Blood Play & Sharps
Sharps play is a catch-all for scenes involving things like scalpels, needles, fish hooks, or knives, and is a common component of medical play. Blood play involves breaking the skin in order to draw blood.
The fetish for blood, known as hematolagnia (which is sexual pleasure derived from blood) or haematophilia (which is the paraphilia associated with a sexual interest in blood), means some Tops and bottoms enjoy the sight, smell, and even the taste of blood (a specific fetish known as vampirism). Others are simply drawn to a sensual form of fluid exchange. It can be psychologically intense for both the Top and the bottom, as the sight of blood and the sensation of sharp objects can evoke strong emotional responses.
But what are some of the common types of blood play and sharps play you might encounter?
Knife Play
Knife play is any scene involving a knife, which may or may not involve breaking the skin. It can be done as a sensual scene without involving any blood play, and wooden knives can be used instead. You can read more about the particular risks of knife play in our risk mitigation guide.
Needle Play (Play Piercing)
Needle Play involves inserting sterile needles either just beneath the skin's surface or directly into the skin. Needle players, often known as Needle Tops or Needle bottoms, may participate in needle play for the purposes of causing/feeling pain, but some practitioners just enjoy creating intricate patterns using the different gauges (colour-coded thicknesses) of needles available without the need for pain. You can read more about the risks of needle play in our related article.
Other blood play activities:
Cutting means using scalpels or other sharp instruments to make superficial cuts on the skin in a variety of patterns and designs, and practitioners may not even be drawn to the pain element
Blood painting uses the blood drawn during a scene to create designs or patterns on the body
Blood consumption involves drinking blood during a scene, though this carries additional health risks and requires extreme caution
Abrasion play uses rough items, like sandpaper or wire brushes, to stimulate the skin and may involve breaking the skin
Blood play carries a significant level of physical and psychological risk, and requires a lot of trust, communication, and skill. Preparations including First Aid training, knowledge of blood-borne pathogens, sterilisation, and using medical-grade equipment are good practice. Attending workshops and classes with seasoned kinksters who educate others will often give you a good insight into the level of preparation required.
Sharps play and blood play are forms of edge play, requiring preparation, negotiation, hygiene standards, medical knowledge, and aftercare to ensure the safety and recovery of everyone involved.
Blood is also frowned upon by credit card companies, and social media sites often protect their income streams by prohibiting content involving blood. Although it's not widely shamed by kinksters, many practitioners feel their blood-related kinks are being silenced as a result. Dedicated groups for celebrating ‘the red stuff’ (or ‘TRS’) to bypass moderation are becoming more common, providing a space for people to celebrate their scenes with photos and videos.
