Autoerotic fatality

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Autoerotic fatalities are deaths caused by unusual and risky solitary sexual practices such as self-bondage and autoerotic asphyxia. However, more exotic forms of autoerotic death also occur. The most common causes of death in autoerotic fatalities are strangulation and postural asphyxia, but autoerotic deaths have also resulted by many other mechanisms, including electrocution, sepsis after bowel perforation, crushing, and accidental self-impalement.

According to one estimate, there are 500 to 1000 autoerotic deaths every year in the United States.

In some cases autoerotic fatalities are not initially recognized, and are confused with suicide.

With the exception of the books "Autoerotic Fatalities" by Hazelwood et al. (1983) and "Autoerotic Asphyxiation: Forensic, Medical, and Social Aspects"by Sheleg et al. (recently published in 2006) there has been no comprehensive coverage of the problem of autoerotic fatalities.