Blood play, sometimes called blood sports, covers any kink where the skin is broken and blood is drawn. It includes scratching and abrasion, cutting, play piercing with needles, small pricks with lancets, and the vampire-inspired play that interests many goths. For the people who love it, blood is thrilling and frightening at once: it is about as intimate as play gets, and it asks for a great deal of trust.

This page explains the risks. It deliberately does not teach technique. Blood play is a skill to learn in person, from someone experienced, not from a web page.

The Main Risks

• Bloodborne viruses. Blood can carry HIV and hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis C in particular survives on surfaces and equipment and passes easily through tiny amounts of blood. Anyone who touches blood, including the top, is at risk.
• Infection. Every break in the skin is a way in for bacteria. Wounds that become red, hot, swollen or weepy, or a fever afterwards, need a doctor.
• Going too deep. Cuts and needles can damage nerves, blood vessels and tendons, and bleeding can be harder to stop than expected, especially for anyone on blood thinners or with a bleeding disorder.
• Scarring. Marks may be permanent, and they may not heal the way anyone intended.
• Fainting. The sight of blood, adrenaline and endorphins can make people light-headed or faint, and falls cause injuries of their own.
• Swallowing blood. Drinking blood carries the same infection risks, and more than a little can make people vomit.

Before Anyone Plays

• Learn hands-on from an experienced, trusted educator, ideally through a local kink community, before trying anything that breaks the skin.
• Talk about health honestly. Both partners should know their HIV and hepatitis status from recent testing. Hepatitis B vaccination is worth getting for anyone who plays with blood.
• Use only new, sterile, single-use equipment, never share it between people, and dispose of anything sharp in a proper sharps container.
• Wear medical gloves, keep the area clean and well lit, and have first aid supplies ready.
• Agree on limits, on what will happen to any marks, and on how to stop.
• Don't play drunk or high.
• Never strike, flog or cane skin that is bleeding: it can spray blood into the room.

Afterwards

Clean and cover any wounds, keep an eye on them as they heal, and see a doctor at any sign of infection. Blood play can leave people cold, shaky or emotional as the adrenaline wears off, so allow plenty of time for aftercare, warmth and reassurance.

If you are ever exposed to someone else's blood, for example through a needlestick or blood getting into a cut, wash the area and seek medical advice straight away: post-exposure treatment (PEP) for HIV works best within hours, and no later than 72 hours.

If It Isn't About Kink

Cutting yourself to cope with feelings is self-harm, not blood play, and you deserve support. Our Support & Crisis Lines page lists people who can help, any time.

See also cutting, needle play and blood play in our sexual events dictionary, and our play safety guide.