Is choking during sex safe?

A study suggests choking during sex may not be safe, as it has been linked to elevated levels of the S100B protein, which is associated with traumatic brain injuries. This indicates a potential for subclinical brain damage, though more research is needed.

What are the risks associated with analingus (oral-anal contact)?

Analingus carries risks of bacterial contamination, including STIs like herpes and gonorrhea, and pathogens found in fecal matter such as E. coli and Salmonella. It also increases the risk of UTIs in women due to proximity of bacteria to the urethra.

How does sexual activity affect the gut microbiome?

A study found correlations between sexual practices in men and their gut microbiome composition. Different sexual roles (insertive, receptive, versatile) were associated with distinct bacterial profiles, which in turn influenced how the body metabolizes nutrients like amino acids, carbs, and fats.

Do women also experience arousal cycles similar to men's erections?

Yes, women experience nighttime arousal cycles where the clitoris engorges. These are measured similarly to male erections, potentially through changes in pH. These cycles are also considered a system check for cardiovascular and overall physiological health.

How can I improve my sexual health?

Improving sexual health involves a holistic approach: prioritizing sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and practicing good hygiene. Addressing issues like erectile dysfunction or fertility concerns promptly is also vital, as they can signal deeper health problems.

Key Moments

Nobody Taught You THIS About Sex | Bryan Johnson Podcast

Bryan Johnson

Education5 min read39 min video

Aug 7, 2025|342,911 views|10,505|1,086

Bryan Johnson Brian Johnson Blueprint Longevity Anti-Aging Anti-Ageing Don't Die Podcast Health Sexual Health

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Discusses the benefits and risks of sex, covering choking, analingus, and erections.

Key Insights

Sex offers significant health benefits, including cardiovascular fitness, stress reduction, improved immunity, and longevity.

Risky sexual behaviors like choking may have negative biological repercussions, potentially linked to brain injury markers.

Analingus and other oral-genital contact carry risks of bacterial contamination and STIs due to fecal-oral transmission.

Hygiene practices and informed decision-making are crucial for mitigating risks in sexual activities.

Nighttime erections are a vital health metric, indicating hormonal, vascular, and cardiovascular function, and a decline signals potential underlying issues.

Gut microbiome composition can be correlated with sexual practices, influencing nutrient metabolism.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY

The podcast begins by highlighting the considerable health benefits associated with regular sexual activity. It's presented not just as a pleasurable act but as a form of exercise, burning an average of 85 calories per intercourse, contributing to cardiovascular fitness. Furthermore, sex acts as a potent stress reliever by lowering cortisol levels and releasing oxytocin and endorphins, which are linked to reduced depression rates. The benefits extend to the immune system, with increased IgA levels reported, and even to cancer reduction, particularly for men who ejaculate frequently. Overall, regular sexual activity is associated with increased longevity and subjective improvements like pain threshold and sleep quality.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF ORGASMS AND INTIMACY

While the physical act of intercourse offers benefits, the role of orgasms is also discussed. Orgasms trigger important physiological responses, potentially contributing to benefits like improved heart rate variability and reduced depression symptoms. However, the connection and intimacy with a partner are also recognized as significant, though harder to quantify, components of sex's positive impact. It's noted that for women, clitoral stimulation is often necessary for orgasm, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's own body and partnering effectively. The clitoris's high number of nerve endings underscores the need for targeted stimulation for female pleasure.

RISK ASSESSMENT IN SEXUAL PRACTICES: CHOKING

The conversation shifts to potentially risky sexual behaviors, starting with choking during sex. A study involving college-aged women revealed that those who had experienced choking multiple times showed elevated levels of S100B, a protein linked to traumatic brain injuries. This marker is associated with damage to the blood-brain barrier. While not definitive proof of brain damage, it serves as a concerning indicator of subclinical brain injury. The discussion highlights the prevalence of misinformation, with 70% of teens using porn as a primary sexual education source, often exposing them to unsafe practices without information on biological consequences.

HYGIENE AND TRANSMISSION RISKS IN ANALINGUS

Analingus, or oral stimulation of the anus, is examined for its associated health risks. The primary concern is bacterial contamination, as fecal-to-oral transmission is a significant cause of infectious diseases. Beyond STIs like herpes or gonorrhea, pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Giardia can be transmitted. The discussion also touches upon the high incidence of urinary tract infections in young women, often linked to sexual contact due to bacterial contamination. It underscores the importance of hygiene practices, including cleaning, using protection like dental dams, and being aware of risks, especially for those aged 25 and under.

STRATEGIES FOR SAFER SEXUAL PRACTICES

To mitigate the risks associated with activities like analingus, a protocol emphasizing hygiene is presented. This includes showering, using gentle soaps, maintaining clean fingernails, and avoiding the practice during periods of digestive distress or diarrhea. Protective measures like dental dams are suggested. Crucially, individuals are advised to be aware of their own health status and their partner's, avoiding the practice with visible sores, recent STI diagnoses, or if partners haven't been tested or have had multiple sexual partners. Aftercare, such as rinsing the mouth and washing, is also recommended.

THE GUT MICROBIOME AND SEXUAL PREFERENCES

A fascinating study explored the connection between the gut microbiome and sexual practices in HIV-negative men. Researchers found distinct microbiome profiles correlating with insertive-only, receptive-only, or versatile sexual roles. These different microbiome types were associated with varied nutrient metabolism, with one leaning towards amino acid breakdown and another towards carbohydrate and fat metabolism. This suggests a complex interplay where sexual practices can influence not just behavior but also fundamental biological functions like nutrient processing, highlighting the body as an integrated system.

