Odaxelagnia

Odaxelagnia, also known as a biting fetish, is a fetish in which a person is aroused by biting or being bitten. It is often associated with sexual sadism/masochism, and vampire fetishes, but it often isn't violent or bloody. The bites can be quite intense or very gentle, and can occur on various parts of the body, even the genitals. Odaxelagnia is a relatively common fetish. Research by Alfred Kinsey found that half of the 1,000 people surveyed had been sexually aroused from being bitten during sex. In 1987, a survey published in the Journal of Sex Research found that 37–41% of the 225 BDSM practitioners surveyed engaged in sexual biting. ### Origins of the Term The term odaxelagnia comes from Greek roots, where "odaxein" means "to bite," and "lagnia" means "lust" or "sexual desire." Its first use is believed to have been in Dr. Brenda Love's "Encyclopedia of Unusual Sexual Practices," published in 1992. ### Why People Are Into It There are a few reasons why people are into sexual biting. Here a few of the most common ones: ### Physical Sensation Biting creates intense sensations and activates nerve endings that are different from typical touch. It can also provide a sharp contrast in sensations, ranging from gentle nibbling to painful bites. For some, being bitten can be a form of grounding that helps people connect with their bodies through the intense sensation it creates. ### Power Exchange and Control Biting can play a role in D/s play too. In general, the person doing the biting takes on the Dominant role, while the one being bitten submits. Biting can serve as a form of pain play, discipline, or punishment. Biting can also be a primal way to "claim" a partner by leaving a physical mark. ### Primal Play Biting is inherently animalistic, which some people associate with raw, uninhibited sex, where the submissive is both adored and devoured. ### Vampire Fantasies Some people associate biting with vampire fantasies. This included many D/s elements, where a helpless victim is possessed, controlled, and bitten. In this case, though, the bite may include bloodletting, and the act may viewed as transformational for the submissive being bitten. ### Related Kinks - Vampire - Blood Play - Primal