Bound Together

It’s no secret that a significant portion of BDSM practitioners are into pain. What’s less clear is whether kinky pain is providing some of those people with relief from chronic pain. A 2025 study explores whether BDSM helps or hurts kinksters with chronic pain conditions. Here’s what you need to know. 

As anyone exploring BDSM has likely discovered, finding reliable educational resources can be a challenge. While experienced kinksters often emphasize the importance of classes and community learning, many newbies turn to pornography to explore and learn about kink. But how well does porn actually educate people about BDSM? A February 2025 study by Iris Ryn Olson and Bryce Westlake examines this question, revealing the gaps, benefits, and risks of using porn as a learning tool about BDSM. Here’s what you need to know about the study.