Erotic electrostimulation

Erotic electrostimulation

Health risk	Mild
Legal risk	Mild

Erotic electrostimulation (also known as electro, electricity play, shock play, or e-stim) is the practice of using electricity for pleasure or sensation play. The tools range from purpose-built devices to repurposed commercial devices.

Background

Principle of operation

The relationship between current, voltage, and resistance in an electrical circuit is fundamentally described by Ohm's Law, which states that current (I) is equal to the voltage (V) divided by the resistance (R). In formulaic terms, this is expressed as $I=V/R$. Essentially, this means that the electric current flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it and inversely proportional to the resistance within the circuit. When the voltage increases, the current increases, provided the resistance stays constant. Conversely, if the resistance increases while the voltage remains constant, the current will decrease.

Effects of current on the human body

The effects of electrical current on the human body vary significantly with the amount of current (measured in milliamperes, mA) passing through it.

1. 1-5 mA (Milliampere): At this level, most people begin to feel a slight tingling sensation. The exact threshold varies depending on the individual and conditions (e.g., skin moisture).
2. 5-10 mA: The sensation becomes more pronounced and uncomfortable. Muscle control is still maintained, but the shock is clearly noticeable.
3. 10-20 mA: The current at this level can cause muscle contractions, known as "let-go" threshold. This means it becomes difficult to let go of an object that is the source of the current, leading to prolonged exposure.
4. 20-100 mA: Serious effects start to occur; the individual might experience severe muscular contractions, pain, and possible respiratory paralysis. The heart can also start to experience arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
5. 100-200 mA: This range is particularly dangerous as it can cause ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic and ineffective heart rhythm, leading to cardiac arrest. This is often fatal without immediate medical assistance.
6. 200-500 mA: At this level, the heart's muscular contractions are so severe that, paradoxically, they may actually protect the heart from fibrillation. However, severe burns and tissue damage are likely, and the risk of cardiac arrest remains high.
7. Over 500 mA: Such a high level of current can cause severe burns and immediate cardiac arrest due to the direct electrical stimulation of the heart muscles. However, if the current bypasses the heart, there is a chance of survival if medical attention is provided immediately.

Effects on the body can also vary considerably based on factors such as:

• Duration of the shock
• Location of the shock on the body
• Pre-existing medical conditions

Resistance

Human tissue is conductive due to the presence of ions in body fluids, but it also offers resistance to electric flow.

• Skin Resistance: The skin is the primary barrier and its resistance can vary greatly. Dry skin can have a resistance of 100,000 ohms to 1,000,000 ohms (100 kΩ to 1 MΩ). However, if the skin is wet, broken, or if there's a cut, resistance can drop significantly, sometimes to as low as 1,000 ohms (1 kΩ).
• Internal Body Resistance: Once the electrical current penetrates the skin, the resistance inside the body is much lower. This is due to the presence of fluids, blood, and other tissues that conduct electricity better than dry skin. The internal body resistance is typically around 300 to 1,000 ohms.
• Hand-to-Hand Pathway: For a current traveling from hand to hand, which potentially passes through the heart, the total body resistance (including skin and internal resistance) can be approximately 1,000 ohms to 1,500 ohms under certain conditions, like wet or broken skin.
• Hand-to-Foot Pathway: This pathway is longer as it traverses more of the body, but the principle remains the same. The resistance might be slightly higher due to the longer path.
• Foot-to-Foot Pathway: Resistance in this pathway is typically higher than hand-to-hand because the current does not pass through the vital organs like the heart.

To be written: Skin effect. Duty cycle. Conductivity of dry and moist skin.

Methods

Devices and tools

To be written:

• Commercial devices (Erostek, E-Stim Systems etc)
• TENS/EMS devices
• Stereo stim
• Cattle prods, stunguns etc.
• Violet wands

Violet wands apply a high voltage, high frequency, low current to the skin. They are typically used for therapeutic purposes but can be used for BDSM and sexual purposes as well. Care should be taken because the electricity emits from a glass tip at the end of the wand (usually interchangeable for different sensations) and these are fragile and can be broken. There is less risk of electricity running across unintended parts of the body as the wand will apply the electricity to the skin rather than it running between electrodes, but it is probably still sensible to avoid around the heart of the chest. Because the wand makes the electricity visible they are highly visual devices and add an asthetic to an electro scene, even more so in the dark or low light, in which case be aware of cables and other trip hazards. The glass ends should be cleaned between use, especially if used on genitals an antibacterial wipe is effective for this.

Risks

Safety considerations

• To be written:
  • Avoiding above chest is not scientifically that plausible
  • Burns with high duty waveforms
  • Short circuits and involuntary shocks
  • Self-play and safety: involuntary grabbing of things