BDSM Basics: Medical Fetish

Were you one of those kids who loved playing ‘Doctors and Nurses’, or ‘Hospitals’? Do you like roleplay and restraint? Or want to find a way to try new things in the bedroom? If so, here’s a prescription for some sexy, fun times – all in the name of medical science!

First off, don’t be scared – we're not talking anything too technical or hardcore. While it’s true that medical fetishism includes some invasive procedures that are definitely not for inexperienced players (or the bedroom, for that matter!) it also includes some of the softest, safest scenarios in which to explore sensations, relationships, and limits.   

What is Medical Fetishism?

Fetishes are any non-sexual activities or objects from which we derive sexual arousal or pleasure – in this case the fetish is attached to a ‘medical’ or clinical situation or sensation. Medical fetishism - or MedFet - is one of those kinks that run the range from extremely mild all the way through to ‘holy fucking shit!’. On one side of the spectrum, the idolised ‘sexy nurse’ is such a staple of mainstream culture, we sometimes wonder why it was ever taboo. At the other end, medical fetishism covers some of the most hardcore acts performed within BDSM – some too grisly to mention outside a very specific context.

Basically, anything that involves a therapeutic setting, instrumentation, or practice has the potential to be used in MedFet, and it naturally incorporates many other favourite kinks like bondage, uniforms, anal play, Dominance and submission, needles, restraints, teasing and/or orgasm control, and power exchange. Heavier players will often enjoy more invasive procedures like sutures, saline injections, catheters, enemas and/or urethral probes. 

The popularity of Medical Play

Medical play is a massively popular kink that continues to grow. It has a big presence in the porn industry, and many specialists in adult services, and is not only huge on BDSM socials, but has a fair amount of representation on more mainstream sites, like Facebook. And if you walk into any adult costume store, it’s almost guaranteed to have sexy nurse outfits in stock. It’s a common theme at kink nights and swingers events, and doesn’t look like declining in popularity any time soon.

There are several main reasons for this popularity. Primarily, medical scenarios are a familiar point of reference – we all have a fairly similar idea about how an appointment with a doctor play outs, and we understand the social rules and expectations. We also understand there is a definite power dynamic at work – someone is in control of the situation, and someone is expected to comply. It could also be that medical play is popular due to how many activities are covered by it’s umbrella; whether it’s physical, psychological, or emotional thrills you’re looking for. The bottom line is medical play is super accessible, familiar, and pliable enough to be incorporated into pretty much anything you enjoy at a level that’s attainable. 

Medical Roleplay

Roleplay is often used as a way of spicing things up in the bedroom, as it allows us to shake off any stale patterns and create a safe space to explore new things. If you’re struggling for ideas, here’s a few to get you going with minimal props and costuming. 

Whether it’s for sensation and sexual pleasure, you could consider an external examination scenario. You don’t need any fancy costumes or gadgets, just try to look ‘professional’ as part of the scene, and have some pre-cooled cutlery at the ready to use as your medical implements. If you have disposable gloves, whack some on for maximum effect – you can always take them off after you get more intimate with the patient. This is an excellent way to practise some teasing, edging, or orgasm control and denial, or just a relaxing way to enjoy some sensations.

The naughty patient roleplay can be fun for those with bratty, playful tendencies, and can also be great for those who like a bit of a challenge. Bring out your bandages for this form of play, and don’t be too timid about tying that defiant patient to the bed. The aim of the game here is to make the patient take their medicine, whether they want to or not (obviously with prior negotiated consent). You can also play naughty patient with seduction rather than force – what do you need to do for the patient for them to take their medicine willingly!

Sexual Exploration

Roleplay is also a fantastic to try something new, or relatively unexplored, and medical scenarios give you the opportunity to give and receive a lot of feedback in a fairly organic way. In these scenarios the ‘medical practitioner’ is there to facilitate something for ‘the patient’ – it can be at the patient’s request, or the practitioner’s suggestion, but gives both the ability to keep consent active throughout the exploration, by asking questions or providing feedback.
 
Often when people discover a new kink or something sexy they’d like to try, one of the biggest obstacles is sharing this with their partner. Having these discussions can be tricky, but one common suggestion is to raise the topic with your partner by mentioning something you’ve read or heard, eg. ‘I saw something saying anal play can be really good for prostate health – do you think it’s something we could try?’ Medical roleplay scenarios are so great for these conversations, particularly for those who struggle with asking for what they want. Not only do you get to keep things strictly hypothetical, but you also have the safety of knowing that the things you ask about are contained within that scene.

Remember, with consensual scenes there is no right or wrong way to do roleplay or explore your sexual pleasures and kinks. Just start from a fairly safe and comfortable place and build from that as your confidence, skills, and knowledge of your turn-ons continue to grow.