What is Medical Play and Medical Fetishism?

There’s a whole spectrum of exploration when it comes to medical play and medical fetishism. From naughty nurse and doctor roleplay to the arousal of receiving a sensual medical examination, there’s something about getting a once over from a powerful practitioner that really works in the bedroom.

This article is only the tip (wink wink) of the iceberg, covering why medical play can be sexy and fetishized within the BDSM scene, how to keep it safe and consensual and tips on setting up a simple ‘doctor’s practice’ for intimate, playful house calls. 

Why is medical play so erotic and kinky?

Let’s begin with the roles, which lend themselves beautifully to BDSM play.

In any medical scenario, there’s the practitioner (doctor, nurse, dentist) and the patient. During an ‘appointment’ a patient expects a doctor to provide advice, guidance and practical solutions to make them feel better. The advice is followed by the patient who, if they want to feel better, will do as they’re told.

Now replace ‘doctor’ with ‘Dominant’ and ‘patient’ with ‘submissive’ and the similarities are obvious. We’re not saying that every actual doctor is a kinky Dom, but it’s certainly easy to see how these particular roles can work for kinky play.

For a Dom the doctor role allows them to ‘take care’ of their patient’s pleasure. While a submissive ‘patient’ may feel vulnerable, relying on the expertise and experience of the doctor as they put their health (or pleasure) in the hands of someone trustworthy. 

With the dynamic set, how those roles play out is up for negotiation. “Alien abduction and examination - including the legendary extra-terrestrial anal probe? No problem” writes professional Dominant Baadmaster on Kink Weekly. “Want to play the “mad doctor?” Get your Doctor Doom mask and torture away. There can be prison doctor scenes. A nurse administering an enema, a doctor full-body wrapping a ‘badly wounded’ patient or a nurse taping up an ‘injured penis’ are more scenes that come to mind.

As suggested in the scene ideas, medical play isn’t sexy just because of the roles. The fetishization of medical-like procedures can be pleasurable too. Exploring things like ‘testing’ nipples for responsiveness, using speculums, fitting catheters or at the harder end of play, exploring piercing. Why someone fetishizes these fake or more realistic medical procedures can be attributed to various psychological reasons and personal experiences of hospital visits.

Keeping it safe

Safety considerations made by fetishists looking to explore medical play will depend on the kind of activities being tried. Of course, all the usual safe words should be put in place and limits discussed before you begin your check-up.

What’s more, advanced specialised medical play involving the use of medical implements like speculums, urethral play, or needle play, requires the sterilisation of all implements and play area.  

Giving it a go — setting up your practice at home

Setting up for medical play is made simple and easy thanks to Harmony. Firstly, look at what’s already in your sex toy collection. With a little imagination, any sex toy can become a medical instrument for an erotic exam. Dildos can become medical dildos for testing dilation. Penis or clit pumps measure a different kind of pressure. A bullet vibrator placed on erogenous zones is great for testing reflexes and edgeplay. 

Once you’ve got everything you need for your erotic medical exam, throw on a white bedspread for a more medical table feel and line your sex toy ‘implements’ up beside the bed to create that thrilling sense of procedure.

Of course, you can also buy a plethora of medical equipment to suit your needs- from medical-grade products to items that look the part and help fulfil the medical role-play scenario. This can range from pinwheels, latex gloves, and stethoscopes to thermometers, and spreaders. Literally whatever takes your fancy, sets the medical practitioner scene, and helps with you and your partner’s sexual arousal.

For the finishing touch, use language you’d expect to hear in a doctor’s office like “probe”, “examine”, “checking for symptoms” and so on. However, you play out your house call, remember to have fun with it.

Add a spot of auditory stimulation, snapping on your silicone gloves and clinking your metal equipment as you prepare for your examination. Slip into your scrubs, perhaps for the first time, to dip your toe in the medical fetish scene. It might be just the sexual fetish or sexual activity that you and your partner are looking for!

Explore more fetishes or medical play items

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Alternatively, if you’re done with reading and are in the mood to stock up your first aid kit, head over to the medical fetish section or pick out a sexy costume to suit your preferred medical play role.