# Air Embolism **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-embolism/23493 "2000-06-25T20:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-embolism/23493/1 "2000-06-25T20:36:52Z")
Is it possible for a woman to die as the result of air being introduced into her vagina? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-embolism/23493/2 "2000-06-25T20:40:37Z")
[Yes.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_210.html) ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-embolism/23493/3 "2000-06-26T06:30:54Z")
Not unless the semipermeable membrane in her vaginal tract suddenly allowed a gulp of air (about 30 ml)to pass directly into a vein which could then cause a vapor-lock (OK, air embolism) between the atria and the ventricles. But that isn’t going to happen. Mother nature does not provide a methodology for death by vaginally-induced air embolism. Similarly (well, different actually) is the fact that she won’t drown while swimming because water gets in there. Anyway, I have had some personal experiences with women which lead me to the conclusion that you are going to be pretty safe unless you fire up an industrial compressor and blow her up like a balloon. A hui hou [tc@aloha.net](mailto:tc@aloha.net)