Individuals who engage in kink sexual behaviors often have health issues specific to those activities, but don't always feel comfortable seeing a doctor, a new study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests.

Kink refers to sexual practices that aren't usually considered mainstream, such as bondage, discipline, domination and submission as well as sadism and masochism. (Often the acronym BDSM is used.)  Partners consent to these activities often negotiate what is and isn't allowed.  

Sometimes, partners get injured during sexual encounters. For example, flogging may lead to bloody welts that need medical attention. 

For the study, a research team in San Francisco talked to 115 kink-oriented individuals about their experiences with healthcare. 

Many were reluctant to come out to their doctor as someone who participates in kink. Only 38% of those with a primary doctor had done so.

Some participants were concerned about judgment and stigma. Others were nervous that injuries, such as bruises acquired during consensual sex, would be misinterpreted as intimate partner abuse. 

What else did the researchers discover? Find out here.