Closed relationships

A closed sexual relationship can also be called monogamous or faithful. In this type of relationship, sex only happens between the two partners in the relationship. The agreement in monogamous relationships may differ, for some monogamous patterns it is ok for flirtation to happen out of the relationship, and for others it is not. Some monogamous relationships may even include an agreement for the respective individuals to kiss others outside of the relationship, but monogamy does not include having sex outside of the relationship.

Open relationships

In an open relationship sex can take place between the primary partners and other people outside of the relationship. This can happen in a number of different ways and the ground rules for this need to be negotiated and agreed to by the primary partners in the relationship. It may be that sex only happens with other people when both of you are involved or it could be that you both can meet up with other people for sex separately. There are a few distinct types of open relationships such as polyamory (meaning many loves) where the partners have multiple partners with emotional and sexual connections or polygamy where the partners can have sex with multiple sexual parteners but not have multiple emotional connections outside of the primary relationship.

Friends with benefits / fuck buddies

These sexual relationships are usually a couple of people or more than one person who don’t want an emotional relationship above friendship but who have sex on an ongoing basis with each other.

More info

Contact: ACON’s Lesbian & Same-Sex Attracted Women’s Health Project

Tel: (02) 9206 2000
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

Email: women@acon.org.au