Glossary
Electro play
The spelling on the box, and the words this gear is sold under worldwide.
What is electro play?
Electro play is playing with electrical stimulation on the body. In the English-language literature the field is called erotic electrostimulation, and that entry describes it as applying electrical stimulation to the nerves, with the emphasis on the genitals.
| Umbrella English term | erotic electrostimulation, also erotic e-stim and electrosex |
| Devices in that literature | TENS units, EMS devices, violet wands and power boxes made specifically for it |
| Where you run into it | packaging, web shops, English-language kink lists and your device’s manual |
| Most important warning | misuse can cause serious tissue damage; this asks for a careful, informed approach |
The words you will see for it
The gear is sold in English, so you read electro play or e-stim on the box and in the manual, and that is the word you end up using. On this site’s profile the spelling turns up too: among the courses Victor took is the note, “Needles and electroplay? Absolutely.”
There is one difference in scope worth knowing. Electrosex and erotic e-stim get used interchangeably in English for the same thing, while e-stim in the trade often stands specifically for the units with pads, plugs and rings. So search “e-stim” and you find gear, search “electro play” and you find the explanation.
What the literature says about the risk
The English-language literature is blunt about it. The encyclopedia states that misuse can cause serious tissue damage, that burns arise when there is not enough contact between electrode and skin, and that even at low current and voltage there is a risk of disrupting heart function, up to cardiac arrest. Homemade devices running on mains power, with the current across the chest, are the form in which things have gone wrong in the past.
That is where the core rule comes from. Buy equipment made for this purpose, never let mains power near it, and keep the current below the belt. That is not overcaution. It is the residue of what has gone wrong before, every time with people who had rigged something up themselves and were alone. If you want it safe and with someone beside you, electrical play is part of what I do on a BDSM date.
Sources
- Erotic electrostimulation. Wikipedia. Gives the English names erotic e-stim and electrosex, the description as electrical stimulation of the nerves with the emphasis on the genitals, the devices (TENS, EMS, violet wand, dedicated power boxes), and the warnings about tissue damage, burns from poor electrode contact, disruption of heart function up to cardiac arrest, and the fact that it is homemade mains-powered devices that have gone wrong.
Related terms
- Edgeplay. The category where a risk stays no matter how well you do it.
- CBT. The corner erotic electrostimulation usually gets filed under in the specialist literature.
- BDSM. The umbrella, with the other branches alongside it.
- E-stim. The gear under this name, with the electrode types and the settings.
- Neon wand. The handheld device from this family, with the history of the violet ray behind it.
- TENS. The device this literature works with most often, with the safety record from 381 studies.
- Violet wand. The handheld device from this list that works with sparks, with the clinical name for what it does.
Frequently asked questions
What people still ask about electro play.
What is electro play?
Electro play is playing with electrical stimulation on the body. In the English-language literature the field is called erotic electrostimulation, described as electrical stimulation of the nerves with the emphasis on the genitals.
Is it electro play, electroplay, or e-stim?
All three turn up. Electro play and electroplay are the same word with and without a space; e-stim is the shorthand you see on the gear, from erotic e-stim. They point to the same practice: playing with electrical stimulation on the body.
Which devices count as electro play?
The encyclopedia names TENS units, EMS devices, violet wands and power boxes made specifically for this purpose. That same source advises using only equipment built for it, because homemade devices on mains power are the form in which people have died.
Who can you turn to with questions about electro play?
Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience in BDSM and a background as a psychotherapist. His profile notes that he has taken courses in needles and electroplay, so he knows the gear from practice. You can ask him a question with no strings attached through the contact form or start with a free chat.
More info
Still have questions about electro play?
I'm Victor. Bought a device and don't know where to start, or want to know what you should absolutely never do? Send me a message. No obligation, and I'll text you back when it suits you.