spice things up with their partner should avoid choking¿a common kink and a form of submissive play

She says those who like to spice things up with their partner should avoid choking—a common kink and a form of submissive play

The Australian sex worker has said she has seen a surge in requests for the act as a result of men watching it in porn. Cassie from the hit show Euphoria (played by Sydney Sweeney) was non-consensually choked by her boyfriend after he had seen it on explicit websites

The Australian sex worker has said she has seen a surge in requests for the act as a result of men watching it in porn. Cassie from the hit show Euphoria (played by Sydney Sweeney) was non-consensually choked by her boyfriend after he had seen it on explicit websites

You don’t have to be particularly strong to cause a major injury, according to Professor Heather Douglas of Melbourne Law School.

‘Only a small amount of pressure can cause serious harm, and potentially death.

‘Particularly concerning is that this behaviour can lead to brain injury and the more often people engage in strangulation, the more likely brain injury is. 

‘Often, people will be unaware of this.’

It comes as 35 per cent of 16-34 year-olds reported being strangled or choked at least once during consensual sex, according to a recent poll.

Some 50 per cent of those who engaged in the act said they have a visible neck injury after. 

Women who had been choked four times over the previous 30 days experienced changes in their brain structures that affected ability to perform memory tasks, according to research by Dr Debbie Herbinick, a sexual and reproductive health specialist.

The act of choking restricts blood flow to the brain, which can cause it to stop operating at normal capacity immediately.

If the oxygen deficiency continues, it can suffer necrosis, or tissue death, within five minutes, leading to brain damage.

Even just 10 seconds of choking can cause a person to pass out, studies have shown. 

:
Escort warns of deadly bedroom trend that’s become popular with couples: ‘It’s scary’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk