Women's Health

Tips For Managing Open Relationships

Relationships can change over time, including the type of sex you have with your partner. You may begin to want different things including sex with other people. While some people have sex outside of their primary relationship, others prefer to invite others into their relationship. If you chose this route, you need to be aware that there are several implications for your relationship, not only the emotional consequences but also the possible impact of sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

Things to consider

Open relationships come with an entirely different set of ground rules. It's essential that your relationship is on an even keel to be able to deal with any emotional issues that this arrangement can bring up.

Below is a list of questions that may help you discuss and prepare for some of the issues that may arise.

Will you only share partners together or can you go out and explore on your own?
Is your relationship honest and open enough to cope with an open relationship?
At which point do you negotiate the sex happening outside of the primary relationship?
How much do you want to know about the sex your partner/s is/are having outside of your relationship?
What happens if one partner finds someone that they are more attracted to?
What happens if one partner isn’t ready for an open relationship but feels pressured into one?
How do you ensure that your partner is practicing safe sex with casual partners?
What happens if a partner becomes jealous?
What happens if the person invited into the relationship finds one member of the couple more attractive than the other?
What kind of sex is okay with partners outside of the primary relationship?
Is there anything in the primary relationship that you would like to remain as something you only do together?
What is your definition of sex? What is your partner/s definition/s of sex?
What will you do if you are in a social space where more than one of your partners is present?