NIGHTTIME ERECTIONS AS A CRITICAL HEALTH INDICATOR

The podcast emphasizes the significance of nighttime erections as a key health metric for both men and women, where the clitoris also engorges. Bryan Johnson shares his personal record for sustained erections, highlighting that this physiological function is a crucial 'systems check' for the body, indicative of hormonal, vascular, and cardiovascular health. Experiencing sufficient nighttime erections is presented as a marker of optimal function, comparable in importance to blood pressure or cholesterol levels. A decline in this metric can signal underlying health issues like erectile dysfunction, which is linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and mortality.

THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF HEALTH AND SEXUAL FUNCTION

The speakers stress that sexual function is deeply interwoven with overall health. Factors like sleep quality, nutrition, and exercise significantly impact hormonal balance and physiological well-being, which in turn affect sexual health. They advocate for a holistic approach, where prioritizing sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and engaging in regular exercise are seen as prerequisites for robust sexual function. The conversation aims to destigmatize discussions around sexual health issues, encouraging open communication and proactive health management, and framing health and sexual function as high-status attributes.

ADDRESSING THE SHAME AND IGNORANCE SURROUNDING SEXUAL HEALTH

A recurring theme is the societal taboo and shame that prevent open discussions about sexual health, leading to a lack of information and reliance on unreliable sources like pornography. This ignorance can lead to detrimental health decisions. The speakers express a desire to counteract this by providing accurate, science-based information and demystifying topics often considered too sensitive to discuss within traditional medical or social contexts. They aim to equip individuals with the knowledge needed to make informed choices about their sexual health and overall well-being.

EMPOWERING INFORMED DECISION-MAKING IN SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS

The overarching goal is to empower listeners to make conscious, informed decisions about their sexual practices rather than acting impulsively in moments of arousal. The podcast stresses the importance of planning, hygiene, and open communication with partners about sexual health and testing. It suggests treating these conversations and preparations not as mood killers but as integral parts of a responsible and healthy sexual life. This proactive approach is presented as far more beneficial than dealing with the consequences of untreated STIs or other health complications that arise from neglecting these precautions.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Books

●Concepts

Safe Sexual Practices & Health Protocols

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Prioritize open communication about sex and potential risks.

Understand the benefits of sex for cardiovascular health, stress relief, immune function, and longevity.

Ensure adequate clitoral stimulation for female orgasm.

Practice good hygiene before and after sexual activity (shower, gentle soap, trim nails).

Consider timing of activities, avoiding times of GI distress.

Use protection like dental dams when appropriate.

Get tested for STIs and discuss results with partners.

Make informed decisions about sexual practices before engaging in them, especially when aroused.

Address erectile dysfunction and fertility concerns promptly, as they can indicate underlying health issues.

Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and exercise for overall health and sexual function.

Monitor nighttime erection cycles as an indicator of overall health.

Avoid This

Rely on pornography as the sole source of sexual information due to its lack of safety evaluation.

Engage in risky behaviors like choking without understanding potential health consequences (e.g., elevated S100B protein).

Neglect hygiene during oral-anal contact, which can transmit STIs and pathogens.

Douche, as it can disrupt the natural vaginal pH balance.

Engage in analingus during diarrhea or GI issues.

Ignore visible sores or recent STI diagnoses when considering sexual practices.

Assume erectile dysfunction is solely a sexual issue; it can be a marker for cardiovascular problems.

Brag about sleep deprivation or celebrate being tired.

Ignore symptoms of impaired sexual function, as they can be serious health indicators.

Benefits of Regular Sex

Data extracted from this episode

Benefit	Description	Statistic/Range
Calorie Burn	Similar to walking	Approx. 85 calories per intercourse
Stress Relief	Lowers cortisol, releases oxytocin and endorphins	N/A
Depression Risk Reduction	Associated with frequent sex	20-40%
Immune System Boost	Increases IgA levels	N/A
Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction (Men)	Men ejaculating ≥ 21 times/month	20-35%
All-Cause Mortality	Lower risk in those with regular sex	N/A
Pain Threshold	Increased	N/A
Sleep Quality	Improved	N/A

Risks of Analingus and Related Bacterial Contamination

Data extracted from this episode

Risk Area	Specific Pathogens/Issues	Transmission Route
Fecal-Oral Transmission	Shigella, Salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter, Giardia	Second most common cause of infectious disease globally; relevant to oral-anal contact.
STI Transmission	Herpes, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea	Oral-anal contact, oral-genital contact.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Women	Bacterial contamination from fecal proximity	Occurs within 24 hours of intercourse; 60x jump in odds within 48 hours.

Risks of Choking During Sex

Data extracted from this episode

Finding	Protein/Marker	Association	Implication
Study Result	S100B protein	Elevated in college-aged women choked during sex (vs. those not).	Linked to traumatic brain injuries; suggests potential subclinical brain damage.
Brian's Testing	S100B protein	Elevated in sleep-deprived individuals.	Marker for 'something is wrong' in the body.

Common Questions

Sex offers numerous health benefits, including acting as cardiovascular exercise, reducing stress by lowering cortisol and releasing oxytocin and endorphins, boosting the immune system, and potentially lowering depression and prostate cancer risk. It's also associated with longevity and improved sleep quality.

Topics

Taboo Topics Benefits Of Sex STI Prevention Hygiene Practices Brain Injury Bacterial Contamination

Mentioned in this video

conceptIgA

An antibody that can be increased by regular sex, boosting the immune system.

conceptS100B

A protein elevated in response to brain injury, including subclinical damage. Its elevation was observed in a study of women choked during sex, suggesting potential negative health effects.

bookPredictably Irrational

A book by Dan Ariely that includes a study on how arousal impacts decision-making.

productAtoms Sensor

A device from the UK that measures nighttime erections and rigidity to assess sexual health metrics.