"It was painful, but it felt so good!"
A controversial sexual fetish known as vorarephilia, or ‘vore’, has gained popularity in the UK.
Vorarephilia is described as the erotic desire to consume or be consumed by another person or creature—often imagined as being swallowed whole.
As Google searches for the fetish surge, online communities are forming where individuals are discussing their fantasies and experiences.
Sex and relationship expert Hope Flynn has warned those exploring vore to be mindful of boundaries.
She said: “People who get involved in vore should communicate openly, establish consent and engage responsibly.”
Research by sex expert Rachel Thompson found that searches for vorarephilia have increased by 26% in the last five years.
Conducted alongside the sex-positive platform Sensuali, the study analysed 160 million Google searches to track interest in various fetishes.
A case report in the National Library of Medicine describes vorarephilia as “an infrequently presenting paraphilia, characterised by the erotic desire to consume or be consumed by another person or creature”.
The report noted that data on the phenomenon is limited, but many with an interest shared their fantasies through online stories and illustrations.
The growing online discourse includes Reddit threads where individuals confess their vorarephilic and even cannibalistic desires.
One man admitted he has had fantasies about eating his girlfriend:
“After meeting her, my interests expanded somewhat; she’s the only person I’ve ever been interested in eating.
“Fortunately, this was impossible, for obvious reasons: I was still thinking in terms of ‘soft vore’, in which no damage is done to either party.”
The user later expressed concern that his desires were escalating to “hard vore”, which involves more violent elements, though not necessarily for sexual gratification.
He described biting his hand and arm, saying: “I feel like I bit so hard that I almost broke skin, and I tore back like a dog. I’m lucky I wasn’t hurt badly.
“It was painful, but it felt so good! Both in my teeth and on my skin. I’ve never felt less in control of myself.”
Other Reddit users shared personal stories of how their vore interests developed, including influences from childhood fairy tales. Some linked their fascination with vore to depictions of characters being swallowed in films and television shows.
Flynn, who heads content at sexual wellness brand IPlaySafe, emphasised that vore is strictly a fantasy for most people.
She said:
“It’s important to know that vore is only fantasy and doesn’t involve real harm or eating.”
She also noted that pop culture has played a role in shaping fetish interests.
“The idea of taking a bite out of someone has been romanticised by films and shows such as Twilight, The Vampire Diaries and Venom.”
Flynn highlighted that while vore remains niche, it has become more visible due to online communities.
She said: “Due to its unconventional nature, vore is most definitely considered controversial.
“Let’s be honest, eating another human or being eaten by someone is definitely considered taboo.”
Despite the controversy, Flynn acknowledged that all fetishes are deeply personal.
She added: “Some people find it appealing, and some people don’t. So when talking about these interests, it’s important to be respectful and aware of consent and boundaries.”
With growing interest in vorarephilia, experts stress that open communication, consent and responsible engagement are essential for those exploring the fetish.
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