What is “Castle Core”? Why experts are warning

Killing dragons isn’t the only danger in fantasy worlds.

“Castlecore” is an aesthetic trend inspired by the medieval era—think a world of castles and dragons—that has made its way into modern bedrooms.

However, the rise of this increasingly popular sexual trend can lead to harm.

Experts have warned that period-themed corsets could impair people’s ability to breathe and cause digestive problems if they are too tight. You might want to rip off that corset.

They also warn that sex toys – especially grotesque ones inspired by things like dragon genitals – can become lodged in the body and cause medical emergencies, an invasive problem that has grown in recent years.

British porn retailer Lovehoney said its customers were particularly interested in corsets and fantasy dildos, the Daily Mail reported.

The sex toy website says interest in “castlecore-rotica” is due to the growing popularity of “romantic fiction,” or fairy tale erotica, a subgenre that combines elements of romance and fantasy.

According to Lovehoney, searches for “erotic books” increased by 78% between May 2023 and May 2024, with the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” (ACOTA) series leading the trend.

Los Angeles’ famous romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice even opened a branch in New York to keep up with demand.

“Let’s face it, reality can be a bit dreary at times, so who wouldn’t want to dive into a world of sexy fairies and forbidden romance?” Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert at Lovehoney, told the Daily Mail Newspaper”.

“These fantasy quests also provide a safe space to explore power dynamics. They allow you to freely play with ideas about mythical creatures or otherworldly worlds, which can feel more removed from everyday life,” she continued, adding says the stories “feel empowering, with strong female characters exploring their desires” and embracing their power, which resonates with many women. “

April Maria, a sex educator at sex toy supplier Hot Octopuss, agrees that “one of the driving forces behind today’s popularity of pornography is [is] Groundbreaking focus on female pleasure. “

She told Elle: “Many of these books are written by women and for women, so it’s no surprise that they resonate with readers looking for stories that center female desire and empowerment. ”

Regardless of erotic intent, intense exploration comes with a price.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine in 2023, nearly 4,000 people are hospitalized every year due to foreign bodies in the rectum, and 55% of these foreign bodies are “sexual devices.”

Nearly 41% of these reported cases required hospitalization, and the average age of patients presenting to the emergency room was 43 years old.

Nearly 78% of people seeking treatment are men.

The researchers also found that the number of hospital visits for rectal foreign bodies increased during their study period, from 1.2 per 100,000 people in 2012 to 1.9 in 2021.

So if you want to get weird with a beautiful maiden or a knight in shining armor, be careful.