Everyone is turned on by different things in the bedroom, and so long as enacting or indulging in those sexual kinks is consensual, it’s all good. No one should be shamed for what gets them going. From BDSM to praise kinks, you might be shocked by the things that people find arousing. For instance, breeding kinks are becoming more popular than ever before. They’re so en vogue, the TikTok #breedingkinks hashtag has more than 617 million views on TikTok.
Here’s what you should know about breeding kinks and what they entail.
What is a breeding kink?
In essence, a breeding kink is one in which a person feels sexual arousal at the thought of getting someone pregnant or being impregnated themself (via Healthline). Both men and women are capable of having breeding kinks.
Enacting this fetish usually involves having sexual intercourse in which there is a risk of pregnancy. This often means heterosexual sex between a man and woman without using a condom or other birth control methods. Bodily fluids are usually exchanged freely.
It should be said that this kink isn’t always played out between cis-gendered, heterosexual couples. For instance, a queer woman having sex with a trans or female partner may still have a breeding kink. It can be enacted via roleplay, with the non-male partner using a strap-on to simulate straight sexual encounters.
Why is this becoming more popular?
According to certified sex therapist Sara Rosen, LCSW, the overturning of Roe v Wade could very likely be responsible for the uptick in breeding fetishes. As she tells Bustle, people naturally get turned on by things that are considered taboo in general society. “Having unprotected sex is more dangerous than it’s been in a long time, [and] that makes it easier to eroticize,” she explains.
There’s also an element of excitement for many couples. For those who wish to procreate in the future, enacting a breeding kink can create a sense of joy and anticipation. This is true for both couples who are currently trying to conceive as well as those who are holding off on starting a family until a later date.
Many couples also explore power dynamics via breeding kinks. The person who mimics impregnating their partner might feel more powerful and dominant, whereas the person being impregnated indulges their submissive side through the experience.
How to explore this fetish alone or with a partner
Those who experience arousal at the thought of being impregnated or impregnating someone else don’t need to be in relationships or sleeping with someone to indulge them. Self-pleasuring while fantasizing about your kink is an easy way to explore this kink, and reading targeted erotica or watching adult movies geared towards breeding are other ways to get off.
If you are sleeping with a partner, it’s recommended that you still practice safe sex, especially if you’re not in a committed, monogamous relationship with the other person. Using condoms and dental dams is always recommended, as is being on some form of birth control (unless you’re trying to conceive). Staying safe throughout your encounter shouldn’t hamper the experience, especially since breeding kinks can be explored in so many different ways. Rosen suggests couples get deeper into roleplaying and use dirty talk to bring their fantasies to life.
Are breeding kinks problematic?
Generally speaking, no. The fetish doesn’t need to be shared by both partners to still be consensual. However, there are occasions when breeding kinks can be toxic.
Take, for instance, Elon Musk. Dazed points to the revelation in July 2022 that the Tesla CEO fathered twins with a Neuralink executive just weeks before welcoming a child with his former partner, Grimes. Musk tweeted at the time, “Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far.” Nick Cannon, who has fathered 10 children with many different women, enthusiastically replied: “Right there with you my Brother!”
Presumably, the women with which these men have fathered children are fine with this. However, it does point to the idea that many powerful men feel even more powerful by “spreading their seed.” This is more than a little gross, especially given that toxic masculinity is such a problem. While kink-shaming is never okay, the larger implications behind many men’s fetishes are worth exploring.