Blood plays a major role in many different BDSM practices, in pain play and in clinic sex. In some cases, the bleeding is a side effect, and in some cases, efforts are even made to keep the bleeding to a minimum. In some cases, however, a trickle of blood is also perceived as aesthetic or larger quantities of blood are fetishized.

The typical blood games are temporary piercings (with needles) or cuts (with scalpels). Here, most players enjoy the closeness, the penetration when scratching, the trust. A very special interpersonal intensity can be built up here. In this practice, many, but not all, of the followers very consciously enjoy and provoke the flowing drops of blood.