Even if you throw on a costume and end up having vanilla sex, who doesn't love an excuse to play dress-up as an adult?

When we talk about dominance and submission in BDSM, we're talking about consensual power exchange: That means that even if a submissive partner is tied up and allowing the dominant partner to dictate what happens in a scene, the terms have been discussed and agreed upon by all partners beforehand. A 2019 study also adds that the brain’s pain and reward systems can influence why people enjoy BDSM. This article defines bondage sex, why people enjoy it, potential benefits and risks, and how to perform it safely.Sexual diversity in the United States: Results from a nationally representative probability sample of adult women and men.

Consent is critical within the BDSM community to ensure physical and emotional safety among practitioners.However, things can quickly escalate, and it may be difficult to recognize if the other person is teasing or honestly requesting to stop the play.