What is chemsex?

Who has chemsex? 

Chemsex is usually associated with gay, bi and queer men (including men who have sex with men), however people of many different identities may take part in it. 

People might take part in chemsex for many different reasons. These can include: 

• Wanting to feel more confident during sex
• Reducing inhibitions to enjoy sex more freely
• Reducing feelings of shame or anxiety around sex
• To more easily enjoy the more extreme sides of sex
• Feeling closer or more connected to a partner/hook-up
• Increasing pleasure 
• Increasing stamina and having sex for longer
• Coping with loneliness, stress or stigma. 

For some LGBTQ+ people, experiences of discrimination, rejection, or isolation can shape how we feel about sex, intimacy and connection. Chemsex can sometimes feel like a way to forget about these pressures or to feel accepted. There also may be some social pressure e.g. if people are socialising through chill outs and chemsex sessions, then you may feel like you should do the same. 

Everyone’s experience is different and people take part in chemsex for different reasons. 

How do people have chemsex? 

People have chemsex in different ways, and experiences can vary from person to person. 

Chemsex often happens during planned meet-ups with one or more partners. These might be one-to-one hook-ups, small private groups sometimes called “chill outs”, or larger group sessions that can last for many hours or longer. 

Some people arrange chemsex through dating or hook-up apps, where profiles or messages may use certain emojis, symbols or terms to signal interest in chemsex. Others may meet through friends, parties, social media groups, bars or clubs. 

Chemsex can take place at people’s homes, at hotels, or at organised parties. For some people it happens occasionally, while for others it may be a more regular part of their social or sex life. 

The way people take part in chemsex can look very different depending on personal preferences, social circles, and the spaces people feel comfortable in. 

For some people, chemsex is something they take part in occasionally. For others, it can begin to affect different areas of life. 

Some people can find that chemsex starts to impact their daily routine, sleep, work, finances, relationships or mental and sexual health. Sessions that last a long time can lead to exhaustion, sleep deprivation, or long or intense comedown periods. 

Over time, some people may feel like sex becomes closely linked to drug use, making it harder to enjoy sex without substances. 

Some drugs used during chemsex can also be addictive. This can manifest as a physical and/or mental dependency e.g. you may rely on them to feel more confident or to even have sex at all. This can sometimes lead to more frequent use or difficulty stopping. 

If chemsex starts to feel difficult to control, stressful, or harmful, it can affect both physical health and emotional wellbeing. Support is available for people who want help changing their relationship with chemsex or drug use, which you can find in our Chemsex | Help, support and treatment section [link]. 

How can chemsex impact our sexual health? 

Chemsex can have an impact on sexual health in a number of ways. 

Drugs used during chemsex can affect judgement, decision making and boundaries. This can sometimes make it harder to negotiate consent, communicate clearly, or make decisions about safer sex. 

Chemsex sessions can also last a long time, which can increase the chances of having multiple partners or forgetting things like PrEP, condoms, DoxyPEP, or regular testing. For some people, this can increase the risk of STIs or HIV. 

Looking after your sexual health during chemsex can include things like regular testing, using prevention like PrEP, DoxyPEP and condoms, and setting boundaries and limits. We have more information about this in our Chemsex | Looking after yourself section [link]. 

Why is support around chemsex important? 

Chemsex can still be a difficult topic to talk about. Some people worry about judgement, stigma, or legal consequences, which can make it harder to ask for help or access support. 

Having information and supportive spaces to talk about chemsex can help people make informed choices and reduce harm, whether that’s around addiction, sexual health, your mental health or relationships. 

Support is not about judging people’s sex lives or drug use. It’s about making sure LGBTQ+ people have access to information, care, and services that understand our community